The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-13
REPORT IS MADE
ON TAX MEASURE
District Bill, Much Changed,
Reaches the House.
MAKES NEW EXEMPTIONS
Committee Decides That Owners of
Picture Galleries and Heirlo5ms
Must Pay-Newspapers Affected.

The House District Committee has
filed its report on the Commissioners
omnibus bill amending the personal tax
law. The committee has made a num-
Der of changes in the measure present
ed by the Commissioners, and the rea-
sons tor these are fully set forth In the
report. which was prepared by Repre-
sentative Cowherd.
Taxes on Galleries.
In the report Mr.. Cowherd says the
first amendment that strikes out the pro-
posed provision exempting private art
galleries which are open to the public
during certain hours each week from
taxation, simply leaves the law upon
that subject as i; stands at present.
Works of art" says the report lin
private houses are taxed as personal
property
The committee recommended the strik-
ing out OF section 3 of the bill. which
authorized the Commissioners to remit
penalty and interest on general and
special taxes when. in their judgment,
a request for such remission should be
deemed equitable and just
On this subject the report reads:
our committee Ielt that section OF
this bill vested entirely too wide dis
cretlon In the Commissioners. The COM
mlttee feels that there is now full op-
portunity for the taxpayer to right any
wrong that may be done him in the as
Sessment OF taxes by appearing before
the boards established for that pur-
pose.
The next amendment provides for the
taxing OF companies which furnish alb
Stracts OF title TO real property or in
sure real estate titles the same as
hdehty or bonding companies
Under the law as IL now stands there
IS no provision for the taxing Of abb
stract or title guarantee companies
Inc amended bill provides a tax of III
per cent on the gross receipts of the
companies.
Newspapers and Banks.
The fourth amendment relates to the
taxing OF savings banks. The law now
provides that savings banks having no
canital stock and paying interest to
their depositors shall pay only ia per
cent on the amount of their surplus and
undivided profits.
Savings banks having a capital stock
pay 6 per cent on their gross earnings
The bin presented by the Commissioners
proposed a tax OF per cent on the
gross earrings of these banks.
The entire paragraph relating TO the
change is stricken out
With regard to the action of the
committee in striking out the provis9
| ir. paragraph s of section S of the pres-
ent personal tax law which exempted
I n { wspapars and real estate and mercan-
aDital stock and provided for their as
sessment as individuals, the report
.s,rhe committee felt that there was
no valid reason for the exemption OF
! the companies named in the proviso
from the operation of the tax which
against otter corporations in the Dis
Heirlooms Taxed.
1she companies named are placed in the
/ same category with other corpora
I tons which pay rs per cent on
/ their capital stock. which stock Is to
be assessed as TO its actual valuation
| by the board of personal tax appraisers.
/ The next amendment reduced the tax
On building assessments from 4 per
cent on the gross earnings TO per
/ cent.
/ from the list Of exempted personal
property, articles of personal adorn-
/ Tent 4" On this subject the committee
! says "Commissioners' report in favor
/ Of striking out the word 'heirlooms' for
! the reason that IL presents opportunity
! TO many persons to exempt a large
/ amount of their valuable personal prop
I erty and that there is no practical way
for the appraisers 70 determine whether
this property is a bona fide heirloom or
| not
The committee agreed with the COM
| missioners in regard to this amendment,
but believe that the bin should go fur
| Their and strike out from exemption
] articles of personal adornment.' They
see no reason why property of this kind
| owned mainly by those who are am
DIV able to pay the tax, should have
| the privilege Of exemption under the law,
The remainder of the bin is report
| ed as recommended by the Commission
| ers.
| companies the report of the committee