Evening star., 1946-01-04
D. c. Asks State,
To RetaIiate
On Truck Tax
Virginia Will Be
Invited to Attend
Conference Here

Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer said today he had sent tele-
grams to five States-potential vic
Tins, along with the District, of Vir-
lginia,s tax on out-of-State motor
carriers - suggesting conference
here at 2 pm. Thursday to discuss
uniform retaliation measures.
Mr.. Van Duzer said he also would
invite Virginia representative once
the conference date and time are
fixed definitely.
The proposed conference is the
outgrowth OF meeting yesterday
between District officials and Chair
man G. F. Joyner, jr., of the Virginia
Reciprocity Board over the States
proposal to resume a 2 per cent tax
on the Virginia earnings of out-of-
State common and contract motor
carriers.
Agree to Delay Action.
The tax, waived during the war
under reciprocal agreement be-
tween the District and Virginia,
was to have been resumed Tuesday
but at yesterdays meeting Virginia
agreed to withhold application OF
its tax on District-owned carriers
until April /, pending possible set
tlement. However, If no settlement
Is reached, Virginia has warned
that enforcement April i will be
retroactive to the first of this year
MIR. Joyner told the meeting yes
terday the General Assembly, which
convenes Wednesday, may take
some action on the issue.
The District had planned its own
program of retaliation consisting OF
requiring Virginia carriers operat-
ing through the city to take out
registration and title here, undergo
motor vehicle inspection, become
subject to the District personal
property tax, and also that the
drivers obtain District motor We
hicle operation permits.
This plan, originally scheduled to
become effective Wednesday, is de-
layed pending the conference next
week.
To Discuss Retaliation.
Previously it had been understood
that next weeks conference would
attempt to work out new reciprocal
arrangements covering the carrier
operations. Assistant Engineer Com
missioner Joseph D. Arthur, jr., dis
closed today, however, that the ses-
sion was to include the victims of
Virginia's out-of-State tax to dis
cuss uniform retaliation.
When the impression still held
that next weeks meeting was for
further negotiations, instead of spe-
cific retaliation, Gov. Darden of Vir.
ginia said the conference was a
good approach to the interstate
problems involved"
States to be represented at next
weeks meeting include Virginia,
West Virginia. New Jersey, Delaware,
North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Record Total Expected,
Meanwhile, Virginias Q per cent
road tax on receipts of intrastate
truck lines in 1945 appeared headed
for the highest total on record.
j. G. Mastin, tax assessor for the
State Corporation Commission, re-
ported collections during the quar-
ter ended September 80 amounted
to $189, 52.88, the Associated Press
said. This Is slightly under the
$l92 1854 collected during the same
period a year ago, but brings the
amount collected for 1945 to $725.-
36l.73, compared with $689. 1888 AZ
through December 81 in 1914.
Returns for the last quarter of
1945 are not required until January
Is. but on the basis of the july
August-September figures the tax
viii yield in the neighborhood of
$4,000 for the full year. The total
Tor 1914. which was the previous
high, was approximately $703, 900.
Revenues from the levy 20 into
the State highway fund.