The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-11-30
TAX HEARINGS
END;'EXPERTS'
WEIGHING IFS
Committee Seeking Way
To Raise so Million

and today began weighing
portfolio Of "ifs" against the neces-
sity of providing $50,000,000 in
revenue to support the 1910
budget.
Nearly two-score citizens ap-
peared before the committee dur
ing the sessions, either in their
individual capacities or as rep
resentatives of organizations.
Some Of the organizations
represented were logically inter
ested in the tax measure, while
there were also a large number
that had no interest, but they
were given the courtesy of the
floor.
SOME OF WITNESSES
There was the National Lawyers
Guild, composed principally Of at
torneys in the Federal service.
Represented by Louis o. Sherman,
an attorney in the Department Of
Agriculture, the guild went down
the line with Sidney r. KatZ, Of
the CLIO Maryland-Distr coun-
Gil: William P. Robinson, of the
colored Non-Partisan Lobby for
Economic and Democratic Rights;
Arthur Bernstein, Of the Citizens
Committee Of Fair Taxation, and
Samuel Lipkowitz, of the National
Labor Relations Board Union; a
representative of the United Fed
eral Workers of America, and Mar
tin Chancey, secretary Of the Ma
tional Communist Party.
None Of that group favored the
sales tax. All favored the corporate
net income tax and the graduated
income tax in preference to the
wage and salary-eXempt income
tax proposed in the program.
PLENTY OF JOBS
Along with the others-they had
a big ''if' in their plan. IF" the
Federal contribution was on an
equitable basis there would be no
need for additional tax resources
and "if" the laborer was given
proper exemptions from sales tax
excuses on necessities, the sales
tax would not be Objectionable.
Francis G. Addison, jr., presi-
dent of the Board of Trade; j. A.
IBrylawSki, of the District Council
on Municipal Affairs: F. A. Muir
ray and Charles j. Rush OF the
Washington Real Estate Board and
other private individuals were
against any proposal to increase
the real estate tax because the
District already has the largest
proportion of tax exempt real
estate of any municipality of COM
parable size in America and favored
repeal of the intangible property
and the gross receipts tax IF"
sufficient revenue can be raised
elsewhere.
GAS TAX RAISE HIT
Some favored an increased gaso-
line tax eff" the additional revenue
could be diverted to the general
fund, but Washington I. Cleveland
of the American Automobile Asso-
citation and George E. Keneipp Of
the keystone Automobile Club de-
clared it would place on IS per
cent of the local citizenry who
own automobiles the tax burden
of the other rs per cent.
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard, Of the
Federation of Women's Clubs, told
the group her organization
favored the sales tax above all
other forms of taxation. Directly
paid, easily collected, not easily
evaded, the sales tax is q painless
form of taxation based on ability
SOME MORE IFS"
The income tax feature has
placed the biggest "if" Of all in
the picture. Corporation Counsel
Elwood Seal and 10 V. Morgan,
the Districts tax expert, said the
Supreme Court has indicated the
District cannot levy a tax on
federal incomes. Such a tax
would be a sure and certain means
of revenue they agreed, IF" such
a tax was constitutional.
It is considered probable, as
result of the hearings, that the
attorney general will be asked for
an advisory opinion on the consti-
tutionality of straight, graduated
income tax and meanwhile the
consultants, Colin F. STAN and DR..
Chester B. Pond, will make re-
searches to determine IF" the
sales tax, with exemptions, and
the salary and wage-exempt in
come tax will produce additional
revenue to make up the budget
requirements after eliminating
the intangible property and the
business privilege-gross receipts
tax.
How n WreGtler's half Nelson on Q