Evening star., 1947-07-31
Me;w,Hitshd4
In Taxes, Citing
Surplus Funds
Notes Treosurer's
Estimate on Excess
In Arlington County

Arlington County Board Member
F. Freeland Chew today said an es-
innate by County Treasurer John
Locke Green that approximately
s250,000 more than estimated in
the budget would be collected next
year supports his contention that
a recent 25-cent increase in taxes
was not justified.
The treasurer made his estimate
yesterday in letter to the County
Board in which he said approx
mately 81 per cent of current taxes
had been collected as of June 80. He
suggested that the additional funds
which would result from collec-
tions over the budget estimates be
used to construct an addition to
the courthouse.
The letter Of the treasurer to
the County Board emphasizes the
soundness of my contentious at the
time of the adoption of the budget
for the current fiscal year." Mr..
Chew declared. "In opposing a 25-
cent increase in the tax rate, I
stated I was prepared to prove that
revenues for the new fiscal year
will exceed on a conservative basis
more than 100000 the estimate
set forth in the budget"
Collection Put at 80 Pct.
Mr.. Chew who is candidate for
reelection in November, said the
current budget is based on a 80 per
cent collection instead of 875 per
cent as stated in the treasurer
letter, although I agree fully that
his conclusions are nevertheless
sound"
Il am advised that the actual
surplus at the start of the present
fiscal year is $4,000 in excess of the
amount set out in the budget" the
board member declared when
that amount is added to the
treasurers estimates of excess tax
collections, plus an additional esti-
mate OF $4,000 over and above
budget estimates to cover reassess-
ment of public utilities, increase in
personal property assessments, ex-
cess ABC profits, and gasoline taxes,
it now appears that my estimate of
100000 additional revenues above
that shown in the budget was most
conservative and that the 25-cent
increase in the tax rate was not
justified"
The action of Arlington Commis-
sioner of Revenue Harry K. Green
in publishing a letter from State
Tax Commissioner c. H. Morrissett
was termed "a cheap political trick"
last night by Edgar w. Humphrey,
Arlington Republican chairman.
Speech by Green Scored.
Mr.. Green, a candidate for re-
nomination in Tuesdays primary,
in a recent speech before the Or
ganized Women Voters, according
to Mr.. Pumphrey, presented his
record as commissioner of revenue
as reported by Mr.. MorriSsett.
"Mr. Green further stated that
Judge Morrissett seldom, if
ever, goes to the trouble of giving
an officers record during a politi-
cal campaign" Mr.. Pumphrey de-
clared.
The Republican leader declared
that letters have been sent to Mr..
Green by the State tax commits
sioner in other election years and
he has published them. Mr.. Pun
phrey said also that "a similar
letter has been sent by Judge Nor
rissett to every other incumbent
Democratic commissioner of revenue
rfriend Of the commissioner of
revenue who has opposition ="
Urges Community Property Law.
Albert A. Carretta, candidate for
the House of Delegates in the prim-
ary, said today he would work for
passage of a community property
law, if elected.
Mr.. Carretta said the effect of
such law, now on the statute books
of 13 States, is to make income re-
ceived by either husband or wife
community property" which means
that the husband and wife are CO.
ownres.
In States having such laws, Mr..
Carretta said, the income is divided
equally with the result that the in
come tax is much less.