Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-19
HIRSCHBERG FAVORs
FLAT RATE FOR WATER
Says City Is Favoring Few at tho
Expense OF the Majority of
louschOlucrS.
TAN HEARING Is CONCLUDED
Finance Committee Will Meet Thurs
day Night TO Consider Budget.
Car1cal Says Proposed Increase In
Taxes Means Higher Rent.


Carncnl Says Proposed Increase in
TaNcs Means Higher Rent.
No increase in the tax rate on real
estate or In the rates OF water and gas
10 consumers would DC necessary II
tho special privileges" granted by the
city council from time 10 time are
eliminated. John Hirschhcrs. chairman
OF tho Administrative Board, told mem
bers OF the Finance Committee last
night at the public hearing on tho 1918
nudge; and tax ordinance. lie declared
that he was sorry the committee did
not have moro time 10 consider the
matter, bus that the immediate passage
OF the appropriation ordinance was nee
cssary.
MIR. Hirschbe-g completed the hearing
on the proposed tax ordinance, which
lovics a general 10 per cent increase on
all subjects OF TAXATION. Tie Finance
Committee last Friday niE.t heard
from many citizens, and others APP
pcarcd before il last night Chairman
Barton II. Grundy announced al the
close OF the meeting that the committee
would begin the consideTa:ru,oA oi
y the appropriation ordinance Thursday
night, and the paper is expected 10 be
reported to tho Council next week
PROPOSES FLAT RATE
ron ALL WATER USERS
After discussing the administrative
Board Mt length, Mr.. HrschoeFg &c
clarcd that If the committee could give
more time 10 the tax matter re DC
lieved he could show that tho 10 per
cent increase in water rates was un-
necessary IL some OF the large con-
sumers of water paid the same rates as
domestic consumers. Such consumers
numbering about 5000, Mr.. HirSchherg
said, paid about half what it cost the
city to deliver. while the 5000 do
Jncstic consumers carried all tho bur
den. Householdcrs paid II cents per
100 cubic feet for water. and whole
sale consumers from -. 70 -. cents
I.>r 100 cubic feet, he said, and suG-
Ecstcd that a fat rate OF -: cents he
made This would give the city ap-
proximately 1000, as compared with
the estimated $4,000 from the 10 per
cent
1T is not necessary TO increase the
price OF gas If tho Administrative
Board Is allowed TO manage tho plant.
lie said There is evidence OF some
bic hand which has been hampcrinS the
work OF tho board. Let US run III"
works and We won't lose YOU money.
hut will probably make you few thou
sand dollars this year
WOULD SELL SUBURBS
ELECTRIC CURRENT
Another thins-allow the City Elec-
tric Plant 10 sell its surplus electricity,
aud NO viii make the city $4,000, All
NC need i., the expenditure OF $4,000
to make this sum. and VIC can sell elcc-
,ricity at | cent per kilowatt hour as
against the scaled charge OF from 10
10 cents made by public service corpo-
rations. The water matter could have
.t-- J.
:; proper ordinance was scnt to The
Council, but that body would not face
tho issue At that time"
Mir. Ilirschbcrs denied that the Ad-
ministrativc Eoard had been uneco-
nonical and had in any way caused
the Increased tax rate In the five
years the board had saved S,50.0Oo, he
declared including the vast sum saved
by property damages. but the great
trouble was the aureSations OF 1910
and 1914, which had practically doubled
the city in size. he quoted many ic-
ures showing tho added costs. expeHd-
lures and revenues. The incrca scd
lax rate would have come two years
ago, lac said. but for the economic
amusement OF the Administrative
Board
The 10 per cent bonus to city ern
ployees last September had come at
The proper time he said ard had been
because !; was absolutely necessary
Il the city eAin2eied, 10 retain its en-
10 the incrtast of 10 per cent on mar
h-t rentals. and also pointed out that
this money could not be collected since
all stalls were rented under leases
which did not expire until December
MEANS IIIGHER RENT,
SAYS J. d. CARNEtL
j. y. Carneal protested agaiuat any
increase IN the ratr or real estate he
cause OF tho injury such action would
cause TO the property Itself lie also
called attention to tho amount Of Va
cant property IN the city on which tho
owners were receiving no revenue. and
10 The hardship any increase in the
tax rate would work on these owners
fclpiH were leaving tho city already.
ard II ~ tax was advanced rents
would also huve 10 lie increased lo
said Mr.. Carucal, however. supnar,
~ the proposed tax on automobiles
on the ground that any one owrir,
q motor car could wsll afford TO paw
the charges
farming IT, action Of the counci,
,,nratriotlr Y ,Nc tay re,n va =,
croasea Jorn y. wilson loc,arc9 na.
o"ery adal'ional cont collected IN taxes
ny tho city wound prevent So Dfuch
money being given the Fedc-aI GOV
eminent for wnr Work. lie advocated
+ economies an0 ut the insistruco Of H.,
I commute" said th@ rublic !.mplovmcn-
3 Nnr"au should he abolished. rho
'u'ldl0E bepartmcut should also no
(, cnrt4ll"' ho said for nc believed ia,
fhidihr lisroc'or Eu,lcr could do an
8 ne W"ih under tho existing condi.
I, y. Ni.-on declared ifcre wore
II ''ly 'l''r h!accs where Tho rrur;nr
Y n'!" could hc uscd
5E 'utHDL'.R .IriuisTS
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