davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-12-23

course this department, which
is fool enough to do some things,
is not fool enough to take an
anti-Lucille Ball stand. Fine
girl. But if you just happen
to be seeking something else
to occupy your time on Mondays
at 9, Dannis Day could be the
answer.
PROPHET - The man scam
ming the TV future in the cur
rent issue of Real Magazine is
CBS-TV's Jackie Gleason.
Brewers next year will be
claiming via television their beer
is so dry you can pour it on
your shirt without getting wet"
he foresees. "And cigarettes will
become so mild it'll break your
heart to smoke them"
X \ X
LOCAL PROPHET WMAL's
Jerry Strong. who receives doz-
ems of unsolicited song manu-
scripts, liked the one he got
from Mrs. Kate Cotloth, a
southeast listener. She had built
it around his sign-off line for
a couple of decades-"i the sun
isn't shining in your window,
keep it shining in your heart"
That was two years ago and
Mr.. Strong thought something
ought to be done about the song.
He thought so more than
ever when its composer re-
ceived an extremely modest offer
from a New York publisher who
wanted to buy it outright. Mr..
S. advised against the sale. Re-
ward now has come by way of
word from Paul Rapp of the
General Music Publishing Co.
Mr.. Rapp's word is that "I1
the Sun Isn't Shining in You,
Window" will be recorded TO,
Decca by Evelyn Knight. Miss
Knight, an old Washington girl
herself, sells a lot of records.
MORE COLOR-CBS will fol-
low much. the same pattern as
NBC, apparently. during color
television's Introductory period
Here is CHS President Frank
Stanton on the networks plans:
During 1854 CHS television, in
its color broadcasting, will make
available to the public it's regu-
lar programs on a rotating basis
SO that before the end of the
year, each of the regular pro-
grams, whether originating in
New York or in Television City
(Hollywood). will be seen in color
In addition, CHS Television will
broadcast a regular daytime
color series. +. We will take into
consideration the schedules OF
other networks so the general
public can have the benefit OF
the maximum of hours possible
of color"
CBS-Columbia, the receiver
manufacturing division of CHS
DR.. Stanton added, should be in
mass production by the middle
of the year. No promise as yet
on size or price.
Evening star., 1953-12-23
On the Air
On the Air
Dennis Fights Good Fight
In Tvs Toughest Spot
By Harry Macarthur

The switch of the TV critics
subteen daughter from II Love
Lucy" to '"The Dennis Day Show" :"
awesomely noted the other day,
appears to be permanent. Ma
turally this transfer of allegiance
means that the critic sees and
hears more of Dennis, too. One
of the things a man learns early
is that life will be more serene
if he does not cross the women
| folk too much.
In this instance it is not too
great a hardship to let the lass
have her way. AS a matter of
fact, it isn't any hardship at all.
The kids no dope. This Dennis
Day is a most amusing young
man and he sings a song in fine
style. 1t Is no accident that his
audience has been increasing
steadily this season, even in that
no mans land opposite the
comedy queen.
The tenor has some able as
sistance behind the cameras, to
be sure. His producer-di director is
Joseph Santley, a convert from
large size theater movies, and his
writer's are Parke Levy and
Stanley Adams. Mr.. Levy has a
number of large screen credits,
too, among them MY Friend
Irma" and the sequel, IN. F. /.
Goes West"
Together and with the help
of some talented supporting
players they turn out a most
agreeable television show. Its
comedy is not forced and it's
star is given ample opportunity
to exercize his vocal chords. :
Last Mondays Dennis Day
project was the special Christ
mas show and it was up against
some pretty rugged Yuletide
opposition. It was tree-trimming
time. Daughter was trying to
do her homework, watch tele-
vision and supervise ornaments
at the same time. The TV critic
was trying to unsnarl the
fiendishly tangled lights fast
enough to please his wife and
not having much success.
The small fry were discover
ing that Christmas tree orna-
ments don't bounce and arguing
over which should have the
privilege of first falling off the
ladder and breaking a leg. The
dogs were chewing on the tree,
each other and the children,
occasionally pausing to stalk
their own images in a mirror.
If Mr.. Day thinks Lucy"
gives him stiff competition, he
ought to drop around our house
some Monday evening. 1t un-
doubtedly would have pleased
him this week. He was getting
through in spite of all that was
going on. He was proving to be
a most ingratiating entertainer
as he told Christmas stories
which permitted him to imper-
senate Day ancestors, on the
Crusades, emigrating to America
as a Pilgrim, etc.
NBC once was talking of mov-
ing Mr.. Day to a spot where he
could get a larger audience and
] may still be thinking of it. OF
Evening star., 1953-12-23
I eIevision 7 tomorrow December a. 1888

