Evening star., 1946-02-26
Attempt Is Made
10 Block Repeal
of Carrier Levy
Virginia Assembly
Debates Changes in
Road Tax Program
BY q SsoH Correspondent Of The Stor

~ S'Si' correspondent o' tHe StoF
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 26.-The
House OF Delegates today will re-
sumo consideration of Gov. Tuck's
controversial road tax program.
Factors of Importance to Northern
Virginia and the District were fea-
tured during yesterdays heated
four-hour debate. They include the
Governors recommended increase in
the gasoline tax by l cent a gallon
which would work to disadvantage
against many dealers in the WASH
ington area price zone, and the re-
peal of the gross receipts tax on
common and contract freight car
riers.
The District and the States of
Ohio and North Carolina already
have threatened retaliatory meas
ures against Virginia unless the
gross receipts tax is repealed. Rep
resentatives of these Jurisdictions, as
well as Maryland, Pennsylvania and
West Virginia, agreed to a truce on
retaliatory steps pending legislative
action here when they were called
together by Washington's traffic di-
rector, the late William A. Van
Duzer, early this month.
Seeks to Continue Tax.
During yesterdays debate, Delegate
c. G. Quesenbury, Waynesboro, Of
fered an amendment which in effect
would continue the per cent gross
receipts tax on all common and con-
tract carriers as opposed to the bills
Intention to retain this tax only on
buses. Action on the amendment
will be taken when the bill comes
up for vote, probably today.
Other features of the program,
beside the l cent per gallon tax
increase and a gross receipt tax re-
peal are 20 per cent reduction in
private vehicle license fees in 1947
and heavy increase in license fees
for truckers.
Delegate E Blackburn Moore,
Winchester and Clarke, is the prin-
cipal sponsor and took the floor for
nearly an hour explaining the
measure and answering questions.
He said the war had caused loss
of approximately s32,000,000 in rev.
enue, based on the normal increases
OF prewar years, and the highway
department estimates s9,5OOOOo is
needed now to put roads in the
condition they were at the time of
Pearl Harbor.
Need Wage Increases.
The Department does not now
pay salaries comparable to that
paid to farm labor, he stated. If
the roads are to be repaired wages
will have to be increased to attract
workers.
The gasoline tax increase would
yield an additional s4,500,0OO, he
said, offset by the private license
decreases for a net increase of
s3 100000 annually. Repeal of the
gross receipts tax and imposition of
higher license fees for truckers
would about cancel each other out,
he estimated.
Delegate Frank P. Moncure,
Prince William and Stafford, who
later in the day conducted a one
hour "f1libuster" against the bill,
asked what benefit cities could re-
ceive since all of the added funds
have been earmarked for second
airy roads.
Mr.. Moore explained the bill of
Senator M. NJ Hillard, Portsmouth,
to increase from s2,500 to $4,000
the per mile allowance to cities for
maintenance of primary roads, is
designed to tie in with the present
tax program. The Hilliard bill al
ready has passed the assembly but
Gov. Tuck has not signed it.
The sponsor explained the gross
receipts tax would be repealed for
truckers and not for buses because
the latter carriers might find their
position changed as people begin
using private automobiles more. The
tax was repealed for the truckers,
he said, because it was not unrea-
sonable to suppose that the District
and other States would retaliate
with similar taxes.