Evening Star Newspaper, May 12, 1937, Page 21

Wash ALLENTO OPPOSE BASE WAGE LAW FORMENIND.C. Request to Amend Old Act Declared Unlikely, With Unions Against It. JULY 1 EARLIEST DATE MEASURE CAN OPERATE Judge Fay Bentley Is Chairman of Special Committee to Study Ramifications. Amendment of the District minimum wage law to extend its application to men as well as women and minors, was opposed today by Commissioner George E. Allen. He said it was unlikely the Com- missioners would ask Congress to change the law to bring adult male workers within provisions of the act, which was declared unconstitutional 14 Years ago, but was revived about five * Weeks ago by decision of the United States Supreme Court Allen said he had been advised that organized labor, generally speaking, was opposed to fixing of minimum wages for men by law. The Commissioners anticipate it will be possible to place the minimum wage law in operation again on July 1, providing Congress in the mean- while appropriates a relatively small sum for administrative purpose: Group to Study Ramifications. The Commissioners today took no official action in this regard except to name a committee to study questions concerning the law’s operation and the amount of personnel needed and the necessary administration funds. Judge Fay Bentley of Juvenile Court was named chairman. The other members are Elwood Street, welfare director, and Dr. George C. Ruhland, health officer. The District Subcommittee of the Benate Appropriations Committee will begin hearings shortly on the mu- nicipal budget for the next fiscal year, At that time the Commissioners are expected to be ready to ask for neces- sary funds for the minimum wage ad- Ministration. ' The city heads had before them today four recommendations from Corporation Counsel Elwood Seal. They are that Congress be asked for ad- ministrative funds; that a six-month test be given the law, beginning July 1, before proposals are considered for amendment of the present law; that, meanwhile, there be study of pos- sibility of & mintmum wage law for men, and that members of _the minimum wage board to be appointed by the Commissioners be paid on a per diem basis. Official action on Seal's program 15 to be withheld until the committee Just named submits its report. Court Contest Looms. Meanwhile the way was paved in Municipal Court for an important legal debate there next week on the validity of revival of the minimum wage law. Opposing counsel in a crucial test case, scheduled to be heard today, were granted a continuance until next Wednesday so they could discuss stip- ulations intended to limit the argu- ment to “questions of law.” The case itself involves only $335— claimed by a waitress as “back pay” for 55 weeks—but the suit is of far- reaching interest in business circles, as a decision adverse to employers might involve thousands of dollars in retroactive compensation to minor personnel. Samuel M. Boyd, attorney for Rich- ard E. Ashby, trading as Dick’s Grill, a downtown restaurant, and C. L. Dawson of counsel for Ruth Cornett, waitress, who is the plaintiff, told re- porters after the postponem: ° that they will attempt to agree on facts of the case in order to direct their erguments to two main issues: 1. Did the United States Supreme Court revalidate the old District minimum wage law by its recent rul- ing upholding constitutionality of the wartime act—after once declaring the | act unconstitutional? 2. If the act is now back in effect, can its provisions be made retroactive to 1823, when the high court ruled it invalid? A collateral point to be considered, Boyd said, is that the Supreme Court has never passed directly on the con- stitutionality of the District of Colum- bia law. The court's recent ruling was based on a study only of the ‘Washington State minimum wage law, he stated. Attorney General Cummings and Corporation Counsel Seal have held that the high court's recent ruling reinstates the 1918 law on the statute books. If the courts should rule in the pending case that the old law is no longer effective the Commissioners will be forced to seek an entirely new law. If the decision supports revival of the old law and grants to the waitress the “back wages” she claims under the minimum weekly salary fixed by the old board, a flood of similar suits may be expected to follow. Miss Cornett claims she was paid $1040 per week from January 13, 1936, to February 13 last, whereas un- der the old minimum wage she would have collected $16.50 per week. JUNIOR WOMEN ELECT Former D. C. Resident Named Head of Page County Club. LURAY, Va, May 12 (Special).