WNBWsAs to eruws .
WWd; G2s. Kitchen
1es Glamour Girl;
Beansts;
11, Peoples Pyhss"KnE Gamblers;
Star Shall Rise; Smith; Asunt
Christmas
WTTe
11. Aao
o to q
s, Christmas ghuag $50 Star Shall Rise
Medishns;
Of
a. ) 4
Evening star., 1953-12-23
FM Stations

WRc-FM-s3.s Me-, Channel go
$50 am. to ] an.
WBU1.FM-ss.s Me-, Channel 40
8 pm. to 9 pm
WT0P-FM-ss.s Me-, Channel 2i1
Around the Clock
WAsR-FM-s1.t Me-, Channel 40
7:I5 an. to 10 pm.
Wol--FM-ss.1 Me-, Channel 2sl
S pm. to an.
WcFM-sss Me-, Channel 2ss
S pm. to II pm.
WFAN-Ioo.3 Me-, Channel 3s1
5 am. to Midnight
WWDc FM-1o1.l Me-, Channel 1ee
] am. to Z pm.
WeMS-FM-1o3.s Me-, Channel 27S
$50 am. to Midnight
WARL-FM-1Os.t Me-, Channel 10
7:l5 an. to 9 pm.
WUST-FM-1ot.3 Me-, Channel is2
7:1s an. to Q pm.
WMAL-FM-1o7.3 Me-, Channel 2Sl
8 an. to ll:l5 pm.
Evening star., 1953-12-23
Other AM Stations

WeMS-s10 Ke.-s:3o s.m.-4:4S p.m.
WPlk-73o ke.-T:15 a.m.-4:45 pm.
WARl-1ee Ke.-7:15 a.m.-4:45 Pm.
WeAy-1,050 ke.-7:1S a.m.-4:45 pm.
WUST-1,t7o ke.-7:15 a.m.-4:G pm.
WFAx-1,2 ke.-7:15 a.m.-4:A5 pm.
W00k-t,340 ke.-S ANIL S.m t-
WeAM-i,3so ke.-6:30 a.m..11 pm.
W0l-1,l50 Ke.-s anil pm.
WD0h-1,sA0 ke.-1:3e s.M.-4:45 pm.
WINx-1,s00 Kc.--s a.m.-4:aS pm.
Evening star., 1953-12-06

viduals must, of course, show
bona f1de domicile outside the
District.
For many years, wage-earnerS
living here were permitted to
avoid paying District taxes If
they proved domicile elsewhere.
This resulted in considerable
tax-dollar loss to the city be-
cause Of its large population Of
Federal Government workers at
tracted here from the States.
Since 1947, Washington resi-
dents claiming domicile else
where must file District income
tax returns showing how much
tax they paid to their home
State. II the sum paid to the
State Is less than the District
tax. the city must be paid the
difference. Otherwise, the OUT
of-town domiciliary pays no Dis
trict tax.
Proposed rateS-Up another /
per cent in each category for
this schedule: 2.5 per cent on
the first $4,000; 8 per cent on
$5,000-$10,000: 3.5 per cent on
$10,000-$15,000 and 4 per cent
over $4,000.
The income tax increase pro-
poSal ia viewed by city officials
as . companion piece to the
abolition Of the 2 per cent per-
sonal property tax on non-busi-
Evening star., 1953-12-06

