Evening star., 1937-10-14
FIRMS FACE FINES
F0RLATEF|L|NG Of
NEW TAX RETURNS
Privilege Levy Deadline Sat-
urday With Many Reports
Not Made.
FISCAL LAW REVISION
PREDICTED BY MORGAN
0mcial Takes Notice of Mounting
Protest Against Features
of Statute.

Large numbers of Washington busi-
ness and professional operators may
be assessed heavy penalties for failing
10 file returns under the business
privilege tax by deadline Saturday, it
appeared today when officials Of the
assessors office estimate that only
about IL 900 returns had been filed.
District officials have estimated
there are $4,000 persons required to
hle the returns, and doubt was ex-
pressed as to whether 1000 more
would come in before the close Of
business Saturday. The law prescribes
that fine up to $1,000 may be as
sessed for failing to file return, and
beside this the District may apply a
10 per cent increase in the tax for
delinquency plus an additional S per
cent for each month that the taxpayer
Is delinquent in filing the required re-
turns.
Each day during the past week an
increasing number Of persons have
been filing into the business privilege
tax office in room Is of the District
Building and a stream of taxpayers
was passing into the office today to
report the amount of their gross re-
ceipts during the past year. Returns
will be accepted by mail, without pen
atty, If they are postmarked prior to
midnight Saturday.
Revision Is Predicted.
A prediction that the business privi-
lege tax will be revised If it is to be
continued beyond this year was made
last night by 10 V. Morgan, assistant
corporation counsel, speaking at the
FIRST Fall meeting of the Brotherhood
OF the Washington Hebrew Congrega-
tion. Morgan took official note of the
mounting protest against features of
the tax on gross receipts, in predicting
that the levy will be altered If Con-
gress makes it part of the Districts
permanent tax structure.
Morgan issued the warning that if
the business privilege tax is aban-
doned, Congress would have to adopt
another levy equally as productive
because OF the revenue needs of the
District.
The feasibility of naming city wide
committee to fight the business privi-
degs tax and propose in its place q
more equable form of taxation will be
discussed at a meeting at 8 pm. next
Monday in the Hamilton Hotel, under
the auspices Of the Federation Of Busi-
ness Mems Associations.
UYni1A <ho fol~ H.
initiative in this move, it was pointed
out today, 1t is not seeking to control
1t, but Is eager to cooperate with other
organizations.
Interested in Meeting.
At least 20 organizations, ranging
from the Board of Trade to the small
er trade associations, have expressed
interest in the proposed meeting.
The session will be opened by Theo-
dose S. Grape. president of the Fedora
tion of Business Mems Associations,
and then turned over a chairman
selected by the delegates present.
Appointment of Central Committee
on Fair Taxation is the first objective
OF the meeting. The second Is to edu-
cate Congressional Committees as to
the needs of Washington and its busi-
ness men. BY using one committee
representing all the business interests
to make contact with Congress, better
progress can be made toward adopting
legislation for the District, it was
pointed out, and Congressional Com
mittees cannot say they are unable to
crystalize sentiment in the city. Lead
Ing lawyers have been asked to attend
the meeting and give their advice.