Evening star., 1939-06-18
BY JERRY O'LEARY. Jr.

" "ooAiAl6 COAl ID IlOG hG I'LL WUTTlcu
about the possibility OF the District
tax bill, as approved by the House
last Monday, getting past the
Watchful eyes Of the Senate without
having some of the controversial
points which have excited so much
comment during the last week re-
vised.
A survey taken yesterday among
prominent citizens and representa-
tive civic workers showed that
Washington has complete confidence
in the probability of complete revi-
sion Of the income tax clause of the
bill by the Senate to provide ex-
emptions for married persons or per-
sns with dependents, as written in
the Federal income tax law.
The poll attempted to obtain con-
sensus among representative citizens
not members of the Citizens Ad-
vlsory Committee which reported on
the bill last week.
Two of 10 persons questioned fa-
vored sales tax for Washington
over any form of income tax, equita-
BILE or not; however, it was the con-
sensus that the present status of the
bill rendered it most undesirable. "
Those favoring a sales tax were re-
signed to the inevitability Of an in
come tax for Washington, and in
both cases agreed the Senate would
undoubtedly revise the bill so as to
correlate the District with the Fed
eral law on income taxation.
Sees Rank Injustice"
Adelbert w. Lee, president of the
Randle Highlands Citizens Asso-
ciation, and called by many the
unofficial Mayor of Southeast"
commented:
"A very rank injustice against the
citizens of the District will have been
committed if the Senate ever ap-
proves the District tax bill as it was
left by the House 1t exemplifies
another instance where the House
has been too drastic in its methods
to raise revenue from and for the
District. However, I feel that the
final outcome will see the Senate
correcting the legislation to the same
terms as in the standing Federal
law. I have always been in favor of
sales tax over any form of in
come tax, but would not be totally
opposed to an income tax on Fed
eral lines"
Lewis l.. Bowdler, president of the
Society of Natives, also expressed
himself as favoring sales tax rather
than an income tax. Br. Bowdler
said
49, the Federal income tax law
providing equitable exemptions, is
certainly more feasible than the pro-
visions made for the District last
week by the House of Representa-
tives. I think their measure was
very unfair. I am confident the
Senate will give more thought to
what they are doing than the House
did. l favor a sales tax because
there are too many people here who
would be exempted under other rev.
embarrassing devices"
Confidence in Senate.
Other persons reached either IA
vored the income tax or were non
committal. However all expressed
confidence Senator Kings District
Committee will pick the flaws from
the standing bill to the satisfaction
of all at the current hearings.
Luther c. Steward. president of
the National Federation of Federal
Employees, thought the action of the
House unfair and drastic
Il cannot speak for the members
Of my organization, but I myself dc
not feel that any tax on income
should be allowed without exemp-
ton for dependents. We are not op-
posed to fair taxation, but we must
be protected amply against double
and treble taxation, especially since
so many making their homes ir
Washington are from other parts OF
the country. I believe the Senate
will adjust matters to our satisfac-
ton"
Charles I. Stengle. president OF
the American Federation of Gov
ernment Employees. didn't want tc
be taxed two or three times under
one heading.
1T is very unfair measure as
1t now stands. I am hopeful the
Senate will look at the question
more moderately There is no OBJ
lection I can offer to an income
tax along lines corresponding to the