Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1931-02-19

have used the funds to buy automo-
biles or to make salary increases that
the committees had rejected,
Governor Hartley told us, when we
submitted the budget, that he hoped
we would be able to make further
savings, and we intend to do 1t,
eve believe the cuts are justified,
both ON the basis of reduced COM
modify costs and the reduced ability
Of taxpayers"
Whether the reduction In salaries
can be made applicable to department
heads is not yet settled, Chairman
Landon said.
The attorney.generals office has
been asked for ruling on this sub
ject.
In drafting the budget bill, to guard
against transfer Of funds set up for
salaries to other purposes, the senate
committee intends to provide sep
arate item for salaries and wages for
each office and institution.
Sales Tax Provisions.
Details of the administration sales
tax bill, which has been under prepar.
alton for two weeks, were revealed
recently in an attorney.general's opin-
ion. The measure is a privilege tax
proposal, with levies Of from to s
per cent Of the gross proceeds Of every
business in the state.
Only a proposal to tax interstate
business of common carriers would be
unconstitutional, the attorney general
wrote.
Provisions follow:
One per cent of gross receipts on
sale of agricultural, horticultural and
mineral products, timber and fisheries.
One per cent Of gross sale receipts
Of all manufactured articles.
One per cent of gross on merchants
sales over 5000. Bonds and securities
exempted.
Five per cent Of gross on all com.
mon carriers, telephone, telegraph,
light and power companies. NUM-
cipally-owned utilities not enjoying all
the privileges of private competitors
exempted.
Two per cent on receipts from pro-
fessional and business services. Per.
sons performing services on salaries
exempted.
Five per cent of gross receipts of
theatres, golf courses and other amuse-
ments.
One per cent Of gross receipts of
contracting and contracting firms.
One per cent on all business now
covered in other categories.
| There were no indications so far
as to when the bill would be filed.
1t provided for the money-estimat-
ed at s2O,O00,O0O year-to reduce
state taxes, with any residue going to
counties to finance schools. The state
tax commission would administer the
law.
New Motor Code.
Sometime this week there will be
introduced in the legislature, possibly
by the house committee on highways
and motor vehicle transportation, the
new "Tri-State Motor Vehicle Code,
approved and adopted at a recent con
ference held at Portland, attended by
legislative delegations from Washing
ton, Oregon and California and repre-
sentatives Of other western states.
The new code will be an amenda
tory act in this state. 1t will be in
troduced also in both the Oregon ant
California legislatures, so that if adopt
ed by the three commonwealth, thu
Pacific Coast motor codes will be uni
form.
The bill makes several drastic
changes in the laws Of this state. Thu
present 40-miles an hour maximum
speed is stricken, and no speed limi
is fixed. 1t makes drastic provision
against reckless driving" and say
motorists shall not "drive at spec
greater than is reasonable and prr
dent" 1t further calls for 15-mil
an hour speed when passing schools
during recess or when pupils are al
irving or departing.
Road Laws Changed.
"Slow driving" which endangers tn
movement of traffic on highways !
forbidden, and motorists who refus
to step on 1t" when ordered by ira
fic officers face penalty.
These changes, along with numel
Gus others relative to entering stree
intersections, rights of way at eros!
Ing, requiring slowing down on al
preaching blind grade rail crossing,
and new rules of the road are foun
In the proposed code.
Senator Knutzen, Skagit, filed bi
TO prevent false advertising of dair