Evening star., 1940-04-21
Federation Hits
Plan 10 Revise
DC. Taxes Now
Too Little Time Left
In Present Session
Of Congress, Is View

The Federation of Citizens AS
sociations last night moved to fore
stall any revision of the District tax
structure this year with the pos
sible exception" of amending pres.
ent laws to make them workable"
The delegates took cognizance OF
recent Investigations into building
inspection and urged funds to in
crease the staff of the building in
spector.
They also decided not to press
for an increase in the lump sum
this year in difference to House.
Senate compromise on $4,000, 900,
but agreed to seek adoption of the
Overton formula in the next Con-
gress. The formula would determine
Federal contribution by the amount
of property owned by the Federal
Government in the District.
Appropriation Bill Items.
Several appropriation bill items
were supported in last-minute
resolution by Vice President Harry
Wender for action in time for the
Senate hearings this week
Declaring that assessments levied
for widening or paving streets on
an assumed benefit to abutting or
adjacent property is arbitrary and
questionable, the delegates favored
discontinuance of all assessments
for widening streets or highways,
and also urged that present assess
ments for new pavements be re-
duced by one-half. The conse-
quent loss in revenue would be
made up from the gasoline tax fund,
the resolution said.
L. A. Carruthers, chairman Of the
Fiscal Relations Committee. told the
delegates in connection with a mo-
ton against tax revision, that his
committee felt there was not enough
time left this session for Congress
to draft or consider revision of the
tax structure He, therefore, urged
that no revision be made unless it
was to change present laws to make
them more workable.
Hits Sales Tax Plan.
Specifically, Mr.. Carruthers re-
ferred to move to substitute a 2
per cent sales tax and tax on in
comes over $4,000 for the present
income tax.
This has been referred to in SON.:
cases as return to the Pond plan
suggested last year." Mr.. Carruth-
ers declared, "but about the onlv
thing that Is the same is the desig-
nation of per cent sales tax"
Mr.. Carruthers explained that the
present bill contemplated use OF
sales tax tokens which the Pond
plan did not and was calculated to
reach transaction Of 3 cents.
The federation is now on record
as opposing sales tax and favor
ing an income tax.
Hold $4,000, 900 Is Unfair.
A $4,000, Zoo lump sum does not
represent fair or equitable Gov
ernment contribution, the delegates
decided, but they did not deem it
wise or appropriate" to urge an in
crease now. The House last year
agreed to 100000 sum instead
of their $5,000,000 recommendation
provided the Senate would agree not
to ask any more than that figure
this year.
In bringing in the resolution deal
ing with additional personnel for
the inspection force of Building
Inspector John w. Oehmann, Mr..
Wender declared: I'VE have seen
the disgraceful exhibition of what
happens when there is breakdown
in the inspection service"
A delegate raised the question
whether the difficulties revealed in
connection with recent fires, par
ticularly that in which a coroner's
inquest was held, were due to in
efficiency or lack of personnel.
Il don't know about efficiency, +"
said another, "but I do know they
need men"
Items for which restoration in
the 1941 budget will be sought in
clude certain equipment for the
Southwest Health Center, two Gus
todians for the new jefferson Junior
High School, two vocation guidance
officers and full complement of "a
teachers for the new Calvin Coolidge
Senior High School.