Evening star., 1952-05-25
TO Boost
Gas Tax:Set
or Tomorrow
l-Cent Hike in Levy
To Be Sought on
Floor of House

A fight to increase the Districts
gasoline tax by one penny to five
cents a gallon will be launched
on the House floor tomorrow.
The present four-cent levy will
revert to three cents on July
unless Congress enacts new legis-
lation.
. Pending before the House to-
morrow on District Day will be q
bill to continue the present four
cent tax permanently. In sending
the measure to the floor. the House
District Committee rejected a pro-
posal to increase the levy to five
cents.
Serious effects of continuing the
four-cent levy have been laid be-
fore House members. They have
been told that the Districts pro-
|jected highway improvement pro-
gram would suffer.
Extra Revenue Required.
The fight for a five-cent tax will
be launched by Representative
Smith. Democrat, of Virginia,
sponsor of the bill which originally
proposed five cents. He expects to
be joined by others who believe
the District needs the extra penny
tax revenue to meet the city's re-
lquirements.
Mr.. Smith will offer an amend
ment to the pending bill to set the
tax at five cents. His move is ex-
Ipected to be supported and at
tackled during debate.
New ammunition for the de-
tenders of the new highway pro-
gram will be in the hands Of
House members. Some of this Is
in the form of report by the
District Committee itself. sending
the four-cent bill to the floor.
The report quotes at length from
testimony offered on behalf of the
proposed one-cent increase by
Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robinson,
District Engineer Commissioner.
He testified on the issue at a joint
hearing of the Fiscal Affairs sub
committees Of both House and
Senate District Committees in
March.
People Favor It.
Furthermore. the District Com
mittee report carries a statement.
apparently prepared by city off,
cials. stressing the delays threat
ened to important projects here If
the one-cent increase is rejected.
The people Of Washington are
in favor Of the imposition of a
five-cent-per-gallon tax on motor
: vehicle fuels" declares this state
ment.
"The highway user wants the
street improvements the addi-
tional one cent tax will buy and
is willing to pay for them"
Pointing to approval of the
five-cent levy by several organiza-
!, tions, the statement declares ITO
make the gasoline tax rate in the
District four cents permanently
will make our presently difficult
financial situation impossible. u
! City Heads Defend 1t.
Hope for House approval of the
five-cent figure was voiced last
night by District Commissioner
F. Joseph Donohue.
He spoke on a radio program
over Station WWDC.
/. After the District COMMITTEES
had rejected the five-cent levy.
the Commissioner said, the city
heads prepared a memorandum
/ defending the figure. Copies were
sent to each member Of the Dis
trict Committee.
} In addition Mr.. Donohue said,
he had personal conferences with
some members Of the committee.
If the four-cent levy should be
continued. he warned lack OF
funds would delay completion ot
the East Capitol Street Bridge
Also the District would have to
postpone the connecting link OF
New York avenue extended be-
tween the city's highway system
and the Washington Baltimore
Parkway now under construction
Mr.. Donohue declared: how
ever: II think the end result will
he a five.cent taY"