Evening star., 1941-05-21
Commissioners Study
Mass Of Testimony
On Whitehurst Plan
Hearing Reveals General
Acceptance Of Proposals,
But Tax Rise Opposed

Careful study of the Whitehurst
$44.450,000 program for highway and
bridge improvements to eliminate
congestion and hazards from WASH
ington streets, will be given by the
District Commissioners before they
submit any formal recommendation
to Congress.
This was indicated today as the
Commissioners began to take stock
of the mass of testimony given dur
ing an all-afternoon hearing yester-
day, in which many conflicting views
were voiced. Rather general sup
port was accorded ''in principle" to
the comprehensive long-range plan
drafted by District Highway Director
Fl. c. Whitehurst and associate sur
vey engineers.
There was wide divergence on the
proposal for a 2-cent increase in
the District gasoline tax, suggested
in the Whitehurst report as a means
Of accomplishing the program in
eight years. Some witnesses insisted
the highway plan should be carried
out on a pay-as-you-go basis, with
no tax hike, some demanded sub
stantial Federal aid, others said the
program was too huge, and some
insisted that in certain respects 1t
did not go far enough.
Two Groups Fight Tax.
Spokesman for two of the largest
organizations represented at the
hearing. the Washington Board of
Trade and the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations. opposed an in
crease in the tax now.
The Capital Transit Co. in letter
by E. D. Merrill president. said a
two-cent gas tax increase would |
add about $l20,000 a year to the
company's cost.
The hearing was conducted by |
Commissioner John Russell Young, |
the Districts new Engineer Com
missioner; Brig. Gen. Charles W. |
Kutz who only a few hours earlier
had taken his oath OF office; Maj. |
Beverly c. Snow, Assistant Engi- |
neer Commissioner and Capt. |
Whitehurst.
More Federal Aid Sought.
Emphasis was laid by several
speakers on the need for greater
participation by the Federal Gov
ernment toward support of the Fed
eral city, especially in view of the
fact that the House refused to ac-
cept the Senate-approved Overton
formula for fixing annually the size
Of the Federal payment.
Need for consideration of the cost
of the defense program in connec-
ton with the highway project was
stressed by the Washington Board
Of Trade in statement submitted
by P. Y. K. Howat, chairman of its
Traffic Committee.
Higher Taxes Inevitable.
1--WE desire to call attention" said
the Board of Trade statement, ito
the fact that the Federal Govern
ment now is studying ways and
means Of levying the heaviest taxes
which ever have been levied on the
people of this country. This it is
necessary to do in order to finance
the defense program.
"We therefore recommend against
increasing the gasoline tax until
after we have seen what new taxes
will be levied by the Federal Govern
ment during this session of Con-
gress.
1T is probable that the Federal
tax on gasoline will be increased
and it is further apparent that the
tax on individuals and businesses
alike will be very substantially in
creased. We think, too, that before
on major program of
this character, involving as it does,
progressively higher costs as months
go by, we should stop and give recog-
milton to the fact that every resource
at the command of the American
people is going to be required in
carrying on the defense program.
We strongly believe that all other
governmental activities, as we'll as
business and private activities ex-
cept those directly connected with
national defense, should be serious
ly curtailed during the present emer-
gency."