The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-05
Commission Begins Hearings
On Assessments OF Public
Service Corporations
PROTEST PROMISED BY
RICHMOND OFFICIALS
Other Transportation and Pow
er Concerns to Present Their
Statements Before the Week
Closes

That an increase In the assessment
~of various classes of railroad prop,
1rty for taxation will be asked by a
number of communities throughout
fthe state was indicated yesterday at
the annual session of the Virginia
! corporation commission held for the
purpose Of getting returns from the
railroads as to valuations and OF hear
sing from any obJecting cities, towns
Aand counties.
Although It was understood that the
.ci,y OF Richmond. represented by city
Attorney Pollard and Assistant CITY
Attorney Anderson. desires a consid-
cradle increase in assessment of rail
road properties here, IL WAS not stated
tust what increase would be asked,
the city officials desiring first TO study
the statements filed by the railroads.
Hamilton Graves. city attorney OF
Roanoke, let IL be known that that
city will insist upon an increase OF
fully 100000 In the assessment of
Norfolk and Western properties in
Roanoke He did not indicate what
increase he would like in the case
of the Virginian.
Hanover county charged through
Walter l., Sydnor that the Chesapeake
and Ohio railway has not been max
ing returns on certain real estate Ii
owns at boswell Jointly with the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Pc
tomac. The latter road, it was ad-
mftted, was properly assessed for its
half portion. hNt the Chesapeake and
Ohio was rot paying anything be-
cause OF not being assessed The
commission promised to look into the
!. situation.
A. q. Carney came up from Nor
folk county. of which he Is common
weatth's attorney. to make 1t known
that the citizens OF that county are
not satisfied with the prevailing as
sessments against the railroads pene-
trating the county. The roads are
the Norfolk Southern. Norfolk and
Western Seaboard AIR Line, Southern
and the Atlantic Coast Line.
Among the other objectors were the
city OF Portsmouth and Alexandria
county.
The commission will probably com =
piete It's report of assessments within
q few weeks. the assessments being
i.as of June 80 OF the current year.
Communities ohjecting have thirty
days In which to file their stateme tents
lAppeal from the commission may he
I
Richmond.
Tomorrow there VIII be hearing
on car loaning and other car com
fpanies. Electric railways. light, heat
. sand power companies. gas and water
companies are set for Thursday, while
ron Friday there will be a hearing as
ITO telephone. telegraph and canal
f3inesa and stesmboat and express com
tpanfes.
The Pullman company IL assessed
kUn the mileage basis, there being nc
rsixed property of that concern in the
etste. SO far. there has been no In
dication OF request for increase In
assessment against the company.
Aax-y rear total ssal8af+an-af -ssea rss
FrAilroad properties In the state was
placed at $e1.Tss,72s. The law re.
I <1uires that the assessments shall be
made by the corporation commission
land that the local communities shall
use such assessments In levying taxes
The amount levied varies in the va.
rfous communities in accordance with
the prevailing tax rate