— Mrs. Scudder Griffing, formerly of ‘Washington, and wife of the Shenan- doah National Park naturalist, was elected president of the Page County Junior Woman'’s Club here yesterday. She succeeds Mrs. Buford Mauck. Other officers elected are Mrs. William Harnsberger, vice president; Miss I. O. Miller, treasurer, and Miss Louise Cave, secretary. BAND CONCERT. By the Marine Band Symphony Or- chestra, in the auditorium at 8 o'clock ington News SERVICE FEATURED BY PEAGE PRAYER Government Officers and Diplomats Attend Cathe- dral Coronation Rites. Prayers for the peace of the world were the distinguishing feature of | Coronation day services this morning | at Washington Cathedral, Mount St Alban. | High officers of the Government. members of the diplomatic corps, led by the British Ambassador and Lady Lindsay; representatives of the uni- versities and colleges and a large con- gregation of other worshipers joined in the petition for divine protection against war. The sacred program dopened with the playing of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circum- stance,” and the processional hymn was “All People That on Earth do Dwell.” Right Rev. James E. Freeman, Bishop of Washington, read the first responses after the Doxology. The choir, directed by Robert G. Barrow, Cathedral organist and choirmaster, who received part of his musical edu- cation at Westminster Abbey, chanted | psalms. Very Rev. Noble C. Powell, newly | installed dean of the Cathedral, was | assigned the lessons. God Thanked for King. The congregation stood while Bish. op Freeman pronounced the prayers, beginning: “Let us now offer thanks- | giving to Almighty God for raising up His servant King George to be the ruler of the British Empire.” Special petition for “truth and jus- tice, holiness and righteousness, peace and charity in his days” was included in the text, announced to have been approved by the Amchbishop of Can- terbury. Prayers for Queen Eliza- beth and for her “great example of virtue and piety” followed. Barrow then directed the choir in the singing of “I Vow to Thee, My Country,” an anthem written by the late Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, British Ambassador to the United States during the World War and set to mu- sic by Sir Walford Davies. Canon Raymond L. Wolven, chap- lain to Bishop Freeman, recited the Apostles’ Creed, the people joining, and all present united in the Lord's Prayer. Next in order were prayers for the President of the United States and “all in authority in this and in all other nations” and the appeal: “Draw together, we pray Thee, in true fellowship the men of divers races, languages and customs” and “give them grace to employ Thy good gifts of order and freedom to Thy glory and the welfare of mankind.” Singing Class Services. The services closed with the singing of Stanford’s “Te Deum Laudamus,” the British national anthem, and Goss’ recessional hymn, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven.” Bishop Freeman gave the benediction Among those present were: Mrs, William Howard Taft and Mrs. Wood- row Wilson, the Secretary of Com- merce and Mrs. Daniel C. Roper, Mrs. Dwight Davis, former Undersectary of State William R. Castle, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander B. Trowbridge, the Ambas- sador of Argentina and Mme. Espil, the Minister of Austria, the Minister of Canada and Lady Marler, the Am- bassador of China and Mme. Sze, the Minister of Czechoslovakia and Mrs. Hurban, the Minister of Denmark, the Minister of the Dominican Republic and Senora Pastoriza, the Minister of Finland and Mrs. Jarnefelt, the coun- selor of the German Embassy, the Minister of Greece, the Ambassador of Italy, the Minister of Latvia, the Min- ister of Lithuania and Mrs. Zadeikis, the Minister of Norway, the sinister of Paraguay and Senora Codas, the Minister of Portugal and the Minister of Yugoslavia. Richard Southgate, chief of pro- tocol, represented the State Depart- ment, TRANSIT QU.IZ RESUMEb Hearings on the valuation of the properties of the Capital Transit Co., in recess for a week, were resumed today before the Public Utilities Com- mission. Fred A. Sager, chief engineer of the commission’s staff, and William Ben- nett, assistant to the president of the compeny, took the stand to explain differences in certain calculations on tonight. Capt. Taylor Branson, leader; Wiliam ®. Santelmann, assistant. the value of compeny properties 3 | avenue traffic will feed into the park- Che Foen [ 4 ny Star WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1937. A\ ashington Sir Ronald Lindsay and Miss Irene Boyle leaving the Washington Cathedral this morning after coronation services held