Evening star., 1924-03-08
GAS TAX BILL FATE
IS.AT STAKE. TODAY
Citizens to Air Views on Rec.
iprocity Measure at Sem
ate Hearing.

Although the fate of the gasoline
tax bill for the District Of Columbia
and reciprocity with Maryland hangs
on the results of the mass meeting
being held this afternoon in the eau
GUS room of the Senate, it is be-
lievod that citizens of Washington
Will stand adamant on their declara-
ton of no reciprocity at all unless
by the Commissioners original bill"
The meeting was called to order by
Senator Royal s. Copeland of New
York, who presided in place of SEN
ator l.. Heisler Ball Of Delaware
With the Washington Board OF
Trade, the Chamber of Commerce, the
Merchants and Manufacturers AS
sociation. the Washington Automo-
tion of Citizens Associations, the
National Grange, as well as the truck
interests and various civic organiza-
tions committed to the Commits
sioners' original bill and opposed to
any other form of taxation, a strong
showing Is expected before the Sem
ate committee.
Backed Original Bill.
The original bill providing for q
cent tax on gasoline, 81 registration
fee and elimination of the personal
property tax on automobiles was the
bill designed to bring about reciproc-
ity with Maryland. 1t had the ap-
proval of the Maryland road officials
as well as the governor Of the state.
On the assurance of legislators that
no trouble would be experienced in
getting this bill through Congress.
Gov. Ritchie granted temporary reci-
procity with the District.
Elimination of the personal property
tax did not meet with the approval
of members of Congress when the bill
reached the Senate and House COM
mittees, although the 2-cent gas tax
alone would bring in some hundred
thousand dollars more per year than
does the present arrangement of the
personal property tax and the horse
power tax.
Ball Proposed Substitute.
Senator Ball. who is chairman Of the
Senate District committee, upon
learning Of the opposition of Wash
ington motorists to any but the
original proposition offered a substi-
tute bill providing for a 2-cent tax
on gas, retention Of the personal
property tax, 81 tag fee, and the
creation of a special fund for street
improvement, in which Congress
would not participate with its GUS
tomary 40 per cent appropriations:
The joint special committee, after
carefully digesting the new plan.
reiterated it's stand on mo reci-
procity unless by the Commissioners
original BILL" pointing out that the
plan would not only increase motor
tax in the District approximately
gressional contribution, the special
fund would seriously endanger the
future fiscal relationship between the
federal and District governments.
Meeting Result of Doubt.
When the committees stand was
brought up by Senator Ball at a
meeting Of the Senate District commit
tee it is understood that some doubt
was expressed as to whether it rep
resented the real attitude Of Wash
ington motorists. It was, therefore,
decided to call a mass meeting to
hear every one interested.
The meeting today is expected to
settle definitely and for all time the
question of the gas tax and the form
1T is to take in being levied on resi-
dents of Washington. What action
will be taken by the Senate commit
tee following the meeting cannot be
forecast, although it is said that
there is a sentiment in favor of let
ting the bill die If it is found that
Washington citizens are united in
opposition to the Ball plan.