The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-01
RtCOMM|IS !.
LICENSE ORDINANCE
General Opposition To Provisions of
Measure On Part OF Profess
siOnai Men
LAWYERS INCOME PRIVATE
Too Confidential n Matter To BE Dis
played To Public Gaze--Doctors
VIII Attend To Work of Those Call
cd To Coloss and Gives Fees To
Families.

Opposition to the passage OF the re-
vised license tax ordinance, referred
last night by the committee on finance
to the common council. arose from
several important sources. with the
result that the paper was recommitted
without discussion. Councilman Bat
kins objected to the paper because the
public had not been given a hearing
on It. and moved that il he sent back
to the committee
Letters from prominent dental and
medical societies of the city urged the
council to give their representatives, a
hearing on the paper before II was
placed before the body for passa ge.
and q number of prominent business
and professional men appeared TO
protest against its being adopted. \
letter from the Richmond Academy
of Medicine stated that about one
fourth of the physicians of Richmond
viii be called to the colors to serve
in the war and that during their alb
sence the remaining physicians will do
the work of those who have left The
Pay for this work VIII be given to the
families of the physicians who are
serving their couptry at the front.
Because of this, they did not think
they should be taxed by the city,
Taxes Must BE Had at Once.
Councilman Seaton. subchahman
Of the finance committee. spoke for
his committee and stated that the
new tax faws, which IN effect were not
radically different from the old system,
had been arranged after much de.
liberation to facilitate the work of
1.,.y, ~
sons. He pointed out hat If the paper
before the council was not passed, the
old law must be adopted immediately
since license taxes are laid May /. But
in response to the numerous requests
that hearing of The paper be given,
he agreed that ii should be again re-
ferred to the committee
In the proposed new ordinance il
is set out that Il special license tax ia
10 be laid on physicians lawyers. and
ether professional men 70 be fixed in
proportion to the amount Of their in
come. Lawyers in the city have OBJ
jeCted to the measure. since they do
not feel called upon to give the
amount of their incomes which they
consider matter too private for any
publication.
Committee To Meet Thursday.
tee was called immediately after the
council adjourned. and ii was decided
10 hold meeting Thursday night. at
which time they will confer with the
commissioner of revenue and place
the license tax system on its former
basis for this year at least This
means, 1t is conceded. that the new
tax ordinance VIII be laid aside for
the present. Al Thursdays meeting a
date VIII he set for a hearing of the
paper, but it Is thought this date will
he an indefinite one and that the mat
ter vii not be taken up again in the
near future.
During the meeting of the council.
Carter G. Jones asked that the chair
man of the charter change committee
be requested TO report on the survey
proposal taken mp at the meeting last
AR. Rose, the chairman of
the committee. stated that the matter
Will he reported TO the council at it's
regular meeting next Monday. night,
and that II could not be reported at
this meeting under the rules, since the
council vas called for the special pur-
pose Of considering the tax laws. 1t is
thought that the municipal survey. to
be done by the New York bureau of
municipal research, Will be recon-
mended by tho committee at the Mon
day night meeting OF the council.