Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-15
Representatives Mcleod and
Bowman Meet Officials
on Gibson Measure.
INCREASED RECEIPTS
OF 100000 ESTIMATED
West Virginian Protests Taxing
Small Businesses and So Run
ming Up Consumer Costs.

AT the suggestion of the District Com
miSsioners, who consider the Gibson
measure to amend the license law of the
District one of the most important
pending bills, Representatives Mcleod
Of Michigan and Bowman of West Vtr-
ginia conducted hearing on the legls-
lation today with representatives from
the corporation counsels Office, the Blu
reau OF Efficiency and the superintend-
ent of licenses as witnesses No con-
clusion was reached upon the pending
measure.
Representative Gibson of Vermont,
former chairman of the Special Sub
committee which investigated the mu-
nicipal administration of the District
OF Columbia, reviewed his report and
emphasized that revamping of the
license law was one of the important
measures recommended for the Ma
tional Capital. He pointed out that
many provisions of the present law are
obsolete and that conditions have
nicipality has outgrown the old license
code. In reply to questions, it was
stated that the present law collects
about Sl75,000 in revenue, of which some
$4,000 Is in excess of inspection costs,
and that the new law is estimated to
yield an additional 100000 in revenues,
of which approximately half will be in
excess of the cost of operation, due
largely to restrictive fees.
Fee System Proposed.
In reply to questions by Representa-
tive Bowman, it was explained that the
new measure establishes a system of
fees to cover the cost of inspection
serV5 n bakeries, groceries handling
i1o>., and many other lines of business.
There are at present some 1879
licenses issued, the witness said, and
some % lines of business or occupa-
tons which are not now being licensed
are to be licensed and inspected
Representative Bowman protested
strenuously and insistently that small
businesses should not be taxed par
the sake OF yielding additional revenue,
which, he said, in effect, runs up the
cost of living for consumers.
Donald P. Evans, chief investigator
for the United States Bureau of En-
cheney, who was one of the special
committee appointed by the District
Commissioners to draft this legislation,
| said that in a great majority of cases
the proposed bill departs from the pres
| ent law in that it does not tax for
| revenue, but that the fee is regulated
! by the cost of inspection.
Oppose Adding to Inspectors.
Representative Gibson explained that
this bill represents the best Judgment
of men who are best Versed in this SUBJ
ject and who have given the matter very
careful consideration. Representative
Bowman insisted that 1t creates more
inspectors to go around bothering husi-
ness and increasing the cost of doing
business and the cost of food to the
consumers.
Wade H. Coombs, superintendent Of
licenses, said that a canvass had been
made of all the large cities of the coun-
try and that the laws in these other
municipalities on this subject had been
carefully studied.
Attention was called to the fact that
the so-called restrictive tax is iIlustrat-
ed by proposed charge of $25 on each
pool table, with view to decreasing
the number of pool rooms, of which
there are now 1872.
Representative Mcleod, acting as
chairman, asked that there be sub
mitted a list of the fees charged at
present for various lines of business or
occupation and in parallel columns the
fees, which it is proposed to charge
under the new law.
Representative Bowman asked If there
was a tax on billboards and was told
that if the pending bill passes, 1t will
require an amendment to take care the
billboard situation.