here. Cathedral the services. Bishop Freeman poses for cameramen after Society and General PAGE B—1 Scene of Coronation Services Choir boys leaving the Cathedral here. —Star Staff Photos. ONE-WAY TRAFFIC | DUEFOR PARKWAY Southbound and Northbound Hours Announced in Rock Creek Area. Foot ball Stars Offer Blood To Aid Girl, 5, in Hospital Transfusion Plea Met by Rush of “Pals” From G.W. U. Golden-haired Mary Ann Massey Hagan, 5-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Foster Hagan of Arling- One-way traffic southbound during morning rush hours will prevail in Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway from P street to Constitution avenue, | Capt. P. J. Carroll of the park police | announced today. The same section of the parkway will be one-way north- bound during the afternoon rush. This decision was reached after ex- perimental handling of the traffic | since last Friday, during which Traf- fic Director William A. Van Duzer personally observed the new system. Capt, Carroll said the southbound morning rule will be in effect from 8 to9 am. and the northbound after- noon one from 4 to 5:30 pm. On Sat- urdays, northbound traffic will pre- vail from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Four park policemen have been assisting the public to get acquainted | with the new system, but Capt. Car- | roll said signs will be placed im- | mediately, advising motorists. A traf- | fic officer will continue on duty | where K street intersects the park- | way. In the afternoons, Virginia way, as will that from Constitution avenue and the Arlington Memorial Bridge. In the morning, however, traffic from Virginia avenue will not be per- mitted to interrupt the southbound parkway traffic. At P street in the afternoon, no right or left turns will be permitted into the parkway, but traffic coming out of the valley will proceed to P street without interruption. West- bound traffic on K street will not be permitted to make a right-hand turn during the morning rush, but K street | traffic eastward will be allowed o | make a right-hand turn into the park- | way. Capt. Carroll pointed out that most of the motorists using the parkway work in the new Interior Department, Navy and Munitions Buildings and have expressed their pleasure over the new system, and have also written to Van Duzer commending it. DR. MATTSON ELECTED PRESIDENT OF GROUP Chiropody-Podiatry Society Also Honors Dr. Roggenkamp and Others. Dr Arne M Mattson was elected president of, the Chiropody-Podiatry Society of the District last night at the organization’s annual business meeting. Other officers chosen were: Dr. O. E. Rog- ¢ genkamp, vice president; Dr. A. M. Steinberg, secretary - treas- urer, and Drs. George B. Oster- mayer and Wil- liam M. Reher, members of the Executive Board. One of the out- standing func- tions of the so- society is working with other branches of medicine in co-operation with Parent-Teacher Associations in pro- tecting the health of school children. BALL BREAKS WINDOW, GLASS CUTS WOMAN Struck by flying glass from a window broken by a base ball, Miss Eleanor Dodd, a dental hygienist, was cut about the face today while in a class room at Kingsman School, Fourteenth and E streets northeast. School officials said the ball was either thrown or batted by a group of boys, who were not pupils at .the school, but were pjaying outside the building. Miss Dodd, who lives in Takoma Park, Md, was given first aid at the school. The mishap occurred just as she entered s class room prior to ex- Dr. Mattson amounting to more than u,m.ooo? amining the teeth of pupils. ~ ton, Va., fought bravely dren’s Hospital today to overcome a dangerous blood - stream infection while her “pals,” heroes of George Washington University's foot ball teams, stood by ready to share their blood with her. An appeal for blood-transfusion volunteers was issued by the blue- eyed girl's physician yesterday when her condition became grave, and in a | short time almost the entire G. W. foot. ball team was at the hospital anxious to help. Among those who | Lee- | responded was Alfonse (Tuffy) mans, one of Mary Ann's particular heroes. While the blood of the foot ball players was being “typed” a staff doctor found that his own blood matched that of Mary Ann and im- mediately submitted to a transfusion. Mary Ann became acquainted with the G. W. foot ball players as a result of barbeque parties which her father gives every year for the plavers. For in Chil-| 5 h" 5 MARY ANN HAGAN. —Underwood Photo. the past two years she has acted as | her father’s hostess at the parties. Hagan, a Virginia lawyer and former | newspaper man, has been a friend of G. W. foot ball players for many years. 