Evening star., 1948-12-07
Arlington Plans
For New Taxes
Business. Professions
StrenuousIy Oppose
Proposed Levies


Strenuous objections of Arlington
business and professional groups
we're before the County Board today
as it neared the deadline for acting
on special tax measures to bolster
1949 revenue.
The board held a public hearing
last night on proposed business and
licenses and local au-
tomobile taxes which must be ap-
proved by December Is if they are
to become effective January /.
While less than a half-do1en
speakers opposed the proposed au-
tomobile license tax, the other rev.
enue measure was thoroughly de-
Some sources have estimated COM
bined revenues from the two new
sources would total about 100000
annually.
At least two organizations in
dorsed the tax but others objected
to it either in its entirety or to the
metnod IL proposed 10 employ.
Study Is Recalled.
The proposed ordinances are
based on study by University Of
Virginia experts. The automobile
tax would be based on a charge Of
Is cents per 100 pounds of the We
hicle, with maximum of SO for
passenger cars. The business and
professional tax would combine fat
fees and tax ranging from II to
50 cents per 500 on gross receipts.
Support for the proposals came
from the Alexandria Arlington
Fairfax Real Estate Board and the
Executive Committee of the Arling-
ton Chamber of Commerce.
Albert H. Cohen said the real es-
tate group indorses lin principle"
the proposed taxes.
Paul c. Hill, chamber secretary
business manager, recalled that his
organization had indorsed the pro-
posals last spring when enabling
legislation was introduced in the
General Assembly. He asked, how
ever, that the license rates "be in a
reasonable amount and equitable.
Professions Tax Criticized.
The tax on professions was criti-
cized by the medical and dental
groups, represented by Attorney
Oren r. Lewis. Doctors and dentists
would be required to pay 50 cents
per 500 of gross receipts.
Mr.. Lewis said the audience Of
more than $50 persons which filled
the Circuit Courtroom included a
large number of medical and dental
men.
The attorney said doctors and
dentists are not engaged in busi-
ness in the general accepted sense
of the terms. He said they don't
have anything to sell, but only
offer their time and skilled serv-
ices" Already, he said, members
of the two professions are con-
20 to Is per cent Of their
earnings in free services to persons
unable to pay for treatment.
Called Income Tax.
The proposed tax, Mr.. Lewis
would be an income tax, and
would be unconstitutional because
the board does not have the right
to impose such tax
Speaking later on behalf of the
Arlington Board of Trade, Mr.. Lewis
declared the group is "unalterably
to the proposed gross re-
ceipts tax.
Attorney James H. Simmcnds.
representing the Arlington Dry
Cleaners Board, proposed that in
stead OF the gross receipts tax. the
county place fiat rate tax on non-
resident dry cleaners. This tax,
which he described as a "differential
tax" would yield about $4,000 COM
pared with $1,000 from the gross
receipts tax on resident dry cleaners.
States Policy Cited.
Attorney George Damn, who is
associated with Mr.. Simmonds, told
the board that when he, as a mem
Der of the General Assembly. spon-
sored the enabling legislation, he
thought the board would follow the
States policy and levy fiat fees in
stead of tax on gross receipts.
Il hope the board will approach
this in cautious manner" the del
egate said. Arlington is the first
county in Virginia to have this
taxing power granted it."
The Arlington Bar Association
was represented by Caldwell Ken
drick, who declared the board is
looking for trouble if it insists on
casting the tax on gross receipts
bases"
Lyle Bryant of the Revenues and
Expenditures Committee of the
Arlington Civic Federation asked:
Why is it that the largest busi-
ness of Arlington, namely. that Of
providing family housing for rent,
is lot covered by the ordinance?
Clement johnson of the Lyon Park
Citizens Association also declared
he was unable to find where apart
ment landlords would be taxed. 90,
Others, including Dr. Chariss p.
rake 1lrpe6 tay m ana rtmenk