Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-10-03
OLD INHABITANTS
BACK SAFETYDR|VE.
Association Also Goes on
Record lis Opposing Gas
Tax Diversion.

was Endorsed enthusiastically last
night by the Association OF Oldest
Inhabitants of the District Of Co
lumbia.
The matter was brought up by c. j.
MacMurray, who highly commended
the campaign of The Evening Star
Safety Council. He introduced reso-
luton placing the association on rec
ord formally supporting the campaign.
John Clagett Proctor, vice president
of the association, declared the re-
suits should be to make the streets
safer for motorists, pedestrians and
every one
The association, after some debate,
went on record as opposed to the
proposal to divert the District of Co
lumbia gasoline tax to general funds
of the District to be used for other
purposes than highways.
Charges Double Taxation.
The matter was presented to the
association by Richard NJ Ham, direc-
tor of safety of the District of CO.
lumbia Motor Club. He charged that
to divert the gas tax to other pur-
poses would amount to double taxa
ton" Motor taxes. he said, ARE Spe-
cial additional levies for special pur-
pose, and their application to any,
thing but that particular purpose con-
stitutes discrimination. Opposition to
diversion of such taxes was said by
the speaker to have been embodied by
Congress in the Hayden Cartwright
Federal aid authorization bill of 1884.
Ham said Commissioner George E,
Allen favored diversion of gas taxes.
Aliens views, said the speaker. ARE
at such wide variance with generally
approved and well established motor
tax principles that they must be chal-
lenged as revolutionary and directly
involving the interest Of the owners OF
our 1853 900 motor vehicles in the Dis
trict OF Columbia"
Attacking the proposed diversion
Lemuel A Carruthers charged it would
be contrary to the basic principles of
taxation. While the gas tax now was
said by the speaker to be sufficient for
its purpose of highway maintenance,
Carruthers suggested that if it were to
be diverted this would furnish an
excuse for a substantial increase in
the gas tax, which would not be justi-
fed. Certain Marylanders and Vir-
ginians, he said. would like to see the
District gas tax increased from its
present 2-cent level because of the
Scent tax in Virginia and the A
cent tax in Maryland.
John B. Dickman spoke in favor of
diversion of the tax. He said the
present system of keeping the tax for
highway purposes alone "savors of
class legislation. He declared it would
be as logical to say that all taxes on
shoe stores should be used for i'm
proving the shoe store business. All
taxes, he argued, should go into the
common fund.
Objection Raised.
Max Kohner objected to the shoe
store argument as not comparable
He said he had no automobile, but
favored using the gas tax for high
ways only.
The resolution on the matter intro
duced by J. Eliot Wright, and passed
by the association, with only a few
dissenting votes, said we are opposed
to the diversion of the revenues re-
ceived from the special gasoline tax
In the District Of Columbia to other
than highway purposes"
The resolution indorsed "in letter
and in spirit the stand on this ques-
ton taken by the District of Column
bia Motor Club, as communicated to
the Board of Commissioners of the
District of Columbia under date of
September 10, 1885"
Center Fund Plan Studied.
A proposal from the Board of Trade
asking support for the proposal to
build part of the Municipal Center
from funds to be allocated by Secre-
tary Of the Interior IckeS was referred
to the delegates of the association to
the Federation of Citizens ASsocia-
tons. Carruthers said Senator King
of Utah, chairman of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, has in mind intro
ducing legislation to get money for
this from other sources
On Wright's motion Walter E. AL |
len was elected vice president of the
association. filling vacancy at the
foot of the line left by the death of !
OOi'Il OOy EuSOll, one OIL lIle senior VICE I
presidents.
Kchner suggested that the associa-
ton observe its SEVENTEEN birthday
anniversary next December at its an
nual banquet in elaborate fashion,
with published souvenir relating the
history OF the association. The matter
was referred to Wright. chairman of |
the Entertainment Committee.
The development of the association
since he became member in 1903
Was traced by Wright in an interesting
paper read to the organization. He
gave an accounting of his stewardship
as secretary treasurer During IA
years he said $50 members had been
admitted, 4l6 had died, 1870 had re-
signed or been dropped, leaving a
membership now of 435.
Il am next to the oldest member in
point of membership" said Wright. |
There is only one person who has
been a member longer than I, and !