no precedent would be set: A 2
per cent sales tax on gas and
electric power has been in effect
here since 1949. In fiscal 1858,
Washington Gas Light Co. con-
sumers paid $318,364, and users
of Potomac Electric Power Co.
service, $418,931.
Rate C0mparisOn-While no
State communications tax now
exists in nearby Maryland or
Virginia. the Federal sales levy
is regarded by the telephone
companies and consumers alike
as headache enough. It is Is per
cent on local service and Is per
cent on long distance.
District officials feel that even
though the local consumer would
be at a disadvantage with re-
spect to adjoining Jurisdictions,
imposition of a communications
tax would be reasonable since
"Such a tax is found in many
Jurisdictions" throughout the
country.
Estimated revenue-$400, 900
annually,
Evening star., 1953-12-06

2 per cent in 1897 on all but fra
ternal and marine insurance out
fits.
Present rates. per cent is
the rate that still prevails. Reve-
nue. last fiscal year came to about
So million. A steady revenue rise
is shown over the last 10 years,
but insurance tax authorities say
that this only signifies that
valuations have been steadily in
creaSing along with inflationary
costs.
Rate comparison - Maryland
has a 2 per cent tax, Virginia
2.25 per cent.
Proposed rates-Up 5 per cent,
since a 2.5 per cent rate would
not be excessive" in comparison
with other sections of the coun-
try. Though the 2 per cent is
most frequently found, according
to local tax people, there are a
Evening star., 1953-12-06

no ready explanation for this
sag in receipts.
Present rate-Remains 81 per
barrel.
Proposed rate - Treble the
present rate to SO per barrel.
Rate comparison - Maryland
now has a 3-cents-per-gallon
State tax approximately 81 per
barreD and Virginia a $3.10 per
barrel tax. Government officials
point out that on a Nation wide
basis the beer tax averages $500
barrel. And despite the fact
that the proposed rate would
bring the District just a shade
under the Virginia level and
three times higher than the
Maryland tax, Washington would
still be in a good competitive
position" due to lower markups
in many District retail stores.
Estimated revenue increase
Sill million annually, although
city officials say it is difficult
to judge" the effect of trebling
the tax.
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Motor Vehicles

HistOry-Back in the dim be-
ginnings of the automobile
around 1910, wheel tax" was
in force, though never effectively
enforced. This amounted to SO
on every vehicle containing two
seats, plus 81 per seat for each
additional seating accommoda-
ton.
The first registration fee, as
such, was imposed in 1924. This
amounted to 81 on gasoline
driven cars, $11 on the electrics
and SIS on the steamers, and
had to be renewed each year.
In 1888, vehicle weight entered
the picture. Registration cost
the motorist $5 if the vehicle
weighed $500 or less pounds, So
between $500 and $500 pounds
and $12 for more than $500
pounds.
The personal property tax on
ONLY $500 90. rus HgsEH HX!
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Cigarettes

HistOry-Imposed in 1949, /
cent a pack realized $1,267, ,958
during the ensuing year, For
the next two years receipts went
up q total of $4,000, then
dropped last fiscal year to ST.
256,614.
Proposed rate Double the
existing tax to 2 cents a pack.
Rate comparison Nett h e r
Maryland nor Virginia places a
tax on cigarettes, consequently
prices per carton run lower than
District prices. With the pro-
posed local increase, in effect,
cartons would cost about Is cents
less in Maryland, IL cents less
in Virginia, a prospect that
troubles tax authorities here.
The fear is that cigarette tax
receipts slumped last year be-
cause of the higher levy here.
One top official admitted that
the proposed increase would
throw the District out of kilter"
with surrounding areas.
The only justifications put
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Gasoline

