Evening star., 1941-08-05
1-Cent Gas Tax
Increase Held
Likely for D. {.
Whitehurst Tells
Committee of
Highway Needs

Approval of 1-cent increase IN
the Districts gasoline tax, in place
of the proposed 2-cent raise, was
Indicated today by the Fiscal Al
fairs Subcommittee of the House
District Committee after Capt. H. c..
Whitehurst, District director of
highways, explained alternative
ways of carrying out the long-range
plan of traffic improvements.
While the subcommittee took no
action today. Chairman Hunter said
he probably would call the group
into executive session later in the
week to report the bill to the Dis
trict Committee, and he predicted
that the 1-cent increase would be
recommended This would raise the
local motor fuel tax from 2 to 3
cents.
Capt. Whitehurst told the sub
committee that under a 1-cent in
crease, estimated to yield 81 500, 900
a year, it was figured the program
could be completed in II years, while
1t could be finished in eight years
under a 2-cent increase.
Submitted Estimates.
The Highway Department, he ex-
planned, was not recommending
either revenue plan, but merely was
submitting the best available esti-
mates of what could be done.
The 1-cent raise, he agreed, would
not disturb the general program,
though it naturally would take
longer than under the 2-cent in
crease.
Representative Dirksen, Republi-
can, of Illinois asked what the ef-
feet would be if Congress approved
the pending 100000 War De-
partment building in Arlington
County, or such modified portion of
1t as President Roosevelt had sug-
gested.
Capt. Whitehurst made 1t clear
that the long-range District high
way plan had been worked out long
before this building was proposed.
But the traffic situation on the three
city bridges-Highway, Memorial
and KEYS acute, he said. "irre-
spective of what the War Depart
ment may do"
Better Bridge Approaches.
Capt. Whitehurst said the High
way Department felt the remedy
for congestion on the bridges was
not another bridge close in, but i'm
proved approaches to existing
bridges.
A bridge at the Alexandra cross
ing of the Potomac was favored on
the long-range program, he ex-
planned. This would relieve down.
town traffic jams more effectively
than another bridge in Washington,
he said.
The Highway Bridge, Capt White
Nurse said, could carry heavier traf-
fic without congestion if the ap-
proaches were widened and new
feeders provided The same was
true of the other bridges, he felt.
'We do not advocate another
bridge in the vicinity of Key and |
Memorial Bridges" he added AN
other bridge would be bad planning
Could Make Progress"
With 1-cent gas Increase, he
said, the Highway Department could |
make great progress"
The start of such a comprehen-
sive program, he emphasized, espe-
cially the first year. would be the
most difficult period, and he pointed
out that it was necessary to con-
suit "a great many different agen-
cies" before plans were approved,
and there must be detailed discus
sions with each.
I'VE probably would be in bet
ter legislative position if we recon-
mended 1-cent increase than if
we insisted on 2-cent increase"
Representative Dirksen said. This
would in no way disturb the gen.
eral program"
In response to questions by Chair
man Hunter, Capt. Whitehurst said
the cost of labor on permanent
street paving approximated 81 per
cent, while labor costs on struc-
ture totaled around % per cent.
Can Ask More Later.
Representative Hunter suggested
that if too big highway program
were undertaken at one time it
might add to Washingtons conges-
ton by importing additional labor.
But Capt. Whitehurst felt that per
manent" local labor could be used.
In most instances. without bringing
in many outsiders.
Indicating that a 1-cent tax in
crease would be preferable, in his
opinion, Chairman Hunter said:
Capt. Whitehurst can always come
back in a couple of years, or any
time. and ask us for more if he con-
slders it necessary"
Capt. WhitehurSt said the plans
which he went over with the sub
committee in a general way were
based on $35 100000 program. Al
total figure of s44,500,OOO previously
had been mentioned.