Evening star., 1938-01-02
TAXES MAJOR GIFT
TOD|STR|CT IN 1887
Red Rider Repeal and Work
on Airport Bill During
Past Year Recalled.
By JAMES E. CHINN.

Past year Recalled.
sBy JAMES e. CHINN.
Enactment of new tax legislation
adding 100000 to an already heavy
tax burden was the major gift Of
Congress to the District in 1887, and
the advent of the new year finds the
Nations legislative machinery pre-
pairing to grind out another tax in
crease program to raise between S4,-
100000 and $5,000,000.
Altogether, 220 bills and resolutions
directly affecting the District-its
social, economic and business life
were dumped into the legislative hop
pers at the last session OF Congress.
but only "a were enacted into law.
Three others, passed by both House
and Senate, were vetoed by President
Roosevelt
Tax Measures Reviewed.
+ The tax program imposed on Wash
ington several forms Of new taxes,
! permanent as we'll as temporary. The
temporary measures labeled "emer-
gency," consist of a business privilege
tax on gross receipts, and a 25-cent
increase in the real estate and per-
sonal property levy. Both are
! scheduled to die at the close Of the
current fiscal year. June 80 next.
In the permanent group are an in
heritance and estates levy and q
weight tax on motor vehicles.
The prospective financial condition
, OF the District in the coming fiscal
year, however, will necessitate con-
! tinuation of these So-called "emer-
gency" levies for another year, at
least, or the adoption of some other
forms of taxation. in order to balance
the budget for the 1899 fiscal year.
The new tax problem is to be settled
early in the coming session of Congress.
Aside from enacting tax increase
legislation, Congress repealed the
famous red rider" to the 1886 Dis
trict appropriations act which, for
several years, had the effect of stop-
ping altogether the teaching OF the
facts OF communism in the public
schools. 1t also took steps toward a
solution of the long -agitated airport
problem-steps that may lead in the
coming session to Establishment of an
airport.
Little More Done.
Otherwise the last session of Con-
gress did relatively little of an inn
portant nature for the District. Two
OF the outstanding legislative pro-
posals still await disposition in the
new session. One, bill to mod
ernlze and humanize Juvenile Court
procedure, passed both House and
Senate but was left languishing in
a conference committee. The other is
bill to prevent construction of abat-
toirs and other so-called nuisance"
industries in the District. The House
District Committee tabled the anti
nuisance industries bill, but a sub
committee of the Senate District Com
mittee has it under consideration and
probably will determine the ultimate
fate Of the measure in the coming
session.
In its failure to to act favorably the
House District Committee did kill a
piece OF legislation that was bitterly
opposed-a bill that would have le-
galized horse racing in Washington.
This measure had actually started
on its legislative journey and reached
the House calendar before the COM
mittee recalled 1t and placed it in
the pigeonhole for the remainder of
the Seventy-flfth Congress.
Airport Bill Pending.
One solution of the airport prob
lem was contained in the report of
the Congressional Airport Commits
/ sion, which recommended establish
ment of modern airfield in Southern
Maryland IN the vicinity Of Camp
Springs. A bill authorizing this prof.
ect passed the Senate In the closing
days of the last regular session in
August and now awaits House ap-
proval.
Another airport bill that would have
authorized enlargement and improve
ment of the Washington-Ho Air
port passed both houses in the last
regular session but was vetoed by
the President. who indicated a pref
erence for location Of the airport at
Gravelly Point, on the Potomac.
OF the so-called minor bills enacted
were those raising the age of consent,
Tightening the adoption law and per-
mitting bowling alleys to open on
Sunday. The others included bills
authorizing the Federal Government
to furnish steam to the new Police
Court Building in Judiciary Square,
regulating the sale of potatoes, raising
the amount under which petit larceny
is charged from S35 to $50, prohibiting
use of slugs in telephone coin boxes
licensing real estate brokers and
agents, and giving the courts rather
than the Commissioners authority to
review decisions of the Alcohol Beyer-
age Control Board.
Other Bills Advanced.
A number Of more important bills
however. made considerable progress
in moving toward enactment, and
many Of them probably will be passed
at the coming session. For instance
there are four measures on the House
calendar. ready for House considera-
ton on the first District day" of the
new session. One would establish q
f1ve-day 60-hour week in the fire
department. Another would permit
police and firemen to retire at the age
of 60 after Is years of service. A
third, which the Senate has passed
would require semi-annual inspection
Of the mechanical condition of all
motor vehicles, and the fourth would
give the Commissioners greater con-
troll over barber shops.
In the District Committee Of the
House, awaiting action are number
of other bills which Chairman Pal
misano plans to refer to his newly
created standing subcommittee. Those
include measures authorizing con-
struction of new central public
library, to abolish capital punishment
AL u