HistOry-In 1924 when auto
mobile production lines had
really begun to hum, lawmakers
figured that the .motorist should
start paying for the streets he
used. A 2-cent-per-gallon gaSo-
line tax accordingly was imposed
here that year. 1t produced that
first year just under 81 million.
Two cents remained the fee
until 1912, when an additional
penny was imposed. Despite the
increase, revenue dropped from
the 81 million figure of 1912 to
$3.2 million in fiscal 1943, the
first year rejecting the higher
tax rate. The loss, however, was
due to the wartime shortage OF
gasoline for civilian use.
A 1947 amendment to the tax
act raised the levy temporarily
to 4 cents. The Accent rate
was supposed to revert to
3 cents in 1852, but Congress
disallowed that and raised the
tax to a permanent" scent
per-gallon levy. Revenues in that
period more than doubled, from
$4.3 million in fiscal 1947 to 1913
million in fiscal 1858.
Present rate-Five cents per
gallon.
Proposed rate-Up another
penny to 6 cents a gallon.
Rate comparison-The Dis
trict, according to the local
Highway Department, has al
ways charged a lower gasoline
tax than either Maryland or
Virginia, except for a period last
year when the Maryland and
District levy was the same, 5
cents. Both the Free State and
Virginia now impose Scent taxes.
Estimated additional revenue
-$750,000 annually, although
some local budget prognostica-
tors regard this estimate as
ultra-conservative. Highway peo-
pie stand fast on $750,00O. none
theless, on the theory that gas
tax parity in the three jurisdic-
tions will convince suburbanites
that they may as well buy gas at
their neighborhood dealers.
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Comparative Figures
With Nearby States
Show Our Position
By John w. Stepp

The Commissioners are max
Ing an all-out effort to whip the
city'S $306 million 10-year public
works improvement program into
final shape for presentation to
Congress next month.
AS the Governments legal and
financial experts prepare the
necessary legislation and the de-
tailed justif1cations for it, civic
leaders are conducting q cam
paign Of their own.
The Citizens Committee on
Public Works, headed by John A.
Reilly, and working in close con-
junction with the Government,
is intensifying its efforts to IA
miliarize the public with the
works program and to win the
public's support for it. For it may
well be the average Citizens
voice at Congressional hearings
that will convince the legislators
of the need for bettering the
physical plant OF the Nations
Capital.
In the program Of educating
the public to the benefit and the
costs Of the works program, the
city heads recently addressed an
"open letter to the Citizens of
Washington" The letter sum-
marizes the projects and meth
ods of financing.
The commissioners propose
raises in certain taxes to finance
part Of the program. The taxes
are individual income, water
rates, sewer service, motor We
hicle registration, gasoline, beer
distilled spirits, cigarettes, COM
munications, insurance and tran
sit.
There follows a discussion of
each of these taxes, past, pres
ent and future and what the in
creases would mean:
Evening star., 1953-12-06
What Proposed Tax Increases Would Mean to the District

Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission pay for water at a
rate of 27 cents per 1000 gallons.
and a sewer use charge of IA
cents per 1000 gallons of water
consumption.
Some sample rates from near
by Virginia, where a number of
small private and public distrib-
utors supply various areas:
Arlington County-32 cents per
1000 gallons, of which 80 per
cent applies to water and 40 per
cent to sewer charges, plus
$1.50 per living unit fiat fee each
quarter of a year.
Observation-Disclosures charge
of $5.76 per quarter on the first
10000 gallons consumed, with 46
cents per 1000 gallons in ex-
cess and 80 cents per 1000 gall
Ions in excess of 10000 gallons
consumed. No sewer charge.
Virginia Water Co. (serving
part of Fairfax County)-$7.5O
per quarter minimum charge, rs
cents per 1000 gallons on the
first 10000 gallons per quarter
and 68.5 cents per 1000 on the
next 10000 gallons.
Falls Church-Within city
limits, $3.50 per quarter mini
mum, which allows up to 10000
gallons; 40 cents per 1000 for
excess gallonage. Outside city,
Sc per quarter minimum for TO-
600 gallons and 40 cents per 1000
gallons in excess. Sewer service
is $5.25 per quarter per residence.
The Commissioners have con-
cluded that not only do Wash
ington water rates compare
favorably with those of sur
rounding areas, but sewer charges
are widely employed throughout
the country as a means of sup
porting this service.
Estimated revenue increase
The higher water rates on pri-
vate and Federal consumption
and front-foot assessments are
expected to bring in more than
81 million annually above current
levels. The new sewer service
charge and higher front-foot
assessments should produce bet
ter than SO million annually
from all sources, including the
Federal Government.
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Distilled Spirits

