The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-16
REVENUE ORDINANCE
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( Continued from First Page.)
heard concerning the financial situa-
ton I'm connection with the various city
departments under the Jurisdiction of
TIE board.
+ II. r. Pollard, Jr, representing the
real estate exchange. spoke against an
/ increase af taxation. He explained
that the real estate men did not wish
! to escape personal taxation. II it were
found necessary. bur they did not be-
heve this good time to raise the tax
alton on real estate. He said that
there were many vacant houses in the
/ city, and the indications were that
+ there would he eth more, as men left
! TO Join the army or to accept better
paying places in other cities
( Any further burden imposed at this
time said Mr. Pollard. must neces-
sariiy result in further depreciation in
values. There are now no new enter
prlses in contemplation, owing to labor
conditions. and the absolutely neces-
sary repairs 10 retain tenants and cost
OF heating, etc. have increased over
! 100 per cert. Secretary McAdoo has
/ requested that all building operations.
! even of homes should he deferred
I Until after the termination of the
war"
Rents Mey Go Up.
All these things said Mr. Pollard,
initiate against any reasonable si1g
Festfon that an additional tax be placed
On real estate He admitted that the
rentals In Richmond were much high
er than in other cities of the same
eiass. and intimated that an increased
tax would put them still higher
! Rev. DR. Asburv Christian smoke
2 - inst n
/ here and there Of the higher salaries
while adding a little to the smaller
salaries. and the desired end would
he reached
The working and. middle classes
VIII he the sufferers said DR.. Chris
tan, The wealthy ones can stana
tho Increase. but the wage Garner AMI
tho small property owner win suffer
we should let things go for the pres-
tnt. and after the war there NAV he
! found way TO Increase. But nov
win all he requirements Of the Coy-.
eminent confronting the people the
: citF should try to live within it's in -
come without increasing taxes"
lie said there should he no Increase
/ ~ automobile taxes, out II such taxes
/ should he imposed they should be
FITS duAted. . man with Ford should
nos De forced TO pay the same as one
1 owning an electric
/ a Hslrne Blair said he di6 not spaaL,
/ to save himself hat he represented a
/ large class Of tenants. who wrre 1,,t
/ able to stand an Increase IN 80 49,
! real estate ~"
I nave always been the friend Of
! me smaH-salRrled man" he said. "Ouce
/ IN the board Of aldermen, I opposed
/ me increase In the salary OF the mayor.
R"o voted to give the money to the
+ men IN the street cleaning depart
uent"
Would Abolish Board.
/ when hs was asked what hs xyouia
suggest. he said he would cut out the
proposed appropriation for streets, and
: VI IL We're possible 10 do so to abolish
the administrative board.
/ IL - not necessary at this time to
raise the pay Of policemen or frern an, >
said Mr., Blair, The adminIstrative
/ board pokes all these Increases az the
( committee and they accept them. It's
~, been dEkt between the adnintstra
, tive board and the council for ave
! Years That's why the people want to
! abolish the board"
/ This expression was loudly applaud
ed by the gallery.
! would like, also, 70 hawe all the
/ citizens who have heard Mr.. Blair.
i. near me said Mr., HirschherK ut
Is but fair that We should be heard in
( our statement, ! am satisfied that all
~ YOU via learn much about the at
faIrs OF the city government If you
! remain or come again when the board
hhs the door. The board cannot get
a fair hearing through the newspapers.
so we have to depend upon giving our
side Hrst hand TO the people, and this
Is the first opportunity / have had"
Opposes Increase of Gas Rates.
Jesse G, Duke, representing a num-
! her Of secret organizations and labor
unions pleaded with the committee
not to increase the price Of gas He
showed by agures that he had obtained
from Commissiouer Hobson that the
city paid seventy cents per thousand
( for the manufacture OF Ras and that
TIRE committee added a percentage for
/ depreciation, taxes and investment"
which placed the city in the attitude
OF being pToftteers. He favored in
efeases in wages where practicable
Robert h. Airport spoke against the
impositlon Of a special tax on auto
mobiles. and II wac intimated by mem
bers Of the committee that the pro.
posed tax would be graduated and that
charged for working cards" would be
eliminated
Then came a brilliant beam Of oo-
tinism In the person OF John G. Cor
ley.
Corley IL optimiat,
~ am giae the city is prosperinF to
spch an extent as TO necessitate an in
crease In taxes to meet its obligations"
ne said. We all ought to be glad of
the opportunity of coming up and pay
ing this little increase Let us paw
y without murmur. am surprised
At the attitude Of those who have
spoken. Any man who can AFFORD to
hava an automobile In these times,