Evening star., 1938-12-11
Federation
Continued From First Page.)

tax by Harry 8. Wender, Southwest
Citizens Association delegate.
Mr.. Wender's resolution called for
such . graduated income tax for "se-
curing such additional revenue as
may be needed for the proper ad-
ministration of the District govern
ment. in the event that the Federal
Government Is paying an equitable
part of District expenses"
During the debate on Mr.. Wen
der's proposal, the question of
whether Federal employees In WASH
ington could be subjected to the
tax was raised by several delegates
Sees Weapon in Measure.
Mr.. Finch declared there was no
question as to the constitutionality
of taxing the incomes of Federal
employees residing in Washington.
But II the courts do rule that
the Government employe is exempt"
he added. their decision will give
the District OF Columbia the best
weapon 1t has ever had to demand
that Congress pay its equitable share
Of District expenses"
Mr.. Wender argued that Federal
workers are, in effect, employees of
Congress
Congress certainly should be able
to tax its own employees" he shout
ed. IF they can't, then God help
this Republic"
Arguing against the proposal, A.
M. Edwards, chairman of the Fiscal
Affairs Committee, declared he was
unalterably opposed to 1t because 1t
would be difficult of administration
and would be a form of double tax
alton. He was supported by Dele
gate s. J. Flickinger. who empha-
sized that q local income tax would
necessitate establishment of 4 large
bureau to administer 1t. Because
of the many exemptions that would
be made. he added, it would be an
unequal levy.
M. M. Mclean said he favored 4
moderate income levy based on abil-
ity to pay, and NJ. J. Sanger declared
that although it would be 4 form
OF double taxation, it has worked
successfully in many States.
Jesse C. Suter argued, however
that the fact that other municipali-
ties levy a separate income tax is
not an important factor be- ause
conditions in Washington are en-
tirely different. The local income
tax plan. he said. lis beautiful in
theory, but impractical in practice"
Final Ballot 34-2s Against.
A standing vote on Mr.. Vendors
proposal resulted in q 1926 tie. A
roll call was demanded and the
final ballot was announced as "a to
% against the income tax.
The non-salary, non-wage per-
sonal net income tax proposal was
voted down after little debate. Sew
eral delegates spoke in support of
a retail sales levy, but 1t was easily
defeated.
In urging opposition to q sales
tax, Mr.. Finch argued that 1t would
place an inequitable and unjust
burden "on some who already are
bearing their full share OF the tax
load" 1T would hit the low-income
group, he said.
George H. Brown. Columbia
Heights delegate, declared that If
Congress would pay its equitable
share of the costs of the District
government there would be no need
for a sales tax or any other new tax.
DR.. c. B. Campbell said q sales
tax would be easy to collect and
would raise about 5000, 900 in reve-
nue. each year.
Sales Tax Held Most Unfair
Harry N. Stull asserted that "by
all odds. the sales tax is the most
unfair tax ever levied by any State"
and Chairman Edwards called 1t
nuisance tax No. l."
The federation began action on
the Tax Advisory Committees pro-
posed program a week ago, but was