The Wrangell sentinel., 1949-03-04
HOUSE PASSES ENABLING ACT FOR CITIES
 TO VOTE ON SALES TAX
By Jim Hutcheson


 JUNEAU - An enabling act to allow towns and cities to enact sales tax ordinances won House approval this week by a vote of Is to 5. The bill provides that a local referendum ballot must pre- cede enactment of the tax, and 1t cannot exceed ? per cent.
 Also gaining House approval were:
 A bill providing motor fuel tax monies collected from marine equipment should revert to con- struction and maintenance of wat erfront, harbor and marine facil- ities. The vote was 19 to 1.
 A bill providing procedure for enlarging school districts by peti- tion and election. Vote was 23 to 0. Unanimous backing also was given to a memorial introduced by Rep Amelia Gundersen, Ketchikan Democrat Addressed to the Pres ident, Congress and federal agen- cies, it asks a $2,000,O00 appro- priation for permanent improve aen.s on Ketchikans waterfront thoroughfare.
 All House-approved bills now go to the Seante.
 The fuel tax measure, intro duced by Rep. c. Chester Carlson and Alfred owens, Jr., both of the Third Division, provides that '65 per cent of the marine fuel levies collected i'll incorporated towns shall revert to them. Thirty-five per cent of city and town collec- tions. plus collections in outside areas, would go for marine facil- ities in unincorporated areas.
 It also provides equal apportion- ment between divisions of all motor fuel receipts. with marine allotments chargeable against the total due any division, This would mean that the First and Third Di- visions would get most marine fuel tax receipts, but less for highways and airports.
 The four votes against the bill were cast by Reps. Glen D. Frank lin, Fourth Division Democrat; George Miscovich, Fourth Division Republican,; Marcus Jensen, First Division Democrat, and Frank 6. Johnson, First Division Republi- can.
 The municipalities sales tax measure, introduced by Doris M. Barnes of Wrangell, precipitated a two-hour debate during which series of amendments were pro- posed in an attempt to gain eX- emption for non-residents who buy in towns.
 The only amendment approved would require approval of 55 per cent in a referendum instead of bare majority.
 Proponents argued that it would allow towDs.' to settle their own policies. Opponents charged it was an objectionable entering wedge l for an objectionable sales tax The five mo" votes were by Rep. Abel Anderson; First Division Democrat; Frank G. Johnson, First Division Republican and three Third Division Democrats, Carl son, Jack Conright and Clarence T. Heating.
 Mrs. Barnes summarized the ar guments for the bill with the as- sertion: " It's not sales tax; it's only an enabling act to allow municipalities to adopt such tax | in financial emergencies if they 80 choose. They should certainly have that right. I know the people of Southeast, Alaska want it." She said she couldn't understand the clamor against the thought Of opening the way to a municipal sales tax because we've already voted in the House for sales taxes on cigarettes and liquor" Sitka is now the only munich pality with sales tax. Rep. Wm. Egan told the House that the leg ality of Sitka's levy is actually open to legal challenge unless the ox n b1ino oof nacsaO the Iagfslafure