Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-17
LICENSE TAX MEASURE
is ADOPTED BY COUNCIL
Amended Ordinance Recommended
by Finance Committee Passed
Unanimously.
WILL GO AT ONCE TO BOARD
Lcvics First Proposed Oh Profession
al Men, Soda Fountains and Real
Estate Dealers Among Items
Which Arc Modified.

Several slight amendments recon-
mcndcd by the Committee on Finance
were approved. and the new general
tax ordinance, which has held in ahcy-
'cncc the cty's revenues from the
sources affected by tho measure WAS
unanimously adopted last night at a
special meeting of the Common Coun-
ell. The ordinance Will be forwarded
To the Board az Aldermen at once for
concurrence and will become effective
shortly after signed 10y Mayor Auslic.
On tho recommendation of the Iii
nance Committee. the Council amended
The section taxing real estate agents.
fixing u license Of $40 on agents who
have been in business loss than five
years, ana whose gross commissions
have not exceeded $4,000 annually. \
tax Of 500 is imposed upon agents with
gross commissions above $1,000 These
nat rates were made i'll lieu of inn
posing taxes on agents for renting
and auctionecrinE real estate. and ne
SottatinE loans on property.
TAX RATE DOUBLED on
tAR-NDNI:RTISINt. FIRMS
The ordinancc WAS again amended
affecting soda fountains in The city
and as approved last nigh; imposes
a tax Of $40 on fountains and iiNturcs
where the capital invested is less than
$500: si3 where the capital is between
$500 and $1,000; So for capital he.
tween $1,000 aud $1,000. and $50 tax
for capital Of $4,000 or more On mo-
ton of Councilman Mills. tn" tax on
firms engaged in street car advcrtis.
ing WAS Increased from Sl01 To $500.
The amendments made at the re-
quest Of the Finance Committee i'm
poses a tax OF - Of per cent on tho
gross receipts Of architects. attorneys.
physicians and other professional men
I'm excess of $1,000 per aunum Whole
sale distributors are also placed in tho
same category bottlcrs Of soft
drinks. including mineral and acrcatcd
waters. and will be taxed $loO. while
tho committee Increased from $50 to
500 the annual tax ON clairvoyantS,
fortunc-tclicrS and palmistS.
TAX ON MEDICINE VENDORS
INCREASED To $50 4 WEEK
Councilman Rodcn offered an amcnd-
mcnt. which WAS adopted. striking out
a part Of the section governing con-
tractors, which several members Of the
Council feared would he conflicting
and might result IN citizen being
taxed as "a contractor for building a
shed or house in the rear of his home
The section taxing messenger service
companies WAS amended ana reduced
from SO to $40, while the tax or mcdi-
Gin" vendors ON open lots was Increased
from $40 to $50 I.cr week
Under Il suspension Of the rules tho
Council coEcurrcd in the ordinance
from the Board o. Aldermen fixing the
street line on the block bounded by
Ninth. Franklin and Grace streets
which had for its object the widening
OF AN alley in the rear of the Federal
Reserve Bank Building TO :, uniforms
with. The ordinance releasing to 1,
u Johnson sewer easement owned
10y the city on tho property at the
southwest corner nf Eleventh and Leigh
streets, was also concurrcd in.
FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED
TO OPEN CHAEEIN STRI;I"r
The Council concurrcd in two rcsoIu-
lions. granting permission to West
morcland Davis and John Garland POL
iard candidates in the gubcrnatoriaI
election TO string banners across Rroad
street announcing their candidacy
The resolution from tho Finance
committee appropriatinS the sum of
STAR" for the opening OF chnfrin
street. west of Colonial Avenue. was
adopted. The money will be piaced to
the credit Of the Hastings Court for
use of the condemnation proceedings
recently completed in opening This
street.