Evening star., 1935-11-27
DECISION ON TAX
INCREASE DELAYED
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Size of Districts Lump Sum
important Factor in
Findings.
SENTIMENT FOR HIGHER
UTILITY LEVY NOTED
Boost in Gasoline May Not Be
Found Necessary-Auto Weight
May Guide Fees.

Members Of the Commissioners Tax
Committee today engaged in a general
reconsideration of all its data, uncer-
tain yet as to how great is the need
for increased taxes to be coupled with
a -hoped-for boost in the Federal pay
ment toward expenses of the National
Capital.
Another meeting has been scheduled
for Friday morning, when it is hoped
q report may be drafted. When this
is done, the commissioners will call
into conference a number of civic
workers especially we'll informed on
tax and revenue matters Commis-
sioner Hazen also has given repeated
assurances a public hearing will be
called before the commissioners adopt
a proposed legislative program
Committee members so far have de-
clined to make any public statement
of what revision or increase in pres
ent taxes they favor or will recon-
mend. There are some indications the
committee may find the District will
AAOb AINCh DO HULL do > tgOUU,UUU
tional annual revenue, as has been
suggested by figures on trends of va
rious factors.
Center Is Possible Factor.
On the other hand, the committee
decisions may be affected by consid-
Grafton of some extraordinary ex.
penses which may arise in the future,
such as the building of the proposed
Municipal Center to house District
government functions.
The only pointed information that
has been released by the committee 20
far was mass of figures giving the
history for the past IS years Of trends
In total appropriations, tax collections,
the downward trend of the Federal
payment. the downward trend of capl-
tai outlay for schools. libraries and
other permanent Improvements in re-
cent years.
Committee members also have point
ed to charts to show that from 1924 10
1929 the District was able to spend
some $10,000,000 a year on permanent
Improvements. This figure in the past
year or so has been cut about in half.
Maintenance costs, on the other hand,
have continued to rise for many years
at the rate of nearly 81 900 900 a year.
These factors were discussed by the
committee yesterday afternoon. It
was declared there was need for more
careful and a deeper study OF all
these factors before the committee
would be ready to formulate recon-.
mendations.
Utilities Face Increase.
From progress made by the COM
mittee in its work. it now appears
there is some doubt as to whcther it
will champion boost of cent in the.
Districts 2-cent gasoline tax. There
appears to be more favor for an up
ward revision of taxes on the utility
concerns, particularly steam railroads
for properties in the District, and for
adoption of an inheritance tax.
Committee members are debating the
question OF proposed substitution OF
an automobile weight tax for the pres
ent personal property tax on auto
mobiles.
Members Of the committee are Cor
poration Counsel E. Barrett Pretty
man, chairman; Maj. Daniel ]. Dono-
van, auditor; Richmond B. Keech,
vice chairman, Public Utilities Com.
mission; Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, di-
rector Of highways; Peoples Counsel
William A. Roberts and Tax Assessor.
William P. Richards.