Evening star., 1924-01-04

constitutionality can be applied to
the District. The reservations al
lowed in the Constitution to the
states, which are the basis Of uncon-
stitutionality claims, do not apply at
all in the District, where Congress
has always retained absolute and
complete authority. This applies par
ticularly to questions of taxation
Representative Fitzgerald explained
urged the committee that it should
be as helpful as possible toward
ending the dfsagreeable condition ot
i'll feeling between Maryland and the
District of Columbia regarding auto
mobile licenses: He Said that the
proponents of the bill can show that
owners Of cars in the Distric. are
charged sufficiently in any form in
lieu Of personal property tax and that
the passage of measure reconciiing
would be a blessing. 1t was on his
suggestion that an exemption on small
cars up to $1,000 be granted.
Representative Underhill declared
the personal property tax, but said
he would sooner vote for the bill as
it originally came before the COM
mittee than to eliminate by exemp-
tion any part of the personal prop
erty tax.
Columbus Makes Request.
to grant his organization and other
business organizations at least a
months time in which to make a
close study of the bill. This is a very
serious matter for the people of the
District. he said. and is "a two
edged proposition
He declared that it is imposing an
additional burden on District citizens
for the advantage OF Maryland. Many
not drive in Maryland and do not
want to buy a Maryland tag. but un-
der this legislation they are forced
to pay for something that they do not
want. Mr.. Columbus said. The entire
discussion demonstrates lack of
good neishborly feeling between
Maryland and the District, he told the
committee. "<E
Representative Blanton said that
reciprocity" Is a missioner for this
measure. "All that Maryland asks
Is the two-cent gasoline tax" he said
while the trainers of this measure
put on other benefits for District au-
tomobile owners. which include re-
ducing the license fee to only 81, ex-
empting all personal property tax
and so forth. He said that Virginia
could come in and say IF you whnt
reciprocity with US you must match
our three-cent tax" and the District
would have to meet the whims OF
various states.
Mr. COLUMBUS argued that the rnea.
sure involves three questions: reci.
procity, taxation and regulation. The
big reason why the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association is oppos-
ed to this legislation. he said, is on
account of determination. The pro
posal, he said. "to do to our people
what has never been done in any
other community"
sWiIlinS to Pay Way.
"The people of the District are will
ting to pay their way in the world, the
Same as other people," said Mr.. Col
umbus. But let that be based on our
needs and our wishes and not those
that people in other jurisdictions try
to force upon US.
Representative Rathbone, in max
Ing motion for months delay, said
that the request Of the local business
association is reasonable"
1--WE ought to have all the light
that we can have on this subject.
The vote 10 going to be very close,
either way. II we go before the
House as q divided committee, which
has been the evil In the past, we dis
credit our own standing and fail to
achieve any good for the people OF
the District. Let US stick together
and put through some of the things
that are needed for the District OF
Columbia" Representative Rathbone
urged his colieagueA
Representative Blanton said that he
was In favor OF delay He declared
himself as against the bill for another
reason He said "the trouble with
our committee has been that we have
crowded bill after bill onto the floor
and seen them slaughtered. This
committee wants to regain it's stand
ing on the fioor of the House" He
declared that he wants to see a reci,
prooity bill passed and said this coqId Ja
easily be done in a ten-line bill. He
favors general legislation as proposed
/ by Representative Aswell of Louis
lana, denying any federal funds for
road building to any state which dis
eliminates against the auto license
tags Of any other state.
Representative Hammer said ne
wanted to zee this bin passed in some
form. ---