Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-15
IT q
~ Renal TAl
plan Studied in
Prince Georges
Board Also Weighs
Levy on Unused
U. S. Property

n per cent TAX on all nome
rentals and an annual payment
by the Federal Government for
its $4,000 undeveloped acres in
Prince Georges County are sug-
gestions being studied today by
the Board of County Commits
sioners in their about drive to
raise SIS billion for growing
school and public service needs.
Commissioner A. Preston Perrie
said yesterday the rental tax
would bring in some $41O,1OO
from apartments alone. While
the other four commissioners
agreed the plan would be profit
able, they questioned whether it
would be constitutional and eco
Inomical to institute.
Commissioner Frank j. Last
Iner. irked for many months over
the Governments building and
buying of Montgomery County
land, was authorized to try to
negotiate with Federal officials
for a tax or some type of pay
ment for it's undeveloped land in
Prince Georges.
He said he thought chances
are good that the Government
will either make some financial
contribution or sell the land out
right. Funds on undeveloped
land have been granted Green
belt under two special acts, he
added.
Other Taxes Considered
The commissioners appar-
entity are pinning their highest
hopes on a 2-cent cigarette tax,
expected to raise 100000, a IS
auto fee, expected to bring in
$3.50, 900 and a per cent tax on
horse racing bet payoffs.
Herbert w. Reichelt, president
of the board, noted that the tax
would not be paid by bettors.
but would come from their win
lningS.
1.-THE county where Saratoga
Track is located has a 5 per cent
tax like that and it receives in
the neighborhood of IS Million"
Mr.. LaStner said.
The board is not holding out
much hope for a SIS per head
pupil tax. declaring it might be-
too discriminatory, maybe un-
constitutional, and impractical to
administer. The suggestion for a
professional license, such as is
required in neighboring Virginia,
was set aside when Mr.. Reichelt
said there were probably only
100 attorneys in the county.
Walter F. Mulligan, president
of the Prince Georges Civic Fed
Grafton. told the board his group
would strongly oppose any move
to legalize slot machines. Mr..
Reichelt said he felt the same
way about the proposal. which
was offered by another civic
group.
Gangsters Feared
Revenue raised by slot ma
chimes would not be worth ex-
.periencing the "gangsters" the
devices would lure into a county
that has been cleaned up" Mr..
Mulligan said. Commissioner
Jesse S. Baggett said that 90
per cent of slot machine players
|are women.
Expenses at the animal shelter
should be taken care of by in
|creaseS in dog tag fees the COM
misSioners said yesterday they
will institute in a new county
ordinance. When tags are re-
newed July l. cost for licensing
Ia male will be raised from ST.
to g.. while cost for females will
be increased from 81 to SO.
In other business. the commits
sioners appointed a new taxicab
advisory committee to report
within so days on the merits of
a request by C. Gerard Buscher,
hack inspector. to raise the 225I
cab limit to $50. A previous COM
mittee was dissolved last week
when Mr.. Buscher and cab driv-
ers openly admitted to wide
spread violations of taxi regula-
tions.
Members of the new committee
are Harvey Geller, president of
the Glassmanor Citizens Asso-
citation; Maurice Ulmer of the
Lane Manor Citizens Associa-
ton; Detective Sergt. Joseph Hill
of the county police force; George
o. Buckholtz, president of the
county's Cab Drivers Association,
and Mr.. Mulligan. named chair
man. Mr.. Buscher will serve ex-
offlcio.