The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-18
D. c. TAX BILL
WILL CREATE
SURPLUS

CONTINUED from Page II
from the bill yesterday which
would have permitted the District
Commissioner to borrow from
the Federal Treasury during the
next fiscal year may result In
employees Of the District govern
ment suffering hardShipS. The
section was stricken out on q
point Of order based on the con-
tention that the section consti-
tuted appropriations in q legisla-
tive bill.
Borrowing Eliminated
The reason the provision was
written into the bill by the Dis.
trict tax subcommittee was be-
cause it is feared that many pro-
visions Of the new tax program
will yield no revenue until late
in the fiscal year and it might
be that the city will not have
sufficient funds to meet current
expenses early in the year. Should
this materialize,, many District
employees may either have to be
laid off temporarily, or work for
several months before receiving
any pay.
When the House meets today,
members of the District tax sub
committee will try to have the
inheritance tax rates restored to
those originally proposed in the
bill, and to eliminate the amend
ment taxing chain stores.
accent Realty Tax Rise
Yesterdays action also brought
about the elimination from the
bill Of the income tax and the
substitution of a 20-cent increase
in the real estate tax rate, as
was demanded by the House Rules
Committee and the House leader
ship before permission was given
to bring the bill up in the House.
The vote to make this SubStitu-
ton was SO to 10.
The other section eliminated
was that which would have given
the District Commissioners author
ity to obtain and install parking
meters in the city.
The chain store tax and in
creased inheritance tax rates were
adopted on motion of Represent
alive Martin Dies CD Of Texas,
who led the rebellion Monday
which resulted in the House re-
fuSing to consider the tax pro
gram when it contained the in.
come tax provision Subjecting the
members of Congress to such a tax.
The votes to approve these
amendments were close and, only
a small number Of members Of the
District tax subcommittee are
hopeful of mastering enough sup
port today to eliminate the Dies
amendments on a roll call vote
which will bring all members to
the floor.
Concessions Taxed
The only other amendment ap.
proved was offered BY Representa-
tive Robert F. Rich (R) of Penn
sylvania. providing that the bust
ness privilege tax shall apply to
establishments operating in Fed
eral buildings.
The tax subcommittee was sue
cessful in Stemming efforts to
further amend the bill by the fol
lowing propositions: To increase
the gasoline tax to 4 cents; to
place a 4 per cent tax on the as
SeSSed value Of al land in the
city, including that owned by the
Federal Government, and elimi-
nate all taxes on buildings; to
strike out the business privilege
tax provision, to strike out the
insurance tax provision.
The only section that went un-
scathed through the entire battle
was that taxing motor vehicles by
weight.
Taxes Now Standing
Minus the income tax and with
the substitution of the 20-cent in.
crease in the real estate tax, as
ordered" by the House Rules
Committee before it granted the
special rule on the measure, the
bill in its present form provides
for the following levieS:
Enforcement legislation for