History-Under authority Of
the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Act, the following schedule Of
taxes was imposed in 1884:
Liquor, so cents a gallon; cham
pagne, Is CENTS a gallon. and
wine, 10 cents a gallon. Tax re-
ceipts totaled $911,656 the first
year it was applied.
These rates were amended in
the Appropriations Act of 1949
which also established the sales
tax and altered the income tax
structure. The new gallon tax
levels we're: Liquor, rs cents;
champagne, 22.5 cents, and wine.
Is cents. The $2.8 million 'reve-
nues in fiscal 1850 represented
an increase of 100000 over the
previous year.
Revenues from the three bev-
erage sources stood at $3.3 mil
lion last fiscal year. While this
figure represents an increase of
$1.2 million since 1945, receipts
have slumped from a 1851 high
of $3.6 million, to $3.4 million in
1852 to the latest figure. Off
cials attribute the drop to scarce
buying because of the Korean
war and a pending increase in
the Federal tax which now
stands at $10.50 per proof gal
Ion (100-proof liquor, for ex-
ample, draws $10.50 per gallon
tax and so on down with the
lesser proof spirits.
Present rates-The 1949 sched-
ule Of rs cents a gallon on liQ-
uor, 22.5 CENTS on champagne
and is cents on wine is still in
effect.
Proposed rateS-Liquor, up IS
cents for a $1-per-gallon levy;
champagne, up rs cents for a
new 30-cent total, and wine, up
5 cents to a 20-cent level.
Rate COmpariSon-Maryland
charges $1.25 a gallon on liquor
and champagne and 20 cents a
gallon on wine. Virginia liquor
and champagne sales are State
controlled. hence there is no tax,
as such, on these sources. The
State. however. taxes wine 35
cents per gallon.
The Commissioners have de-
scribed the Districts liquor tax.
as well as the beer tax, as "ex-
Evening star., 1953-12-06

unmetered accounts still remain
ing in the system.
The principle of metering wa
ter-a highly desirable principle.
since the f1at-fee system resulted
in much water wastage-was not
applied to domestic accounts un-
til 1906. Such accounts paid a
fiat fee Of $3.50 per year plus
3 cents per 100 cubic yards.
In 1912 the rates were modified
so that the customers $3.50
bought $500 cubic feet of water,
and each additional 100 cubic
feet cost him 4 cents. Sue
ceSsive rate increases over the
years led to the present sched-
ule, adopted in 1947: $10.94 for
$500 cubic yards, with 9 cents
per 100 cubic feet In excess.
Revenues have ranged from
S72,752 in 1909, to $1.1 million
in 1921, $2.3 million in 1888, $3.8
million in 194S and $4.4 million
in fiscal 1853.
A sewer service charge has no
precedent in the District.
Present Water Rate-Basic for
domestic users, $10.94 per $500
cubic feet, 9 cents per 100 cubic
feet in excess Of $500.
Proposed rates-The minimum
charge for water would be
raised to $12 per year for a re-
duced amount of 1900 cubic
feet, with an 11-cents-per-10O-
cubic-feet fee for excess con-
sumption. The small consumers
bill will rise about 9 per cent
over former rates, while the big
water user will be paying ap-
proximately a % per cent in
crease. District officials say
with the average domestic users
bill rising about Is per cent.
Waterman front-foot assess
mentS on new construction would
increase from the present $1.90
per foot to SO.
The sewer service charge will
be assessed on the basis of one
half the consumers water bill.
The sewer line assessment would
rise from the present $3.50 per
front foot to 81 on new con-
Struction.
Both the proposed water and
sewer rate structures would ap-
ply to Federal Government use.
Instead of the present 81 million
annual lump-sum payment for
water, Government water con-
sumption would be metered and
billed accordingly for water and
sewer service.
Rate comparisons - ConSum-
ers in Montgomery and Prince
Georges counties supplied by the
Evening star., 1953-12-06
81 8 -
z5.'es,Np

