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"Therefore, Be it Resolved~ That the Portsmouth Rotary Club endorse th~ building program
<br />of the School Board now before the City 0ouncil for an addition to the Wood, ow Wilson High
<br />School ~nd the Jefferson Street School, as h~ing necessary for the continued growth and
<br />ficient development of the schools of this Cityo" -
<br />
<br />~h~motion, the communication from the School B~ard was referred to the Finance Committee.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Esleeok moved that a special meeting of the Council be called for ~riday,
<br />at ~ o'clock P. M., to take up such matters before the Council not acted on.
<br /> The motion was adopted.
<br />
<br />July Zgth,
<br />
<br />Mr, I~=tchins presented the following letter from the Mayor of Richmond:
<br />
<br />"Hon. R. A. Hutchings,
<br /> Mayor of portsmouth,
<br /> Portsmouth, Va.
<br />
<br />"July 29, 1921.
<br />
<br /> I assum~ that the So-called ~ax Segregation act of 1919, and the a-
<br />men~ments thereto, have had an injul~iOUs effect =pon,$~ur local revenues, I know that they
<br />have upon pu~s. I also assume that it is beyond the ra~e of h~ possibility that there
<br />ever will Be in Virginia a cemtral~ody with authority to re~te assessments of real es-
<br />~te. Of course, the ~sic fault of the present law is that it h~stri~s thee cities ~ith
<br />regard to certaim foyer so~ces of ~evenue, while the state lays its rates on evezythi~
<br />~as it ffo~erly ~d. Iff segregation la a ~od thug, ~et's have it; ~ut the presen~ hybrid
<br /> is indefensible upon any theory I have ever hear~ advanced.
<br />
<br /> "I propose for your consideration that the cities of the state shall unite in pre-
<br />senting to-the attention of the coming legislature the gross inj~stioe of the present tax
<br />laws of the state, and in requesting that body to.segregate real estate and tangible personal
<br />~Operty entirely to the localities, and all other property entirely to the state, neither
<br />to lay any tax whatever on what is segregated to the other; and that the laws providing for
<br />assessment of real estate for taxation he amended so as to leave entirely in the hands of
<br />the localities the time and manner of assessments.
<br />
<br /> "I think this proposal, should be made first to the 8tats Ta~ Boamd, ~ecause.~He
<br />legislature would be unlikely to go against its recommendation..Your early reply Wi!l~be
<br />appreciate~, as we shouldbegin at on6e if we are going to dc it, and I am.~orough~y
<br />opinion .that the case of the cities should be bandied' ~efore the Tax Board~nd legislature
<br />~y a leading counsel of large ability and influence.
<br />
<br /> "If you have a better suggestion to offer, I woul~ be glad to he~r
<br />common interests and should unite upon the best plan for relief.
<br />
<br /> "Very truly yours,
<br />
<br /> "C~orge Ainslie, Mayor."
<br />
<br />it stated, as
<br />
<br /> Mr. Brooks moved that a copy of the letter be furnished each Councilman, and that same
<br />be referred to the Mayor, City Attorney, City Clerk & Auditor, and the City Manager~
<br /> The motion was adopted.
<br />
<br /> Mr.~White presented the following resolution:
<br /> "WHEREAS~ Portsmouth is so well situated
<br />for ~he ~uilding of a great city, and its growth in rec~tyea~s baa ~een rapidand subs~t-ial,
<br />an~ ~t is believed impetus can be given by exploiting its resources ~y the concerted oo-o~era
<br />tion of our citizens with the outside wo~td andpoint out the present deficiencies and take
<br />steps to remedy them if possible; Therefore, Be it Resolve~, That a Committee of Ten'Citizens
<br />be appointed by this Council to make a careful survey of this City and surrounding territory~
<br />and to report back to this body as expe~Litiously as possible its findings as to the following:
<br />
<br />(a) What can be done to improve the conditions of our present manufacturing plants?
<br /> What method should ~e used to attract additional manufacturing interests?
<br />
<br />(o) How can hotter conditions he obtained ~y Co-operation with the farming interests
<br /> of tkis sec%ion in th~ way of a ~etter Understanding as to marketing their crops
<br /> sand the developmen$ of the outlying rich waste lands for agricultural Purposes,
<br /> which are ~adly needed to increase the food production of the country.
<br />
<br />(d) The promotion of ~etter water and highway transpiration facilities for the agri-
<br /> cult~al and businessworld.
<br />
<br />(e) The housing proposition as it affects the. city proper and the outlyimg territory.
<br />
<br /> It is ~$ully understood that the functions of this committee are solely suggestive
<br />~and that it has ~o. power heyondan opinion fo~ the public good, and its pur~oxt is simply
<br />to conserve a spirit Of co-oper~tio~ and good.will for th~ public interest.
<br />
<br /> And Be It Further Resolved, T~at after
<br />the Council, it ma~ be pu~lished in the newspapers gratuitously, if
<br />PUblic comment, and ~he opini~ .~f this Bea~dl$ i.n no way~ ~lndlng
<br />able action or disapproval, a~d that upon completion of' their duti~
<br />ly discharged."
<br />
<br /> On motion, the privilege of the ~loor wm8ggranted to Mr. L. F.
<br />Trades Council, who spoke in favor~of the resolution.
<br />
<br />the report of the Committee is received by
<br /> ~, for
<br />
<br />automatical-
<br />
<br />Savage, of the Metal
<br />
<br />
<br />
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