Evening star., 1924-04-03
Fair Play.


;tnd gross injustice against which
Auditor Donovan vigorously protests.
The conference committee on the
gas-taN bill is so constituted in its
strong membership as 10 assure Wash
lngton thoughtful consideration of the
issues before it and Of fair play in
intent, or what the members of the
committee believe to be fair play.
Nor is there danger Of repetition
Of the failure to make legislation ex-
press intent with which both houses
must reproach themselves in gas-tax
legislation, in the haste, the inditfer-
ence and the careless neglect Of law
making for the District.
The conference committee has suf-
ficient time TO deliberate and the abil-
ity TO express its precise intent in
words. and there is no possibility of
= further following in this legislation
Of the precedent set by the young man
from Ostend, VINO, according TO the
limerick, did what he didn't intend"
Confident OF the intent of the con
ferces 10 play fair. the District has
tried TO make the committees idea of
fair play approximate its own.
Washington has said first to the
conference committee: Il made the
blunder of agreeing with Maryland
TO auto-tax reciprocity on terms
which imposed only a slight increase
OF total tax burden, without securing
in advance the approval of Congress.
Both houses Of Congress have mega
tived this agreement in intent though
ny mistake they have on its vital point
indOrsed it in words. Intent will, of
course, govern. Since then, Congress
rejects our petition for this reciprocity
legislation, let US Withdraw it, with
apologies and promises never to do it
again. In fair play knock out our
proposal altogether, and do not man
gle and distort it from something
wholesome and helpful into something
hurtful and hateful To US, and in this
shape give il Legislative BIRTH
Washington has hoped that the con.
ferces might take this view of what
fair play suggests, ana might make
that view effective by finding that
they could not restore the personal
tax provision to the hill, since there
was no issue between the houses upon
this item upon which the conferees
could lawfully act, and by declaring
that they would not agree upon a
legislative item which, notwithstand-
ing the words employed, did not, they
felt sure, reflect the intent of Con-
Sross. In this way the two abortiye
measures would die, the District
Maryland proposal having already
been killed. and Washington would
escape, failing to get tax reciprocity.
but without any broken bones.
If, however, the conferees will dis
regard the rules governing conference
committees and will frame what is
practically a new bill, ignoring the
issues actually before them and striv-
ing to reflect in the reciprocity gas
tax legislation both equity and con-
gresSiOnal intent, Washington has
other suggestions concerning what
fair play requires. If the gas tax is
20 be piled upon the existing personal
lax on automobiles Washington urges
that there should either be a $500 ex-
emption in the assessment of auto
mobiles, or that the gas tax should
be at the rate of cent instead of .,
cents a gallon.
The Star editorially recently an
plyZed the reasons which influenced
the states to impose Il gas tax and
classified the states in respect to the
rate of gas tax eXacted. Twenty-four
Vf the states imposed rate from
cent TO nothing L Il twenty-four states
lilpbStu - LdlS al CClLlS OF more.
Analysis of the reasons for the gas
tax showed conclusiyely that the Dis
trict fell naturally and equitably
among the twenty-four states with the
1-cent- per gallon rate as a maximum,
Rnd not among the twenty-four states
which impose the rate of cents or
more.
If our conferees considered that they
were imposing new tax on gasoline
in the District and studied the legisla-
tion in the states to discover what
rate should be wisely and equitably
imposed here, Washington is abso-
luteIy confident that they would de-
eide upon the cent and not the
2 cent rate.
Washington is certain of the intent
and the determination of the con-
ferees to play fair in the legislation
as to disposition of the proceeds of
the new tax. 1t is inconceivable that
in retaining the personal tax on auto
mobiles there should be any change
in the application of this tax solely to
the Districts 60 per cent proportionate
contribution. Washington, confidently
expects that scrupulous care will be
taken by the conferees to cause the
new tax to work a minimum Of dis |