motor vehicles was not imposed
until 1880 when a $1.70 per $1O0
valuation took effect. The rate
was raised to $1.75 per $100 in
1888 and to 81 in 1948.
In addition, the per cent
excise taxa sales tax on motor
vehicles-was imposed effective
1850 along with the general sales
tax here.
From a revenue standpoint,
registration fees last year totaled
SIT million, 10000 more than
the sum realized in 1910. In the
same period personal property
tax revenues have increased more
than $2.5 million to a fiscal 1853
total of $3.6 million. The excise
tax has realized between 81 and
81 million a year since it was i'm
posed in 1850. The figure for
fiscal 1853 was SIT million.
Present rates-The $5-$8-$12
per 500 valuation still sets the
registration fee. The personal
property and excise tax rates re-
main 2 per cent.
Proposed rates - Inauguration
Of "f1at-fee" system to supplant
the present registration fee and
the property tax on vehicles. The
charge would be $40 on vehicles
weighing up to $500 pounds, and
$50 for those exceeding $500
pounds. The excise tax would
remain.
Rate comparisons - Maryland
has had the f1at-fee system since
the mid-1940s. The present fee
is SIS for vehicles less than 3,700
pounds, and $28 for those in ex-
cess. Beginning in April, 1855,
however, these rates are to be in
creased to $40 and $50 with the
same weight cutoff point.
In Virginia the flat-fee rate
imposed by the State is $40 on
passenger vehicles and $12 on
trucks weighing less than 10000
pounds. In addition to this levy,
Arlington charges a county fee
of Is cents per hundredweight
for passenger cars and a fiat fee
of $6 for trucks weighing less
than 10000 pounds. Alexandria
levieS a 81 city license tax.
A comparison in terms of what
the car owner must pay on a
popular model new vehicle selling
for $4,000, shows:
District - $89.82 under the
present system; $65.82 under the
proposed f1at-fee system, both in
Guiding excise tax.
Montgomery and Prince Geor-
geS Counties-$60.82 under the
present f1at-fee rate; $65.82 un-
der the impending fee increase.
both including State sales tax.
Arlington $59.21, including
State and county registrations
and personal property tax. Vir-
ginia has no State sales tax.
Estimated revenue under fat
fee SyStem-The Commissioners
figure that at the outset revenues
would be reduced by 100000
from last years total of $5.3
million from registration fees
and the personal property tax
on automobiles. A revenue loss
would be expected with the alb
clifton Of the property tax since
the high valuation of the newer
cars would no longer be a factor
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Water and Sewer

HistOry-While the District
consumer has been paying in one
form or another for his water
since 1859, an effective uniform
system Of assessment was not
adopted until 1892 In that year,
a charge of $3.50 annually was
levied on each water-Serviced,
two-story, 16-foot-wide house.
An additional Is cents was levied
for each frontage foot over Is,
and the home owner had to pay
one-third more for each story
over the allotted two.
This flat-fee system Of charg-
ing for unmetered weter con-
sumption saw increases over the
years until 1947. In that year,
a IS per cent hike in the previous
rate to $12.31 went into effect
and applies today to the 1000
Evening star., 1953-12-06

a gross receipts tax on it's en-
tire vehicular operation instead
of the mileage fee on buses and
the receipts fee on streetcars.
The idea, according to Dis
trict officials is to make the bus
companies pay more than the
"outdated. depression-year" 81
mill tax for the use of the streets
as travel routes and terminals.
Under the proposed system, Cap
ital Transit would pay in about
as much as at present, officials
plan.
Rate comparison - Maryland
imposes a special tax of 81 a
seat on buses; Virginia levies q
2 per cent groSs-receipts tax on
the Virginia operations of all
transportation, including bus
companies.
Estimated revenue increase
$4,000 annually.