Evening star., 1937-05-28
BY DON S. WARREN.


Acting with haste in their fiQht
against time, the Commissioners to-
day approved, tentatively at least. a
revised budget-balancing tax program
which would produce 100000 from
a business privilege tax and $4,000, 900
from District income levy.
This informal decision was reached
this morning after the Commissioners
had conferred with their Tax Revenue
Committee, which then Immediately
began preparation of details of the two
new bills
The rates and other details to be in.
corporated into the income and busi-
ness-prlvllege tax measures had not
been determined, but speedy action was
promised because the tax subcommit.
tee Of the House District COMMITTEES
has ordered the program must be
ready for its consideration by Tuesday
morning.
Special Highway Fund.
The Commissioners committee an.
nounced the weight tax on automo.
biles, designed to bring in 1900 900.
Will be framed so that the revenues
would go into a special highway fund,
and not the general fund This plan
was adopted because the House sub.
committee ruled out of consideration
the proposed increase Of the gasoline
tax from to cents.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, director Of
highways, has made a strong fight for
increased funds for highway purposes,
and, according to word at the District
Building, some members Of the House
subcommittee will support the move
to turn this new tax on motor vehicle
owners to the exclusive use of highway
improvements.
Present Intention.
The Commissioners also had de.
termined that the existing intangible
personal property tax should be re.
tanned and should not be confused with
the operation of the proposed incoms
tax.
As the program now stands the
Commissioners will seek, rather, to
amend the Intangible tax law to put
more teeth into it. Specifically they
plan to ask that the District assessors
be authorized to examine books and
records of banks and other parties
dealing with the intangible holdings
of residents Of the District.
The House subcommittee has been
advised by Assessor Fred D. Allen that
such changes should be made If tins
intangible tax was retained. He has
predicted the District might be abla
to collect as much as 81 100000 addi-
tional if this power were granted.
Other District officials think this esti-
mate too high.
Carrying out a suggestion made by
the House subcommittee, the COM
missioners also will propose that for
eign corporations doing business in
the District be required to register
with the District government, pay a
registration fee and to designate a
resident agent upon whom legal
process might be served. The Com
missioners' committee has not yet de-
termined what the registration fee
would be.
Aim at Gas Importers.
While the House subcommittee has
turned thumbs down on the proposed
gas tax increase, the Commissioners
hope to salvage from the bill pro.
visions which would require the
licensing and bonding of all gas inn
porters who serve as the fiscal agents
in the District in the collection Of the
gas tax.
Furthermore they hope to have in
such measure additional provisions
which would establish more definitely
the "chain of title Of the gas own.
ership ss an aid to check on collec-
tions of the due taxes. The assessors
office has had numerous cases in re-
cent years Of alleged attempted eva
sion Of the gas tax payments. The
present plan is to incorporate these
(See TAXES, Page A-4)