Evening star., 1924-12-10
GAS TAX INQUIRY
HERE ORDERED BY
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Failure to Yield Estimated
Return Convinces Group
Law Is Evaded.
AVERAGE DRIVER USES
SEVEN GALLONS WEEKLY
Loophole in Statute Sought-Street
Extension Measures Are
Reported.

Convinced that some means has
been found to evade the law, the
House District committee, at a meet
ing today, appointed a special sub
committee of five to go thoroughly
into the gasoline tax situation in the
District of Columbia This action
was taken after Representative Fred
erick Zihlman of Maryland had sub
mitted statistics of gasoline tax oper-
ations in various States which showed
District revenue to be small in COM
parison.
Mr.. Zihlman, in bringing the mat
ter to the attention of the commit
tee, asserted that while he did not
charge violations Of the law, he
wished to point out that the small
revenue in the District was "sus-
picious," and that, in his opinion,
the matter should be investigated.
There may be some loophole in the
law" he said, whereby individuals or
firms are finding it possible to evade
payment of this tax. The present aver
age if continued throughout the balance
Of the year shows only gallons of
gasoline week consumed by the more
trict.
10 Gallons Estimated.
I'm the original estimates it was fig
ured that each car would use more than
10 gallons a week, thereby bringing in
a tax of more than S1.000,000 a year.
When the law was enacted 1t was my
own opinion that the returns would
reach as high as 81 500, 900, while at the
present rate they will only be a little
over $4,000
The average consumption of Z
gallons per week per car in the
District is ridiculously low. 1t is i'm
possible to understand. There must
be some reason for it when country
wide statistics show the average to
be over 10 gallons.
1T is possible that some OF the
big firms, using a great deal of gas.
may be importing 1t in tank cars,
thereby evading the tax. This, how
ever, is specifically guarded against
in the bill, and it should be easy to-
spot any one who is doing It,
Il am confident that there. are at
least 100000 automobiles in the
District. The last check-up showed
100000. The figures for California
show that each passenger car uses
an average of ST. gallons of gas a
year, each commercial auto 1880,
each stage bus 1850, and each taxi
cab 1000. Compare that with the
average in the District and il is
obvious that there is something the
matter"
Representative Thomas Blanton of
Texas agreed with Mr.. Zihlman that
there must be some loophole in the
law and urged appointment of the
subcommittee.
Asks Post ONCE Exemption.
letter from Postma ster General
New asking that postal drivers be
made exempt from municipal regula
tions in regard to traffic observance
was referred to the subcommittee
probing the traffic laws in the Dis
trict.
I'VE must watch closely any action
taken on this matter" said Represent
atiye Blanton There is no reason
why postal drivers should be released
on the streets Of the city without
having to conform to the regular
traffic laws. All automobile drivers,
no matter in which department OF
the Government they are employed,
should abide by the general traffic
rules. Suppose a postal driver leaves
his car with the engine running and
it starts away and runs over SOME
hits? l hold that every driver in the
City of Washington and in all other
places for that matter, should be
compelled to observe the laws
Representative Louis Cramton OIL
Michigan appeared before the COM
mittee to urge that the bill regulating
the admission, maintenance and dis
charge of inmates of the District
Training School be reported Mr.
Cramton pointed out that although
the proposed institution had been
provided for by appropriations, there
was no law for the admission and
care of inmates. He said that the
bill was acceptable to the District
Commissioners and urged that imme-
diate action he taken. The commit
tee reported the bill.
Extension Bill Reported.
The bill providing for the exten-
sion of Rittenhouse street from Blair
Road to Sligo Mill Road was also
reported by the committee after A.
Leftwich Sinclair, appearing in be-
half of the Eastern Star Masonic
Home, had asserted that the exten-
sion of the street would not only
provide an adequate thoroughfare to
the home but would enable the in
stitution to acquire the proper amount
of water, gas and electricity.
M0rc1yrr tn Drnn