The Washington times., 1920-01-09
BILL

Further to regulate public utilities
In the District OF Columbia, and for
other purposes.
ne it easeted ~ the Seaste ssd
House Of Representatives Of the
Unitsd states of America In Congress
ass@sHbIed, That that part OF section
8 ofNlthe act OF Congress approved
July 1, 1902, and all other laws which
impose a tax of A per centum per
annum upon tho gross receipts OF
street railroad companies incorporat-
ed by special acts OF Congress and
now engaged in street railway traf-
nc In the District OF Columbia, be
and the same are hereby repealed, ef-
fective June 80, 1920; and that begin
ming July 1, 1920, all said street rail-
road companies shall pay per annum
to the collector OF taxes OF the Dis
trict or Columbia a graduated tax.
as follows: Upon operating income
In any year in excess Of o per centum
and not exceeding per centum OF
the fair value OF the property OF each
company, used and useful for street
railway purposes within the District
of Columbia, as ascertained by the
Public Utilities Commission OF the
District OF Columbia under the pro
visions OF section 8 OF the act OF Con
gress approved March 4. 1913 t37 u.
s. stats, page 074), a tax OF so per
centum; and upon operating income
In any year I'm excess of per centum
upon fair value, tax or 40 per
centum.
The term operating income" as
used herein bears the meaning now
attached to IL in the uniform system
prescribed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission, but its component
elements, accounts Nos. 201, 202. 203.
and 204, shall include only revenues
and expenses properly assignabie to
street railway operations within the
District OF Columbia as determined
by the said Public Utilities Commits
sion. and from account No. 215 there
shall be excluded the tax herein pro-
vided for.
The said tax shall be based upon
the operations of each calendar year.
except for the calendar year 1920, In
which 1T shall be based upon the
operations of the last six months OF
that calendar year. On or before
March of each year each spch street
railroad company, through It's presi-
dent, shall make affidavit to the
board OF personal tax appraisers OF
the District of Columbia az to the
amount of its operating income for
the preceding calendar year, ascer-
tanned in the manner herein provided.
On or before May l OF each year each
of said companies shall pay to the
Collector of Taxes of the District OF
Columbia on such operating income
the. taxes herein provided. These
taxes when paid to the Collector OF
Taxes shall be deposited by him in
the Treasury of the United States as
separate fund to be known as the
street railway contingent fund.
All taxes levied under the fore
going provisions OF this section shall
be collectible as are other personal
taxes; and each such railroad COM
pany and its president shall be sub
ject to the same penalties for failure
to make the affidavit above provided
for within the time prescribed, for
making a false affidavit, and for nom
payment of said tax, as are now pro-
vided by the personal tax law or the
District OF Columbia, and all common
law remedies shall be open to the
District OF Columbia for the collec-
tion of such tax.
The said street railway contingent
fund and all accretions thereto shall
be employed or expended by the said
Public Utilities Commission in fur
therance of the public interest in
street railway transportation within
the District of Columbia, either by
extension OF street car lines, or pur-
chase Of additional street cars to be
used by street railway companies
wherever the public interest may re-
quire, or by way of loans to street
railway companies operating within
the District of Columbia, upon such
fair and reasonable terms and condi-
tions in any or all such cases as the
Public Utilities Commission may pre-
scribe.
Necessary advances from said fund
shall be made by the Secretary OF
the Treasury to the disbursing Off
Ger of the District OF Columbia upon
reotIisition OF the Public Utilities