Evening star., 1922-06-14
DISTRICT TAX PLAN
PASSED BY SENATE
Jones Resolution One of
Three Amendments to
Bill as Adopted.

The Senate today adopted the tax
alton feature of the District appro-
priation bill as it came from the
House after amending il in three par
LIculars.
One Of the amendments adopted by
the Senate provides for d Semi-annual
payment of the taxes upon real prop
erty in the District. \ second amend
ment provides for joint congress
sional investigation of the existing
District surplus revenues, amounting
TO nearly s5,000,000, and calling for
a report on this matter to both
houses of Congress. This amendment
is identical with the Jones concurrent
resolution, recently adopted by the
Senate and reported favorably by the
House rules committee.
The third amendment adopted by
the Senate provides that the Commits
sioners shall not increase the rate on
Intangible personal property to- any
rate in excess of that imposed upon
cal estate.
Goes Back to House.
The District bill and the tax rider
now go back to the House., where
concurrence of the House in these
amendments adopted by the Senate
Will be asked. If the House concurs
in the Senate proposals. then the bill
will go to the President for his ap-
proval If the House does not concur
the bill may again go back to con-
ference.
The action of the Senate today APP
proved the 60-4O plan of appropriating
for the District. making ii a perma
nent law. 1T approved also the plan
for placing the District on a cash
paying basis The amendment adopted
providing for Semiannual payments
of taxes on real property is to as
sist the District in reaching u CASH
paving basis The semi-annual pay
ments are to be due November ! and
May l. The adoption of the Jones con-
current resolution as an amendment
is also designed to aid in placing the
District upon a aSh-paEing basis. Ii
is believed that the proposed inves-
tigation will show conclusivcly that
the District is entitled to the $1,000
600 surplus now in the Treasury.
In accordance with the announce
ment made by him yesterday after
noon Senator Phipps of Colorado. who
has had charge of the District appro-
pTiation bill. asked unanimous con-
sent to take up the District bill and
tax rider Immediately after the Sen
ate convened today. There was no OBJ
lection.
Statement by Phipps.
Senator Phipps stated that the tax
alton feature of the appropriation bill
alone remained to be acted upon. He
said that he had been authorized by the
appropriations committee to report back
the taxation rider with an amendment,
that amendment providing that the
taxes on intangible personal property
should at no time be made higher than
the tax on real estate. The rate on in
tangible personal property fixed in the
bill is mills instead of the existing 3
mills.
Senator Phpps said that the civic and
trade organizations in Washington had
desired to be heard, and that the con-
ferees in charge of the bill had been in
touch with the representatives of these
organizations. He said the organizations
had asked part icularly for a change in
the dates for the payment of taxes, SO
that they might be paid semi-annually
Senator Phipps. himself. then offered an
amendment providing for the Semi-an-
nual payments. He explained that the
amendment was similar to bill intro
duced by Senator Jones of Washington
and favorably reported by the Senate
District committee. Without further de-
bate the amendment was adopted by the
Senate.
Harrison Offers Amendment.
Senator Phipps said that Senator
Harrison of Mississippi desired to
offer an amendment also. Whereupon
Senator Harrison offered the Jones
concurrent resolution, providing fol
an investigation of the existing Dis
trict surplus revenues, as an amend
ment 1t was adopted without de-
bate.
Senator Harrison. who has taken a
keen interest in seeing that the. resi-
dents of the District were given an
opportunity to be heard in regard
to this important change in the tax
laws, made a brief address congratu-
lating the conferees of the Senate on
the able and fair manner in which
| ttey had handled the matter. He
said that when the tax rider first
came to the House. adopted without
hearing the people of the District, he
| had objected and the matter had been
sent to the appropriations committee
Since then Senator Harrison said, the
conferees had heard representatives
Of the District and satisfactory So
luton of the matter had been ar.
| rived at.