Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-15
An Other Stalrs and Canada.
No Gas Tax Increase!

Doubling the gasoline tax to produce
revenue that will be cut off by in
valuation Of the Borland amendment
would enable the Federal Government
further to escape its just and equitable
obligation toward support of the Cap
ital. 1t would add to the injustices al
ready resulting from those that came
into existence with the gasoline tax
law. 1t would increase the dangers to
this unreprescnted community of tax
payers that lie in numerous and radical
departures by Congress from the spirit
as well as the letter of substantive law,
never repealed. 1t would merely transfer
the application of inequitable princi-
Piles from one law to another. 1t should
be taken for granted that the Com
missioners will condemn the proposal at
the outset and consign it to deserved
oblivion.
The history of the gasoline tax from
TIE time Of its original proposal to its
enactment carries warning to the
District that should not be so quickly
forgotten. The gasoline tax was pro-
posed by the Commissioners, endorsed
by the citizens, as a substitute for the
personal property and the horse
power tax on automobiles. The
reason behind the proposal lay in
the dificulties then existing between
Maryland and the District over auto
mobile reciprocity. The fact that Mary
land imposed gasoline tax and the
District did not stood in the way Of
obtaining reciprocity. AS the con-
tsmplated proceeds under the gasoline
tax would practically equal the auto
mobile tax revenues, and as Maryland
was willing to grant reciprocity if the
District imposed a gasoline tax, the
gas tax proposal was sent to Congress,
with the understanding that it would
be interpreted as merely changing the
form Of taxation, without adding addi-
tional burdens.
Congress, disregarding the petitions
of the taxpayers, enacted the gasoline
tax law as an additional tax, preserving
the personal property tax on autonno-
biles. In round numbers the District
instead Of paying million dollars,
paid two millions. And instead of
including the gasoline tax revenues as
District revenues which, under the law
would be met by o 40-per cent contri-
hutton from the Federal Government,
the gasoline tax was made special
or mon Invisible" appropriation and
segregated from other revenues, as in
the case of Water Department revenues.
Thus Congress imposed an additional
burden of taxation on the District to
which II does not contribute a penny;
isolated it by making it q special fund
which calls for no proportionate Fed
ersl contribution and at the same time
reduced. by legislative evasion, its due
contribution to the general fund OF the
District.
Increasing the gasoline tax would in
crease these injustices. It might en-
able the 'aderal Government to with
draw entirely from participation in up
keep or development of the Federal
Capitals street system, eventually plac-
ing this burden en- automobile owners
as class, just as improvements and
development of the water system haze
been placed on the shoulders of water
users. with the Federal Government;
escaping any financial responsibility
ard getting its water free.
The authorities at the District Build
ing could better serve this community
by demanding that the Federal Gov
eminent contribute TO Capital expenses
according to self-imposed law than BY
discussing ways and means Of adding
, TO the injustices resulting from con-
g-.Scicnal disregard of law.