Evening star., 1935-12-03
BETHESDA c. OF c.
STARTS TAX FIGHT
a2
Drastic Policy Aimed at
Levy on Sales Is
~J2"
Adopted.
BY JACK ALLEN,

STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
BETHESDA, Md, December 3.-The
ground work for stubborn fight
against any continuation of sales taxes
in MARYLAND was laid in the Bethesda
Chamber OF Commerce last night with
the adoption of the Special Sales Tax
Committees progress report opposing
the imposition of trade levies for the
purpose Of financing unemployment
relief
Il Withholding passage OF formal
resolution until the committee COM
pletes its current study, the chamber
O. drastic anti-Sales tax policy" in
an effort to defeat any plan that
may be advanced for re-enactment
Of the gross receipts tax, or adoption
of sales levy, when the State AS
sembly conveneS for its special re-
lief session.
Hope for Reductions.
Hope for permanent reductions in
the gas and telephone rates of sub
urtan Montgomery County that will
be comparable with those made re-
Gently in the District of Columbia
was advanced by Samuel e. Stone
braker chairman of the Public Utili-
ties Committee. after conference yes
terday with officials of the two COM
panies.
. Bitter opposition to the type of
poles which were recently erected
along the eastern side of Wisconsin
avenue to carry electric power lines
and the new street lighting system
was voiced during the meeting and an
attempt is to be made to have them
removed in favor of more ornamental
standards.
The Sales Tax Committee, headed
by Walter K. Bachrach, pointed out
in its report that a number of States
having sales taxes have suffered great
loss of trade to adjacent non-sales
tax States. particularly New Jersey,
where trade declined % per cent with
a similar increase showing up in New
York and Pennsylvania stores. The
New Jersey tax was repealed several
months after its enactment.
Hold Merchants Suffer.
Holding that Maryland merchants
have suffered under the gross re-
ceipts tax enacted nearly year ago.
the committee recommended that the
chamber wage an 'unrelenting, per-
sfstent and unalterable attack upon
political spenders and advocates of
~ 70 nf "a
State legislature"
1t was suggested that the State
Legislatu might act to place relief
under the jurisdiction of the counties
and Baltimore City. thereby relieving
the State from that responsibility.
George P. Sacks and j. Harry WEIGH
led the fight against the new electric
light poles. declaring that an agree
ment with the chamber had been vio-
lated through the placing of SIS and go
foot cedar poles on the eastern side Of
the thoroughfare and asserting that
the trade body had received assurances
they would be installed on the west
side, where they would be less noticeable.
Sacks stated that residents of the
community have struggled for years to
make Wisconsin avenue a beautiful
highway leading into the National
Capital and the installation of the
towering poles has spoiled the resi-
dents effort in that behalf.
Harold Brooks, an official of the
Potomac Electric Power Co, said that
his concern was interested primarily
in giving the suburban residents
high type Of service and that appar-
emily a misunderstanding had arisen
over the manned in which the poles
would be placed.
Committees Named.
A committee composed of Stone
braker, chairman; Joseph A. Can
trel John Overholt, Harry L. Cola
day and A. r. Townshend, jr., was
named to confer with officials of the
gas and telephone companies on rate
reductions, while Sacks, TownShend
and WEIGH were appointed to confer
with the electric company regarding
removal of the poles.
DR.. Arthur w. Shea and Owen E.
Ryan were elected to membership.
An appropriation of $25 was voted for
the Christmas fund Of the Bethesda
Fire Department.