Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
PASSAGE IS seen
0FPARK|NGMETER
.PLANF0RD|STR|CT
Nichols Predicts Scheme
Would Bring 100000
Revenue a Year.
5000 CONTEMPLATED
FOR TRIAL DOWNTOWN
Fee Would Be 5 Cents an Hour
and They Would Operate Only
Ten Hours Daily.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
Representative Nichols, Democrat,
Of Oklahoma, original sponsor of au-
tomobile parking meters for WASH
ington, predicted today the adoption
o. the plan, as provided in the 1899
District appropriation bill as it passed
the Senate, would add at least $780,
900 year to municipal Golfers.
Plans worked out by trafnc officials.
Mr.. Nichols explained, call for the
installation of 5000 parking meters
in the congested business area. The
meters would be in operation for
not more than 10 hours a day-prob-
ably from am. to 6 pm. The park
ing fee at meter would be cents
an hour.
Mr.. Nichols indicated he Is more
enthusiastic than ever over installa-
ton of parking meters, since the reve-
nue. from their operation would SIM
plify the problem Of the Fiscal Affairs
Subcommittee Of the House District
Committee, which he heads. IN writ
ing q tax program that will balance
the municipal budget in the coming
fiscal year.
Trial Period Planned.
The parking meter amendment to
the supply bill contemplates the use
of meters for q trial period and not
primarily as revenue-producing
source, but as means Of solving the
parking problem. Since the meters
would have to be paid for before the
District would get the benefit Of any
revenue they might later yield, Mr..
Nichols does not believe their opera
ton would contribute much toward
the budget deficit in the coming fiscal
year, but in subsequent years would
be factor in tightening the local tax
burden.
Prompt trial Of the meters on q
half dozen sections Of congested down.
town streets probably will be ordered
by the Commissioners If Congress
gives authority for the experiment.
Commissioner Hazen said today.
The Commissioner said the board
had taken no action Is yet, but he
felt sure 1t would order q trial II
Congress indicates it wishes one made.
He suggested the meters might be
installed along Fifteenth street NV,
where they might be metered for is
minutes, and on r and Seventh streets
NV. for perhaps longer periods.
However, the Commissioner said he
would await recommendations from
Trafic Director William A. Van
Duzer and Police supt. E. w. Brown
on the location and charge for use
of the parking meters.
Since the House approved the park
ing meter plan last year, there Is little
likelihood the amendment will be
eliminated In conference. The House
plan, however, would have converted
the revenue from the meters into the
special highway fund. The Senate
approved plan will place the meter
fees in the general fund. where they
can be used to reduce the budget
deficit.
The subcommittee is still struggling
with an income tax plan, which it
proposes to substitute for the widely
condemned business privilege tax on
gross receipts. c. F. STAN Of the
Joint Congressional Committee on
Internal Revenue Legislation has been
called on to aid in perfecting the in
come tax section Of the revenue bill.
One Per Cent Levy Provided.
A fiat per cent levy on all incomes
earned in the District IS provided
in the original bill. The subcommit-
tee, however, has been working on q
proposal Of the Citizens Committee
on Fair Taxation to base the local
tax on one-sixth of the amount paid
in Federal income taxes. Mr.. STAN,
however, is understood to have told
the subcommittee the formula sug-
gested by the Fair Taxation Commit
tee presents many complications. some
OF which are insurmountable. A rate
of taxation based on q graduated scale
ranging from to 4 per cent Is now
said to be under consideration.
If the business privilege tax IS
strapped. Mr.. Nichols pointed out, it
will be necessary to write into the
new revenue bill certain provisions OF
the existing law to give District ON
cials continued authority to enforce
and collect current delinquencies In
this levy.
Tar Year ChanSa in Rill
Two other special provisions are to
be included in the revised bill. One
will change the District tag year from
the calendar year to run from March
l to March /. The other will pro-
vide graduated scale ranging from
IS to SIS for automobile trailer licenses
instead Of the nat SIS fee. The latter
change was proposed as the result Of
a complaint by John T. Campbell that
he was required to pay SIS for
license for q homemade trailer which
cost him SO to build.
Mr.. Nichols urged . change in the
tag year primarily to bring the Dis
trict period into conformity with
Maryland and Virginia. The tag year
in the surrounding States, however,
runs from ApFil to April 1. This il
the date Mr.. Nichols originally sug-
gested, but it met some opposition ct
the District Building, and he com.
promised on the March to March
period.
In changing the tax year the sub
committee also plans to allow Dis
trict car owners 80 days to display 4
new years tag in advance Of the
March l deadline. Under existing
law new tags cannot be placed on .
car until December is each year.
Club Plans Ladder Nirht.