Evening star., 1949-05-11
DC. Sales Tax Backers'
Now Hope for Passage.
By Tomorrow Night
BY Don S. Worren

By Don S. Warren
The Senate lis expected to re-
sumo consideration Of the Dis
trict's $4,000, 900 revenue bin to-
day, with supporters now hop
ing for O vote before tomorrow
night.
Just when debate over the tax
bill would be renewed depended
on how soon the Senate could
dispose of the Treasury-Post
Office supply bill. Some leaders
thought this might be early this
afternoon.
Meanwhile, Senator Kefauver,
Democrat, of Tennessee. an
nounced his support Of the sales
tax plan. When the Senate Dis
trict Committee recently reported
the bill, he had reserved the right
to oppose the sales levy, In the
hope that some suitable substitute
could be found.
After studying alternative pos
sibilities, however, he told reporters
today he would vote for the bill
because can't see any alternative
that has any chance Of passage. e."
Action on the city tax bill was
blocked Monday by a AZ hour
"fllibuster" by Senator Johnston,
Democrat, of South Carolina,
chief foe of the sales tax section.
Others to Join Fight
A half dozen Senators are ex-
pected to take the floor to support
Senator Johnston in his anti
sales tax light. But none Of these
so far has indicated any plan
to seek to kill the levy by using
delaying tactics.
Some opponents, In fact. say
they plan to make no speeches.
Others say they will talk for
less than an hour. One Of them,
Senator Pepper, Democrat. OF
Florida. told reporters: II am
ready to vote noW.
Senator Johnston may insist
on more extended debate. He
yielded the floor after his Monday
talkathon, but he has offered four
more amendments and has the
privilege Of speaking at length on
each of these twice in each legis-
lative day.
Nothing Lost, McGrath Says.
Chairman McGrath of the Sen
ate District Committee said he
believes nothing has been lost"
by delays since Monday. He
voiced belief that the interval has
permitted Senators to catch up
on the facts Of the city's financial
issues.
1--WE all know the arguments
about sales taxes" he said. 80
far as I can see. we have lost no
ground in this brief delay"
The known opposition to the
sales tax provision includes, in
addition to Senators Johnston and
Pepper, Senators Nicely, Demo-
craft of West Virginia; Humphrey,
Democrat. Of Minnesota: Flanders.
Republican of Vermont; Morse.
Republican, of Oregon; Douglas.
Democrat, Of Illinois and LANCER.
Republican, of North Dokota.
Tax Burden" Denied.
opponents insstassments to re-
porters, said O salesT tax is re-
gressive and rests most heavily
on persons in the lower-income
groups. They said there ought
to be" a progressive and broad
ened income tax or higher real
estate taxes.
Claim. Burden Small.
Sales tax advocates argued that
the proposed sales tax has been so
"softened" by the Senate amend
ments that it would put a small
tax burden on anybody; that
while q broadened income tax
might be desirable. the House
many times-and twice in recent
months-has rejected this as a
sales tax substitute, and that 1t
would be unfair In view Of the
80 per cent boost in realty taxes
in 1947 to dump the weight OF
the 5000, 900 revenue load there.
Real estate taxes. they added, are
passed along to tenants, including
those in the loW-income groups.