Evening star., 1952-03-12
DC. Unit
Votes Gas Tax
OF Scents
Robinson Outlines
Need of Funds for
Highway Improvement

An increase in the District gas
oline tax from 4 to 5 cents a gal.
lon has been approved by the
House District Subcommittee on
Fiscal Affairs.
Subcommittee Chairman Smith.
Democrat, Of Virginia said the
measure will be reported favor
ably to the House District Com.
mittee.
This action followed a Joint
hearing yesterday by the fiscal
subcommittee Of both House and
Senate District Committees on the
bill, which is pending on both
sides Of the Capitol.
Senator Hunt, Democrat, OF
Wyoming, chairman of the SEN
ate's Fiscal Subcommittee, who
presided jointly with Mr.. Smith
over the session, said he favors
the gas tax increase and will take
it up with the other two menu
bers of his unit. They are Sem
|ator Smith, Democrat, of North
Carolina. and Senator Duff, Re-
publican. Of Pennsylvania. !.
i Several Groups Approve.
The proposal was approved dur
Ing the hearing by Spokesrnen for
the District, the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
automobile clubs. the Retail Cas-
loline Dealers Association and the
Committee Of 100 on the Federal
City. 1t was opposed by an on
|cial OF the Federation of Citizens
Associations.
Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robin.
son, engineer commissioner testi.
fled at length for the gas tax 1n-
[crease. He said 1t is needed be-
cause Of the prospect of insuffi-
|cient funds to meet q vast back
log Of necessary improvements,
and to match Federal aid to high
ways. He also dwelt in detail on
the proposed long-range highway
development program,
The gas tax bill was one of
seven measures approved by. the
Smith subcommittee and by SEN
|ator Hunt. He hopes to get ap-
|proval of his two other members
for all the legislation.
Tax Bill Amended.
|. A separate bill to make several
changes in the Districts tax struc-
|ture was amended and approved
by all legislators present at the
Joint hearing. after lengthy dis
lcuSsion, Representative Smith
said he will report this measure
Ifavorably to the full House Dis
ltrict Committee.
The Joint group struck from the
measure proviso that would have
given the one man Board of Tax
Appeals the same salary as an as
sociate judge Of Municipal Court.
This clause. urged by johns w.
Ahern, chairman Of the District
Bar Associations Tax Committee.
was objected to by Corporation
Counsel Vernon West on behalf Of
the District Commissioners.
The bill would change the name
of the board to the District of
Columbia Tax Court. Among sew
eral other changes to be made in
city tax law would be one to cut
from per cent to one-half of /
per cent the interest due each
month on delinquent taxes of
most categories. except real estate.
Vote Inaugural Plans.
The joint group also approved
three House-passed resolutions
making necessary arrangements
for the next presidential inaugu-
ration. They relate to police pro-
lection, housing troops here and
issuing various permits.
A provision in a Senate version
OF one of these measures, to au.
thorize $4,000 Federal money to
build the presidential stands near
the White House, was stricken. It
was not in the House resolution.
Such a clause was urged by Mel.
vim D. Hildreth. chairman of the
1949 Inauguration Committee, 60
cost of the presidential and Official
free admission stands would not
have to be laid on the admission
price Of seats rented for the oc-
IcaSion.
MIR. Hildreth reported he will
turn over $1,000 from the l949
committee to the new committee
toward expenses next year.
Two Senate bills making changes
in procedures of the Office of Re-
corder of Deeds were approved by
members Of the Joint subcommit-
tees present. One would elimi.
nate the necessity Of recording au.
tomobile engine numbers on liens.
The other would permit the re-
corder to destroy certain papers
after they have become obsolete
and make other changes in pro-
cedure.
knH n QaRa IL