Evening star., 1934-04-04
Will Study Commissioners
Proposal for Liquor
Stamp Tax.
COMPULSORY INSURANCE
ON TAxIS TO BE DECIDED
Session of Committee Today
Shortened by Early House
Convening.

n special meetlng OF the House Dis
trict Committee has been called for
tomorrow, at 10 am, to consider
the Commissioners bill calling for a
stamp tax on wines, champagnes. al
cohol and spirits; the Dirksen bill to
amend the alcoholic liquor control act
by permitting drug stores to fill doc.
tors prescriptions for blended liquors
and wines, and the measure requiring
financial responsibility for taxicabs.
Program Presented.
The Commissioners program Of 10
bills. which they urge for prompt
action, was presented to the committee
today by Corporation Counsel E. Bar
rett Prettyman. Most urgent in this
program, the Commissioners place the
proposed stamp act, which is an
amendment to the District alcoholic
beverage control act. This proposes
that there shall be levied on certain
named beverages manufactured By
holders Of manufacturers license
and on the same beverages when i'm
ported into the District by the holder
Of wholesalers or retailers license
a schedule of stamp taxes as follows:
A tax Of 35 cents on every wine gallon
Of wine containing more than II per
cent of alcohol, by volume except
champagne or any wine artificially
caroonated with a proportionate tax
at a like rate on all fractional Parts
Of the gallon.
A tax of so cents on every wine gal
lon OF champagne or other wine arti-
flcially carbonated with proportion
ate tax on any portion Of the gallon
A tax Of so cents on every wine gal
Ion of spirits with a proportionate on
all fractional parts of the gallon.
A tax Of s1.10 on every wine gallon
Of alcohol with a proportionate tax on
all fractional parts of the gallon.
Proposed Payment.
These proposed taxes would be paid
by afflxing a stamp secured from the
collector Of taxes showing the amount
of the tax imposed for such beverages.
This stamp would be placed upon the
immediate container unless the COM
misSioners by regulation would pro-
vide otherwise.
A second important piece OF legis-
lation which the Commissioners urge
is the compulsory insurance for taxi
cabs sponsored by Representative
Patman. Democrat, Of Texas.
Other measures included In the
program are the Black bill covering
public utility procedure. the Clark bill
authorizing the sale of property, the
Harlan life insurance company bill,
the Harlan bill proposing employees
compensation rates, the Patman bill
authorizing the licensing of electric
ians, the Palmisano bill to enlarge the
powers Of the District Commissioners,
the Palmisano bill authorizing the sale
of certain public school property and
the Palmisano bill requiring fire
escapes.
Today's Session Brief.
Today's meeting of the House Dis
trict Committee was very brief be-
cause the House convened an hour
earlier than usual. The committee
had before it a petition signed by
Al persons protesting against the bill
which would authorize enlarging the
cemetery of the Congregation Shewry
Tallmud Tairy of the District between
Congress streets and Fifteenth place
southeast, in Anacostia
This petition, presented by Winslow
L. Murray, 1924 Stanton road south
east. was signed by colored residents.
Corporation Counsel Prettyman ex-
planned to the committee that under
the provisions of the law in force when
the cemetery property was purchased
and when the residential property
was purchased, the consent in writ
ing of all property owners is necessary
before permit is issued for enlarge
ment of a cemetery. The bill was
pigeonholed by the committee.