Evening star., 1939-03-07
Addison Outlines
D. {. Tax Program
In Civic Talk
Dupont Circle Citizens
Association Approves
'Tuxi Recommendations

The proposed new tax program
for the District, framed by DR..
Chester B. Pond, New York tax eX-
pert, was outlined by Francis G..
Addison, jr., president of the Wash
ingtcn Board of Trade, at meeting
of the Dupont Circle Citizens Asso-
citation yesterday afternoon in the
Mayfower Hotel
OF the many proposals submitted
In recent years for constructing a
tax program in the District, Mr.
Addison regarded Dr. Ponds as one
OF the most understandable yet pre-
sented.
Discussing the different types of
taxes individually, Mr.. Addison
scored the intangible personal tax
the business privilege tax and the
straight graduated income tax,
chasing the latter as probably oper-
ating unfairly and not producing
the needed revenue. He advo-
Gated a maximum tax of $3.50 per
hundred on real property and a
personal income sales tax. The lat
ter tax was described as being sue
cessful in % States and seven cities,
with more revenue collected from
this form of taxation than any
other excepting the gasoline tax.
Suggests Three Methods.
Mr.. Addison, anticipating an in
crease in District expenditures of
approximately s1OO0,0O0 a year be-
tween now and 1947, mentioned
three methods that could be used or
considered as means to meet the
increase. Cut expenses, secure an
increased Federal appropriation
and or the District pay the over
head through increased taxes.
In speaking of expenditures of the
city, Mr.. Addison compared WASH
. ington with Baltimore on a per
capita basis. He said that Balti-
more, with a population of $4,000
spent S4l.98 per capita while Wash
ington. with a population of little
more than 100000, had a cost of
$63.54 per capita, or 514 per cent
more for operation and mainte-
nance
Reason for the increased cost of
the District was given as material
costs and salary increases, relief ex-
penditures, health protection, in
creased cost for street repairs due
to automobiles and withdrawal of
children from employment.
Mr.. Addison said that many i'm
provements were needed. but the
question was how to pay for them.
Hear Report on Taxis.
Following Mr.. Addisons talk, a
detailed report on the taxicab sit
uation in the District was given by
William Clark Taylor, chairman of
the associations Public Utilities
Committee.
Mr.. Taylor, in completing his re-
port, made three recommendation
that were approved by the associa-
ton. They are:
Revision of boundaries as proposed
at the hearings on zones and rates
recently held before the Public Utili-
tiles Commission, refusal to grant
licenses to operate a taxicab to any
person regularly employed by the
Federal or District governments and
that additional taXicab stands be
installed.
Mr.. Taylor added that in his opin-
Ion the only practicable way to solve
the whole program would be to in
stall meters, but the cost of these
to the drivers would be more than
they probably could afford to pay.
DR.. Harry A. Garfield after re-
porting on the unnecessary trash in
the streets in Washington, intro
duced resolution that was passed
requesting suitable number Of iron
trash receptacles be installed
throughout the city similar to those
In use in New York City.
Woodson P. Houghton, president
and presiding chairman of the meet
ing, appointed a nominating COM
mlttee for election of officers, to be
held at the next meeting.