Evening star., 1947-01-16

league, Deane and Kennedy:
| Most of the nine Democrats as
signed to the House District Com
mittee would support a sales tax
for the District or lean favorably to-
ward such tax in principle as a
ready means of raising additional
revenue, a poll showed today.
The group, however, differed
sharply on home rule and national
representation for the District. OF
those who commented, only one
came out unreservedly for both
propositions. Two others advocated
some measure of representation, one
urged greater powers for the Com
missioners, two opposed both pro-
posals and one declared he would
have to be convinced that District
home rule and representation in
Congress would benefit the District.
Although the Democratic mem
bers in general had little comment
on other District fiscal proposals,
such as broadening Of the income
tax base, one urged increased Fed
eral payments, and another favored
one-cent increase in the gasoline
tax.
Responsive d. c. Urged.
I Representative Mcmillan of South
Carolina, former chairman of the
committee, recalled he has never
taken stand on the questions OF
home rule Or the right of District
people to vote for President and to
elect their own representatives to
Congress.
District Commissioners, he added,
should be more responsive to Con-
gress." He said his own experience
led him to believe there is need
for closer ordination of work
and thinking between the Com
missioners and the committees con-
cerned with the District"
Indorsing the 2-cent sales tax
proposal for the District. Mr. Nc
MILAN said he also would work tor
some broadening of the income tax
base as a means of requiring pay
ments by more people who actually
make their homes here but for
wears have claimed legal residence
elsewhere.
Il am inclined to agree We ought
to get away from the technical
domicile' rule in the present law,
he said. 'I think people should pay
income taxes here If they do not
in their home States, If this is
really their home
Problem Complicated.
The South Carolina member
added, however, that the problem is
complicated by the difficulty of de-
termining whether such District
residents really" have their homes
here.
Representative Harris of Arkan-
sas said he was in favor Of some
form" of self-government for the
District, but that there might be
practical limits to it." He suggested
however, that the District should
have a nonvoting delegate in Con-
gress. He disclosed that he is
considering introducing bill along
that line.
Mr.. Harris said he favors sales
tax for the District.
Representative Hebert of Louisi-
ana declared he has long been in
favor of such a tax here. But he
opposes home rule or representa-
ton in Congress for the District.
However" he added, Il would let
everybody in the United States, in
Icluding District. people. have a vote
for President and Vice President"
Representative Abernethy OF Mis-
sissippi, also declared he would not
support home rule or national repre-
tsentation measures for the District
! Backs More d. G. Power.
Instead, he said, District Com
missioners should be granted more
power. But the District, he con-
tended, was originally designed as
Federal territory and should re-
main that in every sense OF the
word"
Mr.. Abernethy, expressing "happi-
ness" on being reassigned to the
District Committee, said he believes
a sales tax would be an effective
means of obtaining much-needed
additional revenue for the District
Representative Smith of Virginia
who also remains on the committee
! had nc comment on the sales tax
proposal or on home rule and ma
tional representation He Endorsed
the proposed cent increase in the
tax on gasoline and said he would
support measures for larger Fed
eral payment to the District.