Evening star., 1924-03-09
CITIZENS DEMAND
ORIGINAL GAS TAX
MEASURE OR NONE
Mass Meeting, by Unanimous
Vote, Repudiates House Bill
and Ball Proposal.

livered it's edict Of mo reciprocity
with Maryland at all, unless by the
passage Of the Commissioners orig
inal bill'' to the Senate District COM
mfttee, at mass meeting held in
the Senate caucus room.
Civic and business Washington.
called on by the committes to state
its views OF the proposed gas tax at
a meeting unique in the history of
the National Capital. roso to the oc-
caSton and presented united Etand,
reiterating it's determination to ap-
prove no measure but the one orig
inally submitted.
Following short addresses and dis
cussion, the following resolution was
introduced by G. H. Judd and adopted
by An overwhelming vote:
Resolved, That the citizens of the
District Of Columbia DO hereby de-
clare their approval Of the original
bill presented by the Commissioners
providing for a 2-cent tax on gaso-
line, a 81 registration fee and eIimi-
nation OF personal property tax, but
declare themselves opposed to all
other proposed bills. including that
passed by the House of Representa-
tives and the substitute suggested by
Senator Ball, and that we can see
no reason for increasing taxes on
motorists until such time as the ap-
propriations Of Congress are insufi-
cient to meet our needs"
Bail Explains Bills.
Senator L. Heisler Ball of Della
ware. chairman of the committee, in
gathering the various bills prepared
which would give the District reci-
procity with Maryland.
Speaking Of the substitute plan
which he has suggested in place of
that offered by the Commissioners, he
said:
"It.has been claimed that the plan
I suggest, providing for 2-cent tax
on gasoline, 81 registration fee and
retention Of the personal property tax,
would increase taxes on District of
Columbia motorists and that the plan
submitted by the Commissioners
would bring in approximately the
same revenue as that collected under
the present arrangement / am pre-
pared to show you that my plan will
increase taxes to only a small degree
reduce taxes to Il large degree.
ReveAue From Plan.
my plan will bring in, according to
the best statistics available, about
100000 from the gas tax. about $780,
900 from the registration fee and
about 100000 from the personal
property tax, a total of $1,5oo,0O per
year.
you are at present paying $780,
personal property tax and $5oo,0oo
horsepower tax, a total of $1,000,0 900.
Under the Commissioner bill for
reciprocity you would pay 100000 in
gas tax, and 100000 in registration
fees, a total Of $1,0o0,000.
THE difference between my plan, the
plan you are operating under now. and
the proposed Commissioner bill Is
$5eo,0oo. You are now paying Mary
land $33s.ooo year for tags and will
continue to do so In the future unless
you have reciprocity. SO the only in
creased taxes you would have to pay
under my plan would be the differ
ence between the $3as,000 you now
pay Maryland and won't have to with
reciprocity and the $5o0.o0o increase.
The way have worked it ont is that
you would pay an increase Of S1o2, oo(
q year, very small amount
Price Of TAGS Halved.
The speaker was interrupted at
this point by DR.. w, e. Wilson. who
pointed out that while these figures
sounded very "'entrancinE, they old
rot match up with facts" because
Maryland has cut her tag charge in
half this year and instead Of the
!. Continued on Page 2, Column -