The Washington times., 1924-02-12
PERSONAL
LEVY IS
CAUSE
Senate Refusal to Accept
Amendment Expected to
Bring Deadlock.

The 2-cent gasoline tax bill,
establishing automobile reci-
procity between the District and
Maryland, is virtually in the
scrap-heap, so far as its chances
Of passage at the present session
of Congress are concerned.
The action Of the House in
enacting the bill with the per-
sonal property tax included kills
the measure in the Senate, ac-
cording to those in touch with
the situation. The Senate will
never accept the bill in its pres
ent form.
Proposition Is Senate's.
The movement for automobile
reciprocity between Washington and
Maryland originated in the Senate.
and is distinctly a Senate PROPOSE.
ton.
When the measure was first con.
sidered by the Senate District Com
n1ittee, members were inclined to be
non-committal on the subject of the
personal property tax. Senator Ball
declared the bill was acceptable to
him either with or without the per.
sonal property tax.
Since that time it has developed
that a majority of the Senate Dis
trict Committee is opposed to the
personal property tax, and 1t &c
virtually certain that the bill will
be reported to the Senate in that
form. The Senate will pass 1t in
that form, 1t Is taken for granted.
Deadlock Is Expected.
The measure will die in confer.
ence deadlock between the House
and Senate, in all probability. The
Senate is not expected to recede
from its position, nor will the
House retreat. Therefore the bill
will die d painless death until next
year, at least.
This is the way In which various
senators look upon the outlook fol
the bill. Many Of them have &C
quainted themselves with the sig
nificance Of the personal property
tax amendment, and are opposed to
it in that form.
The hearings upon the bill, to
be held by the Senate District
Committee beginning next week
will develop the point of view OF
the automobile interests in detail
At the meeting Of the Senate
District Committee tomorrow morn
ing plans will be laid for hearings
on the bill.
Prompt Action Certain.
Senator Ball, chairman Of the
Senate District Committee, ;s anx
ious to dispose of the measure
promptly, and his tentative plar
is to open hearings as soon as the
present consideration of the Nickel
lar scent fare bill is completed
The next hearing on the Mcclellan
proposal is to be held Friday morn
ing, and It Is understood that the
final hearing will be held either
Monday. or Tuesday.
Under these considerations It Il
probable that the hearings on the
gasoline tax bill will be started by
the Senate District Committee thu
latter part or next week.
May Cut Tax Features.
It is almost certain that the
committee will decline to ACCEPT
the House bill and will report the
measure in its original form, with
out the personal property tax in
cluded.
The Senate, it b predicted, will
-thn hill In
therefore a prolonged deadlock be
tween the House and Senate In con
ference may be looked for. Tht
failure Of the legislation, unless thu
House recedes from It's presen
position, is looked upon as a Ger
tainty.
Carrying several important amend
ments, which tremendously increas,
the burden Of taxation upon tn,
Washington motorist, the bill wa
today sent to the Senate. The bill
was passed by the House late yes
terday afternoon.
Tax Jumps $75O,OOO.
The bill, which was framed I,
meet the exactions of the State o
Maryland, unless changed by tn
Senate will compel Washington auto
mobile owners to pay nearly three
quarters of million dollars NOR
in taxes than they now pay.
The bill carries the following Ia,
provisions:
A tax Of 2 cents per gallon upol
gasoline.
A registration tax Of Is cents ne
horsepower.
A personal property tax, withou
any exemption upon cars of an,
class.
A registration fee of $40 for cleo
| trio trucks.
Upon motion Of Congressmai