Evening star., 1950-05-04
.CommitteeBars
DC. Sales Tax
Exemptions Now
FiscoI Group Hears
Requests for Changes
In Other Levies

Proposals for additional ex-
emptionS under the District sales
tax law were tabled today at .
meeting Of the Joint Fiscal Affairs
Subcommittee Of the House and
Senate.
Senator Hunt, Democrat. Of
Wyoming said that in deciding to
take no action the group was fol-
lowing an agreement reached
early in the congressional session
not to consider further any mat
ters Of District taxation.
Proposed legislation discussed at
a hearing today would have ex-
empted from the sales tax linen.
cotton and other cloths bought by
the linen service industry. and
sales by a printer to a publisher
Of advertising periodicals de-
signed to promote retail sales,
10 V. Morgan. chairman Of the
Taxation Committee Of the Dis
trict Bar Association. presented q
number of recommended changes
in other types of District taxa
ton.
Report Is Requested.
Senator Hunt said a report on
these proposals was being request
ed of the District corporation
counsels office. and that legiSla-
ton to cover them would be in
troduced
These proposals included:
Repeal of the tax on personal
property owned by individuals.
This already has been suggested
by District tax authorities and
legislation is being drafted,
A three-year statute OF limita-
tions on tax assessments where
there has been no false or fraudu-
lent return or failure to tile.
A reduction Of the interest PEN
atty from IL per cent to per cent
a year.
Elimination of the requirement
for paying taxes under protest
where they are in dispute.
Linen Industry Protests.
Elimination of the require
ment that a person aggrieved by
a real estate assessment must
have appealed to the Board Of
Equalization and Review before
he can appeal Board Of Tax APP
peals, unless he has been notified
Of change in his assessment.
Payment of interest at the rate
of per cent where taxes are re-
funded because Of ap erroneous
assessment.
Mr.. Morgan also testified, In the
capacity of an attorney represent
ing the linen industry. on behalf
of the proposed sales tax exeinp-
ton for that business.
This industry includes the fur
niShing of laundered linen coats
for doctors and BARRIERS, towels for
various businesses and diapers.
Mr.. Morgan said the application
of the sales tax to purchases Of
the linen here puts the service in
serious competition with those Of
Maryland and Virginia where the
tax does not apply. He added
that this linen is hard to get and
is very quickly expended.
Shopping News Protest Heard.
Herbert Pillen. president Of the
Control Circulation Newspapers Of
America, spoke for the exemption
on sales by a printer to a pub
Usher OF advertising periodicals
solely intended to promote retail
sales.
One of the periodicals affected
would be the Washington Shop.
ping News, which is distributed
free of charge. 1t is put out by
a corporation owned by downtown
department stores.
Mr.. Pillen said the advertising
is sold at cost and that the period
ical was going into the red just
about the amount Of the tax right
now. He said the tax was $3.736.l8
for the first six months Of the i'm
position, or about $500 a year.
He said he felt the application
of the tax was discriminatory In
that newspapers are exempt.