The Washington times., 1924-06-25
Gasoline Tax Fund Beyond Con-
troll of D. c. Commissioners
By BILL PRICE.

The Corporation Counsel Of the District finds
chat funds collected from the tax gasoline entirely
beyond the control Of the District Commissioners While
Congress provided that monies derived from this should
be expended upon the streets Washington failed give
the Commissioners the right to spend penny of it without
specific authorization.
For the fiscal year the streets upon which the gasoline
fund to be used named by Congress- and unless Con-
gress is hereafter willing grant the Commissioners the
right to specify the Streets complete control will continue in
the hands Of Senate and House.
There much talk in Congress- when this gasoline tax
under discussion of permitting District authorities to
expend the money their Judgment dictated and the
sumption was widespread until the features OF the bill
passed upon by legal officers Of the municipal government
that this might be permitted.
Here fund paid wholly by local residents Of the District
1t is not supplemented by thin dime from the
Federal Treasury is to be expended for improvement and
repairs Of District thoroughfare which are daily by
the Federal Government in the transaction Of it's business
here The thousands of automobiles belonging to the govern
ent escape the tax altogether They do not pay for
license numbers their machines.
compliment to the fairness Of Congress in District
matters that strictly local fund.- raised from imposed
District people only without nickel of Federal money
should be disposed Of by Congress its fit ignoring if it
desires the recommendations Of the Commissioners
streets which it is most needed Particularly is this
when thousands of machines Of the general Government daily
use these streets and aid in bringing about their deterioration
Is case OF not only taxation without representation but
taxation without the slightest consideration of local wishes
taxation Of local residents for the upkeep of the artea
horoughfares Of the Nations Capital without the nation
butng penny for its Of these thoroughfares
the Federal Government matched these District
with fair proportion Of its money the right of Congress
to full disposition would be undenable view Of
Federal control OF this Federal territory.
The District Commissioners should seek the handling Of
these funds and have the right to aot them thorough
fares most in need Of attention the House that has
adopted such an arrogant attitude to the District in the past
five six holds sway that body is possible for
these gasoline to be used in any Congress
wishes They may may not be spent upon They
can be diverted purpose the House Senate may wish
Should the District Commissioners for example, recommend
to Congress the expenditure of gasoline in given
fiscal year upon certain streets Congress may probably will
ignore of the recommendations altogether ANY fuen
al Senator or Congressman who may property in the
District or has friends who do property in position
to have appropriations made from the funds for streets the
have not thought of including their
list 1t not thing for Senators Congressman to
take fine care OF their personal political friends the
District through items in the District appropriation BILL
We are getting accustomed to being banged around in
Congress and this will go until have representation in
that body the other Americans also until we have
the right to participate in the affairs of both national and
local governments.