Evening star., 1946-09-16

the District is to be given a NOR,
balanced tax structure.
That argument. in the light ol
the balanced program proposed ir
the report" he continued, become
one for complete exemption for 6
large segment of our communit,
which >yociferously demands mos
from the community.
Sees Transients Paying Share.
Their interests would be better
preserved il they backed the col.
lection of funds from our transient
population through the one means
which, more than any other, fits oul
unique problem as the host to the
largest group of itinerants in the
world"
John Upshur. speaking for the
Federation OF Civic Associa tions
voiced general approval of the
West Committee tax program. He
specifically commented that his
group favored the sales tax IL
needed to produce necessary rev.
enues.
Speaking for the District Chap
ter of the Federation of Women's
Clubs, Mrs. Gertrude Parks sup
ported the movement for a higher
Federal payment. and Mrs. Leslie
B. Wright said the group had been
on record for adoption Of a sales
tax for long time.
Mrs. Wright added that the or
ganiza ton as yet had taken nc
formal action on some of the pend
ing proposals. but that she knew
her group was opposed to any in
crease in the realty tax and would
indorse the suggested stepup in
liquor taxes.
Dance halls and certain other
amusements, she added, could well
AFFORD" suggested increased levies
Bigger U. s. Sums Urged.
The division of opinion over tn,
sales tax grew as the noon recess
neared, but more and more wit.
nesses stressed the justice and nee,
for the proposed increase in tn,
size OF the Federal payment towart
National Capital costs.
Mrs. Sarah Newman, speaking fo]
the Potomac Cooperative Fedora
ton, said her group was "absolutel,
opposed" to the sales tax. This lev,
would not be just a per cent tax
she argued, but would amount tt
quite a lot since persons in tn.
lower income groups spend theil
funds for a multitude of items cost.
Ing relatively small sums and woulc
pay the 2 per cent over and ovel
again
Any tax measure, she said. shoulc
be related to ability to pay
Mrs. Newman was one of those
calling for a higher Federal pay.
ment as first step in the new reye.
nue. program.
E. F. Wendroth, speaking for the
Sixteenth Street Highlands Citizens
Association, while urging a higher
Federal payment. said the formula
proposed by Senators OMahoney
and Overton appeared equitable.
Mr.. Wendroth joined many other
witnesses In denouncing the tdomi-
cile" limitation on the District in
come levy and said this tax should
be applied to all earning incomes In
the District. However. to avoid dou-
BILE taxation, he said credit should
be given for tax payments made to
the States.
Free Tuition Suggestion.
Whether nonresidents OF the Dis
trict should be given free tuition
was continuing question, he added
but. suggested that this question
might be overcome if the income
levy were applied to nonresidents
He contended also that the sug-
gested stepup in real estate levies
should be distributed equitably
among property owners and applied
not only to residential properties.
but to commercial as well.
Adoption of an earnings tax OF
not more than per cent, similar to
levies in effect in Philadelphia, To-
ledo and st. Louis, was suggested
by Forrest H. Martell, chairman of
the Tax Committee of the Washing
ton Building Congress. If other
measures fail to produce enough
revenue, he said this appeared to be
the next best means" and added
1t was essential that such tax be
applied on all income earned here,
including that Of all Federal EN-
ployes, both elected and appointed.
Such a tax would replace the pres
ent District income levy. He added
If an earnings tax is not accept
able, sales tax would be the only