Evening star., 1933-01-18
BANKERS PROTEST
MAPES TAX BILLS
Urge 60-40 Retention in Let
ter to Capper-Senators
to Consider Action.

As the Senate District Committee
prepared to assemble IN executive ses-
sion this afternoon to consider the four
Mapes bills by which the House is seek
ing to increase the tax burden of resi-
dents of washington by approximately
81, 000. GOO, District Assessor William p.
Richards and Assistant Assessor Charles
A. Russell called on Chairman Capper
to discuss the present trend Of local tax
collections.
Another development Just before the
meeting began was the receipt by the
Senate committee of letter from the
District Bankers Association defending
the law under which Congress estab-
llshed the 6040 ratio of apportioning
the expenses of the Capital between the
District and Federal Governments, the
repeal of which also was recommended
by the Mapes Committee of the House.
1he bankers association deplored the
manner in which the House passed the
four tax bills without holding hearings
on their specific terms
Group VitaIIy Interested.
In a letter accompanying the resolu-
ton, F. c. Addison, jr., chairman Of
the Law and Legislatiin Committee of
the association. told Senator Capper the
organization is "vitally interested in
the question of taxation for the Dis
trict of Columbia, and respectfully re-
quests an opportunity to be heard in
opposition to H,R. 1921" (the income
tax bilD.
The income tax measure would be in
lieu of the Intangible personal property
tax, would apply to all incomes above
certain exemption, and would be in
addition to the Federal income tax.
The other three Mapes tax bills pro-
vide:
An increase in the gasoline tax from
2 to cents per gallon; a tax on
all motor vehicles by weight, and q
tax on estates.
Won't Discuss Relations.
1t is not expected the committee will
discuss the fifth bill, seeking to repeal
the 60-40 fiscal relations law. because
Senate hearings have not been held on
that measure as yet.
Senator Capper said before the meet
ing that the officials from the District
assessors Office who called on him
were in favor of having a local income
tax m place of the intangible personal
tax. He said they devoted most Of
their discussion to that phase of the
Mapes program.
Mr.. Richards made no comment re-
garding the conference with Senator
Capper, except to say his Office was
preparing some data on the present
drift OF tax collections.
Senator Capper said the District ON
cials explained how local tax revenues
are being affected by prevailing condi-
tions, pointing out, among other things,
that the city is not realizing as much
from tax sales as it did formerly.
Bankers Resolutions.
The resolutions sent to the Senate
committee today by the Bankers Asso-
ciation read. in part:
That this association express its
disapproval of the manner in which
the four tax measures, otherwise known
as the Mapes bills, were passed by the
house OF Representatives on December
10, 1881, without giving the residents
OF the District of Columbia an oppor.
tunity to be heard IN connection with
the methods of taxation provided IN
said bills.
That this association unite with
otner business and civic organizations
IN the District of Columbia In work.
ing for the retention and the obServ.
arice OF an act of Congress which pro.
yldes for meeting the expenses of the
District of Columbia by taxes aggre.
eating go per cent of said expenditures,
and contribution by the Federal Cow
eminent toward said expenses Of q
sum equivalent to 40 per cent Of said
total expenses.
Refers 10 Committee.
"That the president of this associa.
tion refer the matters herein set forth
TO any standing committee Of the asso-
c1ation which may have Jurisdiction
over the subject, or, with the approval
and consent of the Council of Admins
tration, appoint special committee to
represent this association in a confer
ence with other business and civic
bodies on the subject of the legislation
referred TO-"
The Senate committee also has before
1t bill drafted by Senator Capper re-
writing and changing the rates in the
existing law taxing public utilities and
certain other corporations on the basis
OF gross receipts. The Senator said he
was not sure whether this bill would
come up this afternoon. Hearings have
not yet been held on it.
Another bill, relating to the taxation
ON insurance companies, has Just been
introduced at the request of the cor.
poration counsel's Office seeking to elm
mate q distinction which that Office
says exists under the District Code in
the manner of taxing certain kinds of
insurance companies, as distinguished
from certain other companies. The
corporation counsel advised the Senate
committee there seemed to be no reason
for this distinction, and he recommends
ed an amendment to the code on the
subject.