000000 SOUGHT Belin Recovers Watch He Lost In Dirigible Fire BY AMERICAN U Washington Asked to Con- “tribute $250,000 to Fund for School. American University is launching a development program” campaign for funds, designed to raise $250,000 in ‘Washington as part of a $2,000,000 fund expected from a Nation-wide constituency. Announcement of the program was made, yesterday at a luncheon at the Willard Hotel, at which distinguished leaders in Washington life were guests of four members of the Board of Trustees of the university. Dr. Joseph M. M. Gray, chancellor of the university, explained that the campaign was the beginning of a movement for funds to develop the uni- versity, which is expected to result by the fiftieth anniversary of the school, in 1943, in & fund of $5,000,000. “We are appealing to Washington because of the immediate material needs,” declared Dr. Gray, explaining that & new dormitory for men on the campus, to . cost about $150,000, was one of the necessities. The university, he said, was not in competition with other schools here, but was “inde- pendent and non-sectarian,” a “Wash- ington university controlled by Wash- ington men.” Graduate instruction, he explained, is concentrated on the social sciences. In referring to the campaign, Ed- ward F. Colladay, president of the Board of Trade and a trustee of the university, declared Washington “is in the midst of a boom.” He called on the community to help “light the lamps of learning ’round about the Nation’s Capital.” David Lawrence, speaking as & member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, declared: “Community spirit here is developing. Washington is integrating.” Awak- ening to its possibilities as a great na- tional art center, with the gift of the Mellon gallery, Lawrence said the city also was realizing more its possibilities as an intellectual and educational center. Dr. A. C. Christie, president of the Board of Trustees, presided. Hosts at the luncheon were Dr. Christie, Colla- day, Lanier P. McLachlen and Edgar Merris. Dr. Gray will be the principal speaker at the annual dinner dance of the American University Alumni Association tonight at the National Press Club. Wilmer F. Stickle, presi- dent of the association, will preside. Barrett Fuchs is chairman of the Article Found Near Wreck and Forwarded to D. C. Man. Ferdinand Lammot Belin, jr. 24, had only one regret when he returned to his home at 1623 Twenty-eighth street last week after his escape from | death in the blazing Hindenburg—he | had lost his prized pocket watch. But yesterday Belin learned his luck had not deserted him. The watch, which dropped from his pocket when he leaped from the dirigible, was found near the wreckage by investigators, according to word he received from Lakehurst, and it will be returned to him today. Belin's parents were watching the dirigible land and turned away after it crashed, believing their son had been killed. As they walked toward their car, they heard the whistle young Belin had learned as a child, and turned to find him unhurt, MRS. THOMAS TRUNDLE DIES OF LONG ILLNESS Widow of Former Stage Chief at Palace Theater Lived in Dis- trict 40 Years. Mrs. Dora May Trundle, 57, widow of Thomas I. Trundle, former stage manager at the Palace Theater, died Monday after a long illness at her home, 3511 T street. A native of Front Royal, Va., Mrs. Trundle lived here for 40 years. She was a member of Fidelity Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Her hus- band, who died in July, 1931, also was business agent for the Stage Hands’ Union. Surviving are three sons, T. Clarence Trundle, G. Darrell Trundle ‘and Kenneth M. Trundle, and two daugh- ters, Miss Kathry® A. Trundle and Miss Margaret A. Trundle, all of this city. She also leaves three grand- children, three brothers and three sisters. Funeral services will be held at 8 pm. Friday in Grace Episcopal Church. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery. MAJ. DONOVAN RECOVERS Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District au- ditor and budget officer, who has been on sick leave for five weeks, returned to his duties at the District Building today. He had suffered congestion of the lungs, and because of his illness hear~ ings on the District budget had been postponed by the District Subcommit- Entertainment Committee. Motion pictures of college life will be shown. ~ ] tee of the Senate Appropriations Com- mittee, headed by Senator Thomas of Oklahoma, a | wounded, three youths were | | | AFTER GUN BATTLE Shooting of Officer, Break- ing, Larceny. As an aftermath of the spectacular gun battle