Evening star., 1938-01-30
To the Editor Of The Star.

resolution in which they expressed
themselves as favoring . con-
sumers' sales tax in preference to
the renewal Of the present gross receipts
tax or business privilege tax.
We feel that the tax in its present form
Is unfair to business in general
We feel that to some extent 1t Is and
should be classed rs class legislation, mas
much as 1t is tax on receipts from busi-
ness for which man pays license for
the privilege Of operating and Is not a
tax on his profits. yet men with much
larger incomes than some business men
are exempt.
We Furthermore contend that it dupli-
Gates itself in some instances, such as
our own. where We as members pay on our
warehouse purchases where there are no
profit charges and then We pay it again
when We sell it in our independent stores,
and it may be that both Of these taxes
are paid by individuals who did not make
any profit at all on his transactions.
We feel that 1t is not fair because 1t
is not supposed to be passed on to the
Is added to the consumers cost Of mer-
chandise in some instances by some mer-
chants.
Not Good Legislation.
We think 1t is not good legislation be-
cause 1t forces the business man In some
instances to hnd ways and means of col.
lecting from the public that which he is
not entitled and using the law rs q means
OF tustifying the thing that he is doing.
We realize very clearly that money must
be realized from some form Of taxation
for the purpose Of defraying the expense
OF operating our Government and keeping
our city the beautiful city that it is, but
We do not think 1t Is a good policy to
renew piece Of legislation that is so vicious
in Its intent that 1t has caused all business
to rebel against 1t and cause that cordial
and friendly feeling that should exist be-
tween Government and business to cease
We feel that the amount Of revenue can
be raised and the friendly relations main
tanned between Government and business
by enacting a consumers sales tax and
make it compulsory that 1t be passed on to
the consumer.
This we feel is the fairest and best means
OF raising the revenue needed because each
and every individual who receives the
benefits from this taxation helps pay the
same.
We feel that the sooner the general
public becomes tax conscious the better
1t will be for US all.
State Might Follow.
We also have reasons to believe that
Just as soon as 1t Is possible after We
pass sales tax here in the District our
neishborine States, Maryland and vir-
e1nla, will also pass q similar law.
We have also noted with = great deal Of
satisfaction that some Of the House COM
mittee members have recommended an in
come tax, which We agree Is much more
satisfactory and certainly more fair to those
who pay this tax than the present tax.
We also have in mind the fact that both
Maryland and Virginia at the present time
have an income tax law now in operation.
We feel and believe that the House COM
raitee is trying and wants to give the
people Of the District the tax that will raise
the necessary revenue and at the same time
make it as agreeable and as satisfactory
as possible to the majority Of those who
are liable for the tax.
With this in mind we felt as though you
would be more than glad to receive the
opinion expressed by the lo4 reputable
business men that 20 to make up the men,
bership of this organization.
r. M. HARDY,
President Nation Wide Service Grocers.