Evening star., 1938-02-16
By JAMES E. CHINN,

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
Advocates of sales tax for the Dis
trict were told today by Chairman
Nichols of the House District Subcom-
mittee on Fiscal Affairs that they were
wasting their time" in appearing be-
fore his group.
This blunt statement came after
District civic leaders, urging adoption
of sales tax in lieu of other proposed
budget-balancing taxes. had clashed
several times with members Of the
subcommittee which is holding hear
inss on the 1899 revenue bill.
The first outbreak came when Rep
resentative Dirksen, Republican. Of IL
linois, who championed the income tax
plan in the bill, challenged a state
ment of L. A. Carruthers. president of
the Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tions and chairman of the Citizens
Advisory Committee on Taxation, that
a vast majority of the people of the
District favored a sales tax.
Basis for Statement Given.
That's the merest bunk to say a
majority of the people of the District
favor sales tax" declared Mr.. Dirk
sen. I'D like to see the Justification
for your statement. 1t seems to me
you just reached out into thin air and
grabbed it."
Mr.. Carruthers explained that the
Federation, representing from 5000
to 10000 District residents, had ap-
proved sales tax and that the Wash
ington Board of Trade, with 1000
members. indicated a preference for
it over other proposed forms Of tax
alton.
Will YOU admit for the record that
majority of the people favor the
sales tax?" inquired Mr.. Dirksen.
Il wouldn't admit anything Of the
kind, Mr.. Carruthers responded. Our
belief Is based on action of the Fed
Grafton and member bodies. I do
have foundation for that statement"
Mr.. Dirksen next inquired if q poll
Of civic organization representatives
had been taken to learn their views.
Mr.. Carruthers said a poll was con-
Quoted by only one neighborhood affili-
ate with the Federation-the Chevy
Chase Citizens Association. Ques-
tionnaires were sent to 1000 members
Of this organization. he pointed out.
and IS per cent of those who replied
voted in favor of sales tax
1T is surprising to me you try to
reach q conclusion from a few who
replied" declared Mr.. Dirksen. Did
you talk with the housewife? Did you
talk with those who carry lunch
boxes? You didn't talk to the people
who would be most affected by a sales
tax"
Point of View Debated.
Chairman Nichols then broke into
the discussion and asked:
Don't you think it strange the la
boring man, the Government employee
and the secretaries would suddenly
reach such a magnanimous viewpoint
to take on a sales tax rather than see
ing the business man pay the business
privilege tax and take the trouble to
keep the records for such tax pay
ments?"
On the contrary" replied MIR. Car
ruthers, lit is anything but magnani-
nous attitude. It's business propo-
sition."
Mr.. Dirksen called attention to
President Roosevelt's recent message
to Congress in which he indicated
opposition to sales tax. and drew
from Mr.. Carruthers an admission
that such a levy would add to the
burden Of the poor man, but would
not relieve the wealthy.
Mr.. Carruthers, however, said he
interpreted the Presidents pronounce
ment on sales tax to mean that
imposition of such levy should be
left to the individual States rather
than to Federal Government.
That was certainly not my in
depreciation" declared Mr.. Dirksen.
Wood Defends "Poor Folks
Next, Representative Wood, Demo-
crat, Of Missouri joined in the discus
sion.
Would you put more taxes on the
poor just to make them tax con-
scious?" he asked. 1T seems to me a
reflection on the poor folks when you
propose to clamp sales tax on them
to make them tax conscious"
Another clash came when Joseph
H. Bait of the Board of Trade ex-
planned that the 1000 members of
that organization had been circularized
about their views on the tax program,
and Of the more than 500 replies re-
ceived 80 per cent selected a sales tax
as first choice.
That's only 10 per cent Of your
membership" remarked Mr.. Dirksen,
who then asked Why board members
had shown such a lack of interest.
Mr.. Bait explained it was not be-
cause of general indifference. but
(see D. c. TAXES, Page A-7.)