Evening star., 1942-04-12
Higher License
Fees Urged for
D. {. Revenue
Fowler Would Boost
Levy on Boil Park,
Theuters, Arenas

"~eSF ~ S'S
Higher license fees for theaters,
Griffith Stadium, boxing arenas,
skating Kinks and other places of
amusement are recommended by
District Budget Officer Walter l..
Fowler in report being studied
sympathetically by the Commis-
eionerS.
Mr.. Fowler, with view to bring
ing more revenue into the District
treasury, recommends adoption of
inspection fees for juke boxes, pin
ball and cigarette vending ma
chimes.
His suggestions are based in part
on proposals for similar actions pre-
sented some weeks ago by George
M. Roberts, superintendent OF
weights, measures and markets. but
some of Mr.. Roberts suggestions
are not included. The city heads
have delayed action to await study
and report by the District License
Committee. For some of the pro-
posed new steps congressional ac-
ton would be necessary.
Consumer Protection.
Among other ideas being fostered
by the budget officer is one that
the District should establish some
thing more in the way of public
protection, so that consumers would
not have to depend on the services
of the Better Business Bureau.
Anticipating that at least some
of any new costs resulting from
increased license or inspection fees
or new taxes might be passed along
TO consumers, Mr.. Fowler said:
This Office does not believe that
the District government should de-
pend upon the Better Business
Bureau for protecting citizens from
the unscrupulous. who through false
advertising and other methods de-
fraud them. The superintendent
of weights and measures should be
given an opportunity to see what
he could do in this regard. We
advocate a moderate license fee
for all business establishments not
covered by the license law to the
end that the properly constituted
authorities might have some super
vision and control over all places
where merchandise of any type of
description is sold to the public gen.
orally"
Calls Fee ridiculous"
In the past, repeated proposals
have been made that the license
fee for Griffith Stadium be in
creased above the present annual S.
charge, because of the numbers of
f1remen and police detailed there
for protection, but always they have
been shelved. Such a small license
fee, in view of the service given
by the District, Mr. Fowler declared
was too ridiculous" for comment.
This SIS fee is one stated in law
and new legislation would be
needed to effect a change.
Mr.. Fowler also suggested there
be license fee for motion picture
slot machines of the kind which
were promoted by James Roosevelt.
the Presidents eldest son, before his
war service.
Specifically, Mr. Fowler proposed
the following schedule of license
fees:
Juke boxes, $40; motion picture
boxes, SIS; pin ball machines, SIS;
cigarette vending machines, SIS;
game machines other than pin ball
machines, operated by scent coin,
$40, and game machines operated
by 1-cent coins, So.
Theater Capacity
He explained that the present
inspection fee for legitimate theaters
is $50, and for motion picture places
$50, adding that the size of the place,
seating capacity and other condi-
tions seem to be overlooked" In
the larger theaters firemen constant
1y are on guard and fee depending
on capacity would be more equitable,
he said.
He advised the city heads also
that there is but an So annual Ii
cense fee for boxing arenas, skat-
ing rinks and other places of
amusement, although under an
earlier law G902) than the 1882
License Act the fee had been $40
a week or IS a day. He added:
The present So fee, like the IS
fee for the baseball park, ap-
pears to be simply out of all pro-
portion as to what the reasonable
fee should be. This Office is of the
opinion the License Committee
should give immediate considera-
tion to this subject, and not alone
from the standpoint of cost of in
spection and protection. At the
same time, it might not be unwise
to consider the advisability of i'm
position of an admission tax for
amusements."
In this last reference, his Office
reported that five States levy
amusement taxes, and that Ohio
alone collects about $1,500,000 a
year from this source. Mr. Fowler
suggested that the District, like the
United States, might gain revenue
from this field.
Tax Stuff Will Work