Western Union Telegraph Co. v. City of Richmond
Supreme Court of Virginia
This was an action of assumpsit in the Circuit court of the city of Richmond, brought in May 1878, by the Western Union Telegraph Company against the city of Richmond, to recover the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, the amount of a license tax which the company had been compelled to pay to the city of Richmond.
Read the full summary
This was an action of assumpsit in the Circuit court of the city of Richmond, brought in May 1878, by the Western Union Telegraph Company against the city of Richmond, to recover the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, the amount of a license tax which the company had been compelled to pay to the city of Richmond. The only questions in the cause were, whether the company could be subjected to pay a license tax to the city under the laws and constitutions of the state of Virginia and of the United States, and whether corporations were included in the terms of the city ordinance. The…
1Opinion of the CourtStaples, J.
The charter of the city of Richmond authorizes the city council to raise annually, by taxes and assessments, such sums of money as they shall deem necessary to defray the expenses of the same, and in such manner as they shall deem expedient, in accordance with the laws of the state and of the United States.
In the execution of the powers thus confided to them, the city council may grant licenses or refuse them. They may require taxes to he paid on such licenses to agents of insurance companies, and all business which cannot be reached by the ad valorem system. Acts of 1869-’70, page 138, secs.…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Balt. & Ohio R. R. v. Gallahue's adm'rsSupreme Court of Virginia · 1855
- Humphreys v. City of NorfolkSupreme Court of Virginia · 1874
3Cited by24 opinions
- Western Union Telegraph Co. v. State Board of AssessmentSupreme Court of Alabama · 1885
- Newport News & Old Point Railway & Electric Co. v. City of Newport NewsSupreme Court of Virginia · 1902
- City of Lynchburg v. N. & W. R. R. Co.Supreme Court of Virginia · 1885
- Western Union Telegraph Co. v. StateTexas Supreme Court · 1881
- Carozza v. BoxleyCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · 1913
19 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.