Evening star., 1938-01-09
BY JAMES E. CHM.


The Commissioners are to be told
tomorrow by the Fiscal Affairs SUBJ
committee Of the House District Com
mlttee to get of the fence" and re-
veal their positions with respect to
the forms of taxation that should be
adopted to keep the municipal govern
ment out OF the red in the coming
fiscal year.
The showdown will come as soon as
the subcommittee undertakes an ex-
haustive study of the Districts finan-
cial situation preparatory to writing
new program of increased taxation
to raise between 100000 and S.
10000 in additional revenue.
The initial hearing is scheduled at
10 am. tomorrow and the Commits
sioners and group of District Of
f1cials have been summoned as the first
witnesses.
Recommendations Avoided.
Thus far, the Commissioners have
carefully avoided making any recon-
mendations for new tax legislation.
Instead, they have presented to the
subcommittee for its consideration, re-
ports of the official District Tax Com
mittee, and the Citizens Advisory
Committee on Taxation.
Members of the subcommittee, who
can't quite understand the attitude Of
silence adopted by the Commissioners
on such an important municipal ques-
ton as taxation, intend to force them
to express their individual views If
they are still reluctant to do 50 as
board
It's no secret that the Commits
sioners individually have been in dis
agreement for some time over the
forms of taxes that should be adopted
to balance the 1889 budget. Commits
sioner Melvin c. Hazen Is known to
favor a sales tax. An income tax has
been advocated by Commissioner
George E. Allen. Col. Dan I. Sultan,
Engineer Commissioner, has Kept very
quiet about his opinion, if he has
definitely made up his mind.
Predicts Different Plans.
The subcommittee chairman, Repre-
sentative Jack Nichols, Democrat, of
Oklahoma, said he is convinced the
Commissioners, as board. will never
reach an agreement on the tax pro-
gram.
Il believe each Commissioner will
come before the subcommittee with a
different plan," he declared. "At any
rate, We propose to find out what each
one has in mind. I feel, as heads
of the municipal government, the
Commissioners should make some
specific recommendations"
The official Tax Committee, which
was allowed $4,000 to analyze the Dis
trict's financial situation and develop
q new tax program, turned out q re-
port recommending a general sales
tax. l per cent income tax and an
increase in the Federal payment to-
ward municipal expenses from $5,000,-
900 to S7,500,000 year.
Recommendations of the Citizens
Advisory Committee on Taxation were
similar, but no proposal was made for
an income tax.
Only Definite Proposals.
The reports of these two committees
will be the only definite proposals be-
fore the subcommittee when it starts
to work. However, it will have the
official tax file of the District Com
mittee, now bulging with numerous
protests against continuation of the
existing business privilege tax on gross
receipts.
The various revenue producing pro-
posals to be considered by the sub
committee, in addition to those Of the
two tax committees, are these:
l. Continuation of the existing $1.75
tax on real and personal property.
scheduled to expire at the close of the
current fiscal year June 80.
Business Tax Modification.
2. Modification and continuation OF
the business privilege tax. which also
is destined to die June 30
3. An increase in the gasoline tax
Of either l or 2 cents a gallon.
L. A special tax on motorists who
park their cars all night on the public
streets
S. Installation of parking meters in
the congested business section.
Chairman Nichols said the subcom-
mittee would seriously consider all of
the tak proposals and write the new
revenue bill and introduce 1t in the
House within 10 days. After that he
proposes to hold public hearings on
the bill before reporting 1t to the
House.