Evening star., 1924-01-28
AUTO RECIPROCITY
BILL BEFORE HOUSE
BIanton Leads Attack in
Three-Hour Debate Al
lowed Measure.

The 2-cent-a- gallon gasoline tax
bill. which is supposed to be prerequi-
site to automobile reciprocity be-
tween the National Capital and the
state of Maryland, is under considera-
tfon in the House this afternoon,
with three hours given over to gen.
eral debate, Representative Thomas L.
Blanton, of Texas, democrat, leading
the opposition.
Representative Zihlman explained
the history and purposes of the legis-
iation. emphasizing the need for haste
in passing the bill before March l,
at which time reciprocity which now
exists by order of Gov. Ritchie and
the District Commissioners expires.
Sees No Tax Evasion.
Representative Zihlman explained
that this legislation is merely a shift
in the method Of taxes and no at
tempt TO evade taxes. He insisted
that the people who are residents Of
Washington are ready at any time to
pay what additional taxes may be
needed for streets and other public
! improvements If Congress will only
Representative Zihlman called at
tention that not single state grants
| full and free reciprocity with the
District. They all require District
motorists to take out registration
after a certain limited length of time
! Representative Blanton disputed this
Discuss Exemption.
Representative L. c. Dyer, republi-
can of Missouri, discussed the pro-
posed exemption of personal property
tax on automobiles up to the value
of $1,000. He brought out that this
would exempt most of the automo-
biles in the District.
1t is now almost impossible to get
, around the streets of Washington
| there are so many thousands of these
cheap automobiles and so-called taxi
cabs which are being recklessly
driven" Representative Dyer said. He
argued that If this bill passed carry
ing the exemption that most people
would have to keep off the streets.
Representative Zihlman said the bill
as reported to the House carries a
big increase in revenue, and that one
taxicab company would have to pay
under the gasoline tax s65.000 d year
instead of $4,000 at present.
Representative J. Charles Linthicum
of Maryland, democrat, asked why all
of the funds expected to be raised un-
der this bill should not be turned into
the District of Columbia for the MAIN
tenance Of roads.
Representative Begg. republican,
| Ohio. also thought that all of the
funds should go to the District. He
pointed out that an electric truck
would pay an $11 tax. where a one
, ton truck using gasoline would pay
Cites Baltimore Tax.
Representative Blanton argued that
in Baltimore, automobile owners pay
the personal property tax; registra-
tion fee, on the horsepower of the
car and the gasoline tax.
Representative Zihlman replied that
the committee. in framing this bill,
did not feel justified in imposing an
extra tax burden on automobile own
ers in the District when the District
! already has a surplus in the Treasury.
Representative Linthicum called at
tention that the state of Maryland is
giving up more than 100000 in reve-
nue. in an effort to bring about ami
! cable relations with the District on
automobile tags.
Replying to criticisms by Represen-
tative Blanton, Representative Zihl-
man, in charge of the bill, pointed
.. out that the District of Columbia is
today paying more in income tax than
eleven states. Representative Blan-
ton said that If the people of the
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