Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
TAX BILL SENT
BACK TO COMMITTEE
Animated Discussion of the
Hansbrough Proposition.
Mr.. GALLINGER'S MOTION
Declared Measure Had Not Been
Fully Considered.
MIR. PATTERSON DEFENDED IT
After Considerable Discussion Propos-
ed Increase of Taxation of Public
Utilities Was Recommitted
dR. PATTERSON DEFENDED IT

Mr.. Gallinger. Chairman of the committee
of the District of Columbia, made a mo-
tion in the Senate today to recommit to
his committee the bill reported yesterday
by Mr.. Hansborough to permit the railway
companies to extend their tracks to the
railroad station and increasing the taxes
paid by all public utility corporations of the
District.
In making this motion Senator Gallinger
stated that no hearing had been given on
the subject In. question and that some of
the corporations did not even know that the
proposition to increase their taxation was
under consdera ton
Senator Hansbrough, in opposing this mo-
tion said that he had sent a letter to the
railway corporations of the District asking
seventeen questions in relation to their af-
fairs, and after month had received an
swers to these questions. He believed that
in that way he had secured much in
formation 1t would be possible to get
on the subject. and he did not think that
any useful purpose would result from any
additional hearing.
II doubt said Mr.. Hansbrough, "wheth-
er. If We should have the most extensive
hearing, We would obtain any further in
formation onethe subject than is contained
in the documents giving these answers OF
secured by any senator."'
He said that In these reports the question
or taxation had been gone Into fully.
Delay Of the Committee
Senator Gallinger stated that in last
December two bills were introduced to
extend the lines of the two railway sys-
TENS to the Union station. He declared
that those bills had been pending ever
since He said that the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad Company stated that 1t would
be landing passengers at the new union
station next September October 1t
was desired to pass these bills promptly
in order that the railroad tracks can be
laid down in time for use when the new
union station Is open for business. He
said the railroads themselves had no
benefit from II, they would be put to
expense and would not get any more pas
SengerS.
Mr.. Gallinger stated that as the sena-
tor from North Dakota had sbeen chair
man of a subcommittee that had consid-
cred the advisability of constructing
railroad along NJ street, and as that prop
csition was in one of these bills, that SEN
ator had been made chairman of a sub
committee to consider the bill for eX-
tending the tracks to the union station.
He said the bills were given to the COM
mittee early in January On the 2ith OF
March he addressed letter to the chair
man of the subcommittee. saying that it
was desirable that early action should be
taken. But 1t four and one-half months
before the subcom mittee made report on
the bills, and in that report they proposed
TO Quadruple the taxes of the railroads of
the District and the gas. electric light and
telephone companies.
Increased Taxation Not Contemplated.
1T is manifest" said Mr. Gallinger that
il was not contemplated that these bills
should include any provisions in relation to
taxation" Two days ago, he said, the
committee, by vote of five to four, had
voted to report this bill to the Senate but
since that time three senators who so voted
had stated TO him that they had voted
under a misapprehension.
Il feel" said Mr.. GallingeF, "that these
corporations have some rights. Tray were
not given a hearing. and outside of the
railroad corporations l think that they did
not know that such bill to increase taxa
tion was even contemplated. If II is de-
sirable to engage in the matter OF this taxa
ton. let a bill be introduced for this pur-
pose. and l say now to the senator from
North Dakota that no one viii give more
attention TO Ii than l will"
Senator Hansbrough replied that the delay
In reporting the bill was due to the large
amount of work that had devoIs ed upon the
Senate. in which he had shared
He also said that the present tax on the
street railway companies was imposed If
teen years ago.
Senator Patterson opposed recommitting
the bill TO the committee the District of
Columbia.