Evening star., 1923-12-29
FIGHT ON GAS TAX
BILL IN new FORM
May BE LAUNCHED
CONTINUED from First Page.l

people that they were willing to
trade with our seeming enemy neigh
bors to the end that the country at
large might not further view this
symbol of alienism between Maryland
and the District of Columbia
The leaders of government in the
District of Columbia and of Mary
land made compact wherein a two
cent tax per gallon on gasoline and
erty tax on automobiles would be
the means by which Maryland would
agree to accept the District of Colum-
bia automobile tag as 1t does the
tags of the states of the Union.
land smacks OF a childish selfishness
that does not eomport with dignity
and consideration that should and
does exercise the functioning Of SOW
ereign states one with the other.
Heretofore and within the last two
days have discussed this legislation
with the heads of firms, members of
this association and others. 1 ind
that even the original draft of the
financial hardship. Some OF these
firms. in giving their figures. have
stated that IL THE public in general
would benefit by the carrying into
effect OF this legislation they were
willing to assume this further bur-
den.
But in the amended form Of the
bill as 1T Is now being considered by
committees of Congress, the carrying
into effect of this proposed law would
not only constitute an unwarranted
financial hardship, but would be a
circumstance most humiliating to the
people of the District of Columbia. 1t
Is hard to conceive that a state bor-
dering on the District of Columbia,
the Capital of the Nation, should. In
dition which, if turned about. would
no doubt shock the sensibilities and
invoke the strong right arm of the
electorate of Maryland.
TT Will be far better to carry the
additional tag Of ssrvitude to Mary
land, the cost of which has been cut
In half this year and will automati-
cally be nil In a short space Of time.
than to attempt to shoulder the
further heavy financial impost that
is proposed In the pending legisla-
ton.
Il would further call attention to
the Recommendation of George H.
Cushing. copy Of whose letter to
Senator Ball, chairman of the Senate
District committee. was received at
this office suggesting that inasmuch
as the state of Maryland has accepted
either power or authority to deny the
citizens of the District of Columbia
the use of it's highways. ~
II, therefore, respectfully recon-
mend that the passage of the legisla-
tion be vigorously opposed and as q
further means Of ending this demon
stration OF petulaHcy In the matter
of the use of the automobiles that the
District OF Columbia shall evidence
its good faith and high-minded prin-
ciples by recognizing the Maryland
tag as 1t does the tags of the other
states of the Union,
'.It has been we'll said that two
wrongs never made a right
Would TEST Maryland Law.
"It IL TO be hoped also that steps
will be taken TO test in the courts
the validity Of Maryland's failure to
recognize the District of Columbia
tag"
special traffic committee OF the Board
of Trade, which appeared before the
Senate COMMITTEES investigating traf-
fic, has called q special meeting of
the committee for Monday afternoon
at o. clock to frame q protest against
erty tax in addition to the gas tax.
while / cannot say at this time
Just what action the committee viii
take" said Mr.. Rayner today, II feel
sure ~ " IA J0A'~>Lth dhy SdSii pAO-
posal. Personally. ] feel that Ii is
decidedly unsportsmanlfke Ior MEM
bers of the House committee TO at
tempt to try out measures On District
os Columbia residents that they would
not dare try on their own constituents.
"The case as submitted to Con-
gress provided only for a change in
the method Of collecting the million
dollar revenue brought in yearly by
the District. There had been no at
tempt nor any thought OF attempting
to increase this revenue. The change
was asked sifnpiy that we might end
this intense and disagreeable war
with Maryland on automobile reci-
procity.
"As soon, however, as the bill was
taken up fer considsretton In the
House committee objections were
found and IL was decided that the
personal property tax would be q
fair addition 10 the gas tax, not taxi
ing into account that. with the addi-
ton of this tax, approximately $600,ee0
additional revenue would be taken
out OF the pockets Of the District mo-
.Rsaiprocity. at this price, loses 1T
|attractiveneEss and ft II safe to eay
that there age many m0turtsts In the
fDistrtct who siucarely pray that tn.
| Ibil Will be kiiIel instantly and thai
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