Evening star., 1928-05-12
THREE D. c. BILLS
WILL Be REPORTED.
Senate Body Approves Meas
ure for Extension of
Fourteenth Street.

Senate within the next few days by the
Senate District committee on bills au-
thorizing extension of Fourteenth street
through the Walter Reed Hospital
grounds, making important changes in
the rules relating to personal property
taxation, and to permit amateur boxing
in Washington.
The committee indicated yesterday
afternoon 1t would give early conSid-
Grafton to the proposed new insurance
code, the bill TO provide a better method
for the condemnation of lard needed by
the Federal Government in Washington
and another measure to rT-9eat fraud
in connection with the sale of securities
here.
The committee virtually decided yes
terciay to let the question of compulsory
automobile insurance go over until the
next session in December after Sena-
tor Blaine of Wisconsin, to whom the
subject had been referred, expressed
the belief it could not be given the at
tention to which it is entitled in the
short time remaining at this session.
Asks Extension.
Charles /. Stengle of the Citizens Ad-
visory Council recommended that the
Federal land condemnation bill be ex-
tended to apply to acquisitions for the
District government also. The District
authorities have a separate condemna-
ton bill pending. however. and Chair
man Capper indicated he thought II
would be better to treat the two Sepa-
rately. Senator Blaine said he thought
the Federal condemnation bill should
be acted on soon in view of plans the
Government has under way at this
time
Although the committee has not yet
taken up the street railway merger prob
lem for detailed consideration. 1t was
mentioned briefly at yesterdays meet
ing. when Senator Vandenberg Of Michi-
gan requested that the committee obtain
information as to the basic valuations
of street railway systems in ether I'M
portant cities. He said he wanted to
determine how a $4,000. 900 valuation
for the merged company in Washington,
with a population of 100000, would
compare with valuations in other muni-
cipalitieS.
The most important change in per-
sonal tax procedure called for in the
bill ordered favorably reported Is the
provision that hereafter the lax on
automobiles shall be assessed and COLI
lected at the beginning Of each calen-
TO withhold registration tags until the
personal tax on a car has been paid.
This Is designed to insure collection of
all automobile personal taxes. Under
present law automobiles are listed with
other personal property and the tax
Is paid Semi-annually on the fiscal year
basis.
Call Set for July.
The bill also provides for a return
70 the month Of July as the time for
the fling OF returns on all personal
property other than automobiles. For
the past two years personal tax returns
have been called for In March.
On motion OF Senator Vandenberg.
the committee struck from the bill the
section which would have empowered
the assessor TO examine the books and
records Of business establishments TO
check UP on personal tax returns. The
assessor testified at yecent heariag
that he had never had any dificulty
in getting any specific information he
requested from q taxpayer and In addi-
ton the committee felt that another
section OF the bin gave the assessor
ample authority to take court action
against recalcityantS. For those rea-
sons the committee deemed It unneces-
sary 70 give the assessor blanket au-
thority to examine books and papers.
Under existing Law. when person
falls 20 flle q personal tax return. the
District makes an arbitrary assessment. |
II was testified at the hearing that the |
only way the District has Of arriving |
at the real assessment In such cases !
under the present method Is 20 continue
70 increase the arbitrary figure each |
year until the taxpayer notes an appeal. |
The pending bill empowers the Com
missi0ners 70 apply 70 the court for
wrfts Of mzndafnus 20 compel tndtyid-
nals TO file returns, instead Of attempt
ing to make arbitrary assessments.
The boxing bill favorabiy reported
would legalize amateur bouts, under
permits 10 be issued By a boxing COM
mission. The commission would coss-
sast Of three members appointed by the |
District Commissioners. Licenses would
be issued 10 clubs, colleges or other or
ganizations interested Ia amateur atii-
.etics The admission fee 70 bouts would |
ne limited TO 81, and no prize greater
than 435 could be awarded contest
ant. no bout could run longer than |
four rounds, and gloves Of not less than |
eight ounces would have 70 be used.
Subway IL Suggested.
The Fourteenth street extension bill |
Is identical with the measure passed by |
the Senate IN the last Congress, put |
which failed 70 get through the Houss |
II was reported on motion Of Senator |
Bruce. Democrat Of Maryland. and |
would prohibit street cars and solid tie |
trucks from passing through the Wal !
Ter Reed Hospital grounds.
II also would give the Secretary OF
War Jurisdiction over the grade At
which the street should pass through |
the grounds The extension has been
opposed by hospital authorities on the
erosand II would interfere with the hos
pstai
Eenator Bruce suggested the best so- |
luton Of the problem would b. 70 carry
Fourteenth street through the hospital
reservation in a subway. which, he said, |
would cost 1858 900. Senator capper
said he thought il would be difficult 10
obtain that appropriation. The bill as
reported does not specify a subway. but
leaves the grade n, be fixed by the War