Evening star., 1924-02-14
AUTO OWNERS SEEK
" GAS TAX HEARING
Will Ask Senate to Kill or
Amend Bill Passed by
House.
COMMISSIONERS UNITED
Oppose Measure in Present Form,
Committee Is Told.

Following conference with Commits
sioners Oyster and Bell yesterday. the
special joint civic committee on the gas
tax bill for Washington made plans TO
obtain a hearing before the Senate Dis
tr1ct committee on the whole ques-
tion OF the gas tax. Although action
by the Senate committee is not ex-
pected for possibly a week. il was
agreed at the conference that imrne-
diate steps should be taken to convince
members of the committee Of the mani
fest injustice of the bill as IL was
passed by the House.
Commissioners Oyster and Bell as
sured the joint committee of their
support for the original gas tax bill.
which provided for a 2-cent tax on
gasoline, in lieu of the personal prop
erty tax and horsepower tax, and
their opposition to the bill in it's pres
ent form, providing 2-cent tax on
gasoline. full personal property tax
and q 15-cent-per- horsepower tax.
Original Bill .Fafr.0
I'VE have already stated our case"
said Commissioner Oyster. 1--WE fran
ed the original bill after the most
careful and mature consideration w
believe that the bill as prepared by u.s
was eminently fair, and that II TOOK
in all angles Of the local needs.
Some time ago the bill was r..
turned to US for any further recon
mendation we might care to maxi.
We sent it back to the committp..
with the message that we woul.i
stand pat on the original propo-
sition that We did not approve OF any
amendments.
That IS the situation now. ".
stand pat on our original proposition
which will raise the same revenue
as before, but will enable us to end
the long standing and harassing Wa
with Maryland on motor tags.
In framing the bill the Comrais
timent of Washington. This delcsa
tion which is before us today, re-!
resenting all of Washington's bu>
ness and motoring interests, cor
vinces US of that fact
Would Consider Compromise.
The bill should certainly be pass,
in its original form. If that is n.
possible we would be willing to coll
s.der the amendment proposed aUu
adopted in the House District COM
mittee for d personal property tax
with $1,000 exemption. That is
the only compI omise, however. that
We should consider. The bill as
passed by the House of Representa-
tives, with its full personal propert
tax and the 10 cent horsepower
charge and the additional gas tax dorS
not bear the slightest resemblance 10
our proposition and We should hght
any attempt to have it become d law
I'VE particularly deplore any at
tempt TO set up separate fund, with
out the 60-i0 participation Of Con-
gress, for any reason whatsoever. To
our mind that Is one of the most OBJ
jectionable features OF the amended
bill"
Although Commissioner Rudolph was
unable to be present at the conference,
due TO illness. Mai. Bell explained hc
had discussed the matter with him
and that the three local officials Were
in complete accord.
II is expected that a hearing will
be granted by Senator L. Heisler
Ball, chairman OF the Senate District
committee. in the near future. and
that the joint committee will lay the
whole matter. in all it's phases. be-
fore him.
1t is understood that the committee
will seek TO have the bill killed un-
less either the original draft or the
bill as reported out of the House COM
mittee can be passed.