Evening star., 1939-06-08
D. T.. Committee
Reports 1910
Revenue Bill
Business Privilege
Tax Included; Schultz
Bill Virtually Dead

The revised edition of the 1910
District revenue bill providing for
continuation of the business privi-
lege tax and tax on income in
excess of $4,000 a year, was favor
ably reported today by the House
District Committee.
The committee also virtually killed
a bill sponsored by Representative
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana
which was designed to open the local
milk market to producers beyond
the present Washington milk shed.
Mr. Schulte's bill. which he had
hoped to force out of the committee
in advance of completion of the
milk investigation being conducted
by the Public Health Subcommittee,
was tabled, with the understanding
1t would be considered at the next
meeting.
The measure, it was disclosed. had
been radically altered since its
Introduction. The principal change,
1t was said, would substitute the
so-called standard milk code of the
United States Public Health Service
for the 1925 District Milk Control
Act.
Members Ignore Royalty.
The committees action was taken
behind closed doors. Despite the
pomp and ceremony at the Capitol
in connection with the arrival of the
King and Queen, 19 of the 81 men,
bers attended the meeting and re-
manned throughout the entire ses-
sion. which lasted for more than an
hour and half.
Several changes were made in the
tax bill before it was given full COM
mittee approval. The principal one
would fix the amount of the Federal
payment toward District expenses
at not more than S5,000,0 900 a year.
For some years the Federal pay
ment has been fixed at S5,000,000 a
year in the annual District Appro-
prlation Acts. This is the first time,
however, an attempt has been made
to limit the payment in revenue
bill
The Federal payment for the cur
rent fiscal year was S5,00O,000. The
Senate, however, voted to increase
the payment to S7.750,000 in the
coming fiscal year, when it passed
the 1910 District appropriation bill
last week. The bill is now in con-
ference.
Another maj jor change the COM
mittee made in the revenue bill re-
moves a provision which would have
allowed a credit on the business
privilege tax for tangible personal
property tax payments. other than
the personal property tax on motor
vehicles.
Aside from continuing the buSi-
ness privilege tax, which will auto
matically expire at the close of the
present fiscal year. June 30, and
taxing incomes in excess of $4,000
q year, the new revenue bill also
provides for per cent tax on the
incomes of corporations, and aims
to make more uniform the taxing of
public utility corporations. 1t also
calls for 2 per cent tax on the
gross receipts of operators Of auto
mobile parking lots.
AS result of the committees ac-
ton, the revenue bill will now 60 on
the House calendar in time for con-
sideration Monday, the first So
called District Day of the month.
RepreSenta tive Schultz admitted
the decision of the committee to
table his milk bill virtually meant
its death.
I've tried my best to give the peo-
pie of Washington a 12-cent quart
of milk he told a Star reporter
after the meeting. I'm sorry my
colleagues saw fit to turn me down.
I made the best fight knew how
to make. I'm sorry for the people
of the District who have to
pay IA cents quart for milk. But
12-cent milk will eventually come to
Washington
Mr.. Schultz is member of the
committee investigating the milk
situation. Several weeks ago, after
introduction of his bill, he deserted
the committee and conducted indie
pendent hearings on the measure
Last Monday he urged the full Dis
trict Committee to approve his bill,
but it decided to defer action until
today's special session.