Evening star., 1949-05-29
Allan F. Brooke Is Favored
To Head Sales Tax Unit
Continued From First Page)

| (COUtlI1ucQ CIOLu ct dSC1
merchants and representatives Of
all types of business to the Dis
trict Building for round-table dis
cussions of the yet-unwritten rules
and regulations for the new levy.
8. Assessor Dent soon will con-
| fer with Maryland and Virginia
businessmen in an effort to work
out plans for reciprocity in tax
collection on sales made to resi-
dents of all three jurisdictions.
LIQUOR Sales To Be Watched.
4. Mr.. Dent will meet with Dis
trict legal and tax experts every
day this week, except tomorrow,
in an effort to clear up confusion
about terms of the sales tax by
the end Of the week.
5. Collector Of Taxes Guy w.
Pearson announced that the DIE
trict will be on watch for attempts
to evade the new so per cent
| liauor tax increase by stocking up
supplies prior to the August l
deadline...
L 6. Mr., Pearson warned every
person engaged In wholesale or
retail sale Of cigarettes that they
must obtain a license by August
1 and that no person may sell a
package of cigarettes after that
date unless 1t carries . one-cent
tax stamp.
Meanwhile John A. Reilly, presi-
dent of the Second National Bank
and a former head Of the Board
! of Trade, has been named new
chairman Of the boards Municipal
Finance Committee. which will
Cooperate" with the Commis-
sioners in putting sales tax into
effect.
Appointment of Mr.. Reilly was
announced by Frederick P. H. Sid
dons, president of the Board OF
Trade. He succeeds Maj. Gen.
David McCoach, jr.. (retired). who
piloted the committee for three
consecutive years, the maximum
permitted by the groups bylaws.
Only two engrossed copies Of the
new District revenue bill, signed
into law last week by President
Truman. have reached local ofn-
cials.
Mr.. Dent and Mr.. Pearson, who
got the two copies. were spend
ing the weekend at work on the
new legislation while practically
everyone else was holidaying.
Mr.. Brooke's appointment,
which may be announced Tuesday
or Wednesday, will signal hiring
of So new employees for Mr.. Dent
and Is for Mr.. Pearson from the
approximately 200 persons who
have applied for sales tax jobs.
8 New Lawyers Needed.
Corporation Counsel Vernon E.
West also will take on three new
Assistant city lawyers to increase
Mr.. Updegraff's tax division from
three to six men. This increase
will be necessary because Of the
new revenue bill which increased
| to Is the types Of tax levied In
the District.
The law department will have
to make hundreds Of rulings on
the types of sales that are either
taxable or exempt under the 2
per cent gross receipts tax. Un-
| til Mr.. Dent and his advisers can
get these rules and regulations on
paper, it is anybody's guess just
how the law applies to hundreds
of types Of sales.
Some broad decisions already
have been reached. Among them
is Mr.. Dents reported decision
Ito REQUIRE an annual return from
Washington businessmen in ad-
dition to the regular monthly re-
turns and payments. Each busi-
Inessman will be sent q punch
card to be filled out at the end
of every month. Mr.. Dents sales
tax staff will then receive the tax
payments-which must be coll
lected by each businessman from
his customers-and certify the
amount due.
Property Can Be Seized.
Discrepancies or evasions Will
be turned over to Mr.. Pearson,
who can collect by seizure and
sale of property il necessary.
| The law also requires that each
businessman obtain q certificate
OF registration before continuing
| to engage In business after August
1. Information about the regis
tration blanks viii be announced
later.
and accurate information about
the requirements Of the new tax.
the Commissioners will hold the
In an effort to pass along fun
meetings with Washington mer-
chants and businessmen. Plans