Evening star., 1924-04-06
CONTINUED FIGHT
ON AMENDED GAS
TAX BILL IN DOUBT
Citizens Doubt Ability to In.
duce President to Veto
Reciprocity Plan.
D. C. FISCAL RELATIONS
ARE LEFT UNDlSTURBED
Action of Conferees Considered
Real Victory for Washing
ton People.

fringement on the present fixed fiscal
relations between the District and
the federal government, as contained
in the gas tax bill passed by the
House and Senate, citizens of the Dis
trict were studying the measure last
night as agreed to in conference yes
terday to decide whether their fight
should be continued against a pro-
posal which many believe is still un
fair to Washington.
After reading the text Of the
agreement yesterday, Daniel J.
Donovan, District auditor, expressed
the belief that in SO far as the fiscal
relations are concerned the measure
in it's present form is a victory for
the District
Gives All to District.
He said the bill recognizes the
right of the District to entire credit
for all moneys collected as taxes.
Some fear had been expressed sew
eral days ago that an effort might
be made to require the District to
divide the personal tax on automobile
with the federal government on the
6040 basis. This action was dis
PEELED by the conferees yesterday.
who decided that the money raised
from the two-cent per gallon gasoline
tax-about 100000 annually-wil be
placed to the credit of the District in
the Treasury and used for street i'm
provements. and the money thus ap-
propriated shall be matched on the
6040 or other basis"
One interesting question was raised
at the District building yesterday
concerning the conferees' decision 10
have the gas tax money used for
street improvements alone. 1t was:
Will Congress continue to make it's
annual appropriations for street i'm
povements in addition to allowing the
$500, ,o00-plus the federal govern
ments proportionate share-to b.
available for streets? 1t was felt, ac-
cording to spokesman at the District
building, that if the gas tax money is
appropriated over and above regular
street appropriations, 1t will provide
a much needed additional fund for i'm
proving the highways. If on the other
hand, the budget bureau or. Congress
should cut the regular estimate for
street work on the assumption that
the District is getting 5000, ,000-plus
the federal governments 40 per cent
contribution-for streets, the street
system of Washington will suffer.
rather than benefit, from the gas tax
bill.
Next Move in Doubt
The next move of the citizens who
have fought the gas tax bill since it
was changed from the commissioners
original measure by the House and
Senate was in doubt last night. Ed
ward F. Colladay, president OF the
board of trade and chairman of the
joint committee representing citizens
and civic bodies on this measure, said
last night that he had called a meet
ing of his committee for Tuesday af-
ternoon at 4:30 o'clock in the board
of trade rooms, where the measure
will be discussed. He declined to say
what, if any, recommendations would
be made for further action.
Charles A. Baker, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
and chairman of special committee
of that body appointed to examine
the gas tax measure, said last night
his committee would also meet this
week to decide their course of action.
He was unwilling to predict what il
might be.
VIII Not Act in Haste.
eve do not want to act hastily on
this matter" he said, 'and we GER
tainly do not want the conferees to
think that we are ungrateful for the
concessions they have made. We are
pleased over the fact that the fiscal
relations have been left unchanged,
although there still exists a differ
ence of opinion concerning the fair
ness of retaining the personal prop
erty tax on automobiles. We do not
mind being justly taxed, but it is a
serious question whether this ad-
ditionaI tax is either just or neces-
sary."
Obviously, it was indicated last
night, about the only move the citi-
zens may now take in opposing tho
measure before 1t becomes Jaw is TO
endeavor to influence the President to
veto the bill, And there was little hope
of having this done The Commission
ers, in the first place, are not dis
posed TO take any hand In having tht
bill vetoed, IL was learned on good
authority, and it is doubtful If the
President would be moved by pleas
constituted an 1oea1 a9fhorfaies@h III ss,e a1Ey
ever representative that plea might
be.
Seeks Action mt Once.
The conferees' report on the bill
will be submitted to the Senate by
Senator Ball, chairman of the Dis
trict committee, when that body
meets tomorrow. Senator Ball said
last night he would ask unanimous
consent for its immediate considera-
tion. Senator Ball said he expected
the Senate to agree to the report and
he believed. the House would also ap,
prove it. The bill will then be sent ia
the President for his signature.
The bill, as it stands now, provides
for a 2-cent a gallon tax on gasoline
in the District, an annual license fec
of 81 on automobiles and retention OF
the present personal property tax,
The temporary reciprocity agreement
with Maryland will become per1na,
nent as soon as the gasoline law Ia
enacted