Evening star., 1947-01-11
Young HaiIsPIan
For ParIeys by
Congress, D. {.
Sees Tolks as Aid
In Major BrobIems
Of Taxes, Budget
By Harold B. Rogers

District Commissioner John Rus
sell Young today welcomed the pre-
posal for an informal conference
of municipal and congressions
leaders dealing with Washington's
difficult budget and tax problems.
The plan, advanced yesterday b.
Chairman Dworshak of the District
subcommittee of the Senate Appro-
priations Committee, was greeted
by the president of the Distrs.
Board of Commissioners with the
comment: TITS splendid idea"
II believe in these things" as.
serted the Commissioner. "A lot
can be accomplished when we get
together around a table, get ac-
quainted and talk over the situa-
ton"
Good Friend Of d. C.
Recalling that Senator Dworshak
had served previously on the Dis
trict subcommittee of the House
Appropriations Committee, Com
missioner Young declared "he is a
very good friend of the District"
"We have some pretty hard prob
lems," he added, especially taxes"
Senator Dworshak, Republican, Of
Idaho, said he suggested to Com
missioner Young that the informal
gathering be arranged after the
House sets up its committees. prob
ably Tuesday. He proposed that the
three District Commissioners join
with the four committee chairman
in Congress who have responsibility
for District budget and tax legis-
lation.
The big four" would be Chairman
Buck, of the Senate District Com
mittee; Senator Dworshak, and the
chairmen of the House District
Committee, and of the District sub
committee handling the local supply
bill for the House Appropriations
Committee. Representative Dirksen,
Republican, of Illinois, has been
slated for the former post. while
Representative IIoran, Republican,
of Washington, is prominently mem
toned for the latter.
Ss5,O82, 500 Budget.
The District budget for the next
fiscal year, asking for sos ,082 500 and
sent to Congress by President Tru-
man yesterday, goes to the House
Appropriations Committee first, and
will not reach the Senate until after
the House has acted.
The District Commissioners COM
prehensive program to raise new
taxes here, to provide enough reve-
nue. to help balance the budget. still
is being whipped into final shape
at the District Building. 1t has
been approved in principle by the
Budget Bureau, and will be ready
before long to be sent to Congress.
Under present prospects this tax
program probably will go to both
the House and Senate District Com
mittees at the same time.
The Commissioners tax program,
designed to produce about $11 300, 900
the first year, and eventually ST.
10000 year, includes a 2 per cent
sales tax, expected to become one
of the most controversial issues.
Doubles Liquor Tax.
Other proposals will include
broadening the base of the income
tax; 10 per cent tax on amusement
admissions; 2 per cent tax on pub
lie utility bills, doubling the liquor
taxes, a 1-cent tax on pack OF
cigarettes, per cent tax on un-
incorporated business, and an in
crease of l cent per gallon in the
gasoline tax. This would bring the
tax up to 4 cents.
Senator Dworshak earlier had in
dicated he was more or less non
committal' so far on the matter
of whether the Federal Government
should make larger payment to-
wards support of municipal expenses
here.
"It Is more important" he as
serted. to have a constructive appro-
priation bill than to engage II. con-
troyersy as to whether the Federal
Government is making an adequate
or inadequate payment towards the
Districts upkeep.''
The current Federal payment Is
So, ,O00, 900, raised from the previously
customary $6,0o0000 annual Federal
share.