Evening star., 1948-03-17
Trade Board Formally
AsksCongresstoE Enact
District Sales Tax

Inc washington bOdrQ OF Trace
last night formally called on Con-
gress to enact a 2 per cent retail
sales tax in the District.
The action reaff1rmed a previous
stand which advocated passage Of
such measure, if no substitute
means of raising additional revenue
for administration of the District
government could be evolved.
Some 900 members of the trade
group attending a membership
meeting in the Hotel Statler heard
an emergency report containing a
request for the sales tax. The re-
port was read by Maj. Gen. David
McCoach, chairman Of the groups
Municipal Finance Committee.
He pointed out that Board oi
Trade policy is for repeal of the
Districts personal income tax be-
cause of the "inequitable provision
imposed by the Congress which
exempts Federal salaries"
Yield Estimated.
1--WE. have now concluded that
there is no reasonable manner fol
meeting local revenue requirements
except through the enactment of a
sales tax," Gen. McCoach said. 1--WE
will recommend to Congress the
imposition of 2 per cent tax on
all sales of tangible personal prop
erty to consumers, law popularly
referred to as the retail sales tax.
Based on the experience of other
Jurisdictions and study of the re-
suit in neighboring Maryland, such
a law here should yield from S12,-
000, 900 to SIS, 100000 annually.
1--WE sincerely hope that the Con-
gress will take the action we desire.
The need for the funds which would
then be collected has been clearly
demonstrated and will be pressingly
acute if another Federal pay raise
is voted"
John A. Reilly, head of the trade
group, who presided at the meeting,
urged members to give their support
to the proposed measure.
Another speaker was Beardsley
Ruml, chairman of the r. H. Macy
Co., Inc, New York, and former
chairman of the Federal Reserve
Bank in New York. He discussed
The Interest Rate Problem"
Imitation Checks Urged.
Mr.. Ruml said that, "as far as the
authorities are concerned, I believe
that there is consensus that long
term interest rates on Government
bonds should be kept low and
steady"
1--WE should impose voluntary
restraints on inflationary conduct"
he said, "and at the same time con-
tinue to do business in an orderly
way with an orderly use of the credit
facilities that a modern economy
provides"
Attorney William E. Leahy stress
ed the responsibility of citizens to
accept jury service.
Il know of no duty laid upon an
American citizen more serious or
more important than to willingly
serve as a juror" Mr.. Leahy said.
I'VE have the obligation to defend
the administration of Justice
The urgency of the Embarrassing
campaign of the American Cancer
Society during next month was
stressed by Harvey L. Jones, chair
man of the business unit in the local
campaign.
Another speaker, James E. Coli
flower, chairman of the courtesy
campaign sponsored by the trade
groups Greater National Capital
Committee, said the program has
taken hold beyond even OUR ex-
pectations. The contest ends to-
night.
Shamrocks for Guests.
During the meeting, Don Mackin
played Irish selections on the piano
in commemoration of st. Patrick's
Day. Later the honor guests were
presented with shamrocks from
Shannon, Ireland, brought here in
a Constellation of Trans-World Air
lines for the occasion.
Honor guests included Brig. Gen.
Gordon L. Young, Engineer Com
Chief Justice Harold M.
Stephens of the United States Court
of Appeals, Justice E. Barrett Pret-
lyman of that tribunal, Chief JUS
tlce Bolitha j. Laws of District
Court, and his guest, Judge Alfred
P. Murrah of the United States Cir
cult Court of Appeals in Oklahoma
City, Okla.
Also United States Attorney
George Morris Fay, Col. E. Goring
Bliss, secretary of the District Jury
Commission; Daniel w. Bell, presi-
dent of the American Security g.
Trust Co., and president of the
Community Chest Federation, Ma
tional Capital Area; Robert C..
Overs, vice president Of the Wash
inpton Gas Light Co ond choir