Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-08
MERCHANTS TAX MEASURE
GOES OVER UNTIL FRIDAY
Special Meeting OF Common Council
Is Called to Act ON Pend
ing Ordinance.
LONG DOCKET IS DISPOSED OF
Appropriation of S27,O61 Is Made to
Buy Land for Enlargement OF
liOwitZers' Armory-PcdiIers Or
dinancc Amended and Passed.

iioWltLefS ATfflOFy-fcuuicfS' of-
dinancc Amended and Passed
Scores OF Interested retail dealers
and city officials were present i'm the
Council chamber last night to witness
disposition by tho Common Council of
the ordinance recommended by tho
Finance Committee. which would i'm
pose a graded license tax upon mcr-
chants purchases, In lieu of the tax
on capital. and an interesting debate
for and against the measure ended
when 1t was decided to table it and
make II special order of business
for n session. which will DO held on
Friday night at o'clock. In the
meantime copies of the ordinance Will
DO printed ana distributed among tho
Councilmcn for their Information.
Councilman Jones declared that the
measure was designed partially to
make up the deficit which would he
sustained by the city If the Virginia
Supreme Court OF Appeals upholds the
ruling OF Judge RiciG,rdson, OF the
Hastings Court, that tax upon capital
could not be levied in excess of 30
cents on each 500 employed. He said
that c. y. Garnett, counsel and ex
ecutive assistant Of the State Tax
Board. had given an opinion on this
subject. In which he said that the city
could tax merchants capital at any
rate it wished This led him to the
conclusion that L would be best to
defer action on the ordinance, with
the expectation that Judge Richard
sons ruling would be reversed by the
Supreme Court
SAYS RULING, IL SUSTAINED.
WILL MEAN HEAVY LOSS TO CITY
Councilman Powell declared that In
tho event that Judge Richardson was
sustained, the city would lose $780,
200. as 1T would have to refund tho
difference between 80 cents on each
500 and $40 on each 500 from 1915
until the present time.
III something Is not done. 10 pro-
tect the citys rights. We viii ind our
selves In a pretty deep hole said MI
Powell. III We don't get this meas
ure through, We VIII have to go to
the banks and borrow 100000 TO meet
the city's expenses. besides losing. two
years taxes" he added.
Councilman English declared that he
saw no reason for haste In the matter,
ana then, upon motion OF Councilman
Rogers. the mcasur" was tabled tor
consideration on Friday night.
The following measures were adopted:
Ordinance allowing IN. Richmond.
fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
TO cAtcnd a spur track across North
Tilden Street. between Marshall and
Clay Streets.
cation from y. c. Nielsen and wife for
property to be used, IN extending
Louisiana street, Fulton.
Resolution to pay Bolton. Clarke 2
Pratt $500 for survey made Of River
side Drive.
WILL Acquire LAND
TO NLAItt.E NIiMnNh
Resolution approprlating s27.O6l 10
acquire land necessary for charging
the Howitzers' Armory. on North
Eighth Street
Resolution directing the City .ittor-
ncy TO acquire riGht-of-way through
the property OF the Richmond Sand and
Crave! Company's property in the
northern part OF Highland Park, which
VIII also give tho city title TO small
sewerage system.
Resolution appropriatinr $1,000 to
entertain delegates who VIII attend the
convention here OF the Southeastern
section OF the Brotherhood OF Locomo-
tive Engineers of the United states.
Resolution transferring 5000 from
the account OF Marshall Park 20 the
account OF Improvement OF lakewood
Cemetery Annex.
Resolution recomm ending ten names
10 the state Game Commission. from
which two viii be selected as game
ward.ns OF Richmond.
Ordinance to levy against real estate
for delinquent gas bills.
Ordinance amending an ordinance 20
allow pcddlcrs 10 cry their wares from
S =. VI. until =. NJ. 1t was recon-
mended by the Ordinance Committee
that the hours be nNed from 4. II.
until p. NJ, but IL was the opinion
Of the Council that . o'clock was TO
early, and the measure was amended
Resolutions We're adopted allowing
the use of city water to the follow
ing nonresident applicants: Female
Humane Association. in Highland Park
Addition; Duntreath Corporation and
c. r. Hasbrook. whose property is near
Westnoreland Place.
TABLE: RESOLUTION TO PAY
FOR FAIRGROUNDS WORK
The following measures were tabled.
under the rules:
Resolution directing the City At
torncy TO acquire property 10 open
Taylor and Chain Streets through to
Colonial Avenue deep BUN StrecD.
Resolution appropriating S20.435 to
pay for part of work done by city
at State Fair Grounds. which were con-
verified for the use Of State troops
a resolution appropriating $500 to
tho account OF the Second Market was
referred TO the Finance Committee.
Under suspension OF the rules Po-
lice Justice J. J. Crutchfeld and Jus
tice II. y. Maurice. of Police Court,
Part H., were granted leaves OF alb
sence for thirty days.
Tho occasion being the last regular
session of the Council before II zoos
out Of office on August 81. V!ce-Presi-
dent Radcliffe, who will retire, express-
ed his thanks to his colleagues for
the honor which was conferred upon
him and his reluctance Mt severlng