April 6 in an Upshur street ice cream store, where Precinct Detec- tive John A. Caton was seriously indicted today on charges of robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and with in- tent to kill, and housebreaking and larceny. They were William D. Knight, 17; Louis Knight, 18, and Ferguson A. Thiebolt, 19. All were arrested shortly after the shooting when the two Knights applied at Emergency Hospi- tal for treatment of their wounds. Caton fs still in a serious condition in Walter Reed Hospital with four wounds. Caton also won recognition several years ago when he attempted single- handed to capture the notorious tri- State gang and killed William Phillips, youthful leader of the band The two Knights and Thiebolt al- legediy Were in the act of robbing the ice cream store, located at 806 Upshur street. when Caton drove by and saw what was going on. Officer Is Shot. He ordered all three to but, instead, Louis Knight is said to have raised a revolver as if to fire. Caton shot first, the bullet striking the youth in the chest. Despite the wound, the boy then shot the officer. The housebreaking charge also in- volves Robert M. Sands, 21, who is said to have been with them when they allegedly broke into the same store a few nights earlier. Sixteen indictments charging house- breaking and larceny were returned against Eugene C. Young, 17, colored, whose alleged offenses date back to December of last year. The larceny in each case was relatively small Seven housebreaking and larceny charges were placed against Donald W. Pendergast, 23, whose alleged dep- redations occurred during March. Both men were arrested recently. Indicted for Murder. Benjamin F. Jones, colored, 25, of the 700 block of Sheriff road northeast, was indicted on a first degree murder charge in connection with the shooting of his wife, Mrs. Mary R. Jones. The slaying occurred February 19 in the first black of N street. Others indicted were: (Raymond S. Sutton, George P. Clo- key, Earl J. Head, Raymond Giste, Tom Coleman and William Blocker, housebreaking and larceny; Coleman, Blocker, Lawrence Ward, Randolph Smith, William O'Brien and Theodore Davis, grand larceny; Robert L. Gray- son, joy-riding; Russell F. Anderson and Charles P. Thomas, assault with intent to commit robbery; John Smith, Thomas M. Crane and Alfred J. Gagnon, robbery; William W. Smith, William J. Matera, Victor B. Wheatley and Henry Carter, gam- ing; James Mangan, false pretenses James R. M. Butler, forgery and ut- tering; Robert Dailey, assault with a dangerous weapon; Jesse Mower and Samuel Higgs, assault with intent to commit rape, and Nelson Beaton and Edwin Allen, violation of the national motor vehicle theft act. The following cases were ignored: Sidney Moulthrop, false pretenses; Oliver Dade, grand larceny, and Max Pollicove, housebreaking and larceny, BURIAL RITES HELD FOR MISS FARNUM Library of Congress Secretary Had Been Ill Since Last October. Miss Jessica Louise Farnum, for 30 years secretary of the Library of Con- gress, died Monday night at her home, 5801 "Fourteenth street. She had been ill since October. Private fu- neral services were held today. Miss Farnum is survived by two sisters, Miss Emily Idah Farnum and Miss Agnes Farnum, both of Washington. Her parents were the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hamilton Farnum. A surrender, | TRIO IS INDICTED N.A.A.DENOUNCES GAPITAL AIRPORT Three Youths Charged With | Commission Meets Today in Office of King to Pick New Site. On the eve of a meeting of the Dis- trict Airport Commission at which | it is expected choice will be made of | 1 a site for an adequate air transport | | terminal for Washington, the National | | Aeronautic Association editorially de- ; nounced Washington Airport yester- day as “probably the most hazardous in the whole country.” The commission last week narrowed down to four the number of airport i for more than a year. At a meeting at 2 pm. today in the office of its chairman, Senator King of Utah, the commission expects to select from among these four the site or sites it will recommend to Congress for de- | velopment. Blame for the lack of proper air- port facilities for Washington is laid to Congress by the N. A. A. Visitors Disappointed. sites it has had under consideration | THREE. NEW TAXES FOR D. C. FAVORED BY SUBCOMMITTEE Motor Weight, Insurance and Inheritance Levies Agreed to Tentatively. GENERAL SALES PLAN URGED BY NICHOLS Oklahoman's Proposed Bill May Be Substitute for Gross Re- ceipts Scheme. BY JAMES E. CHINN. The special tax subcommittee of tha House District Committee, working on a $6,000,000 tax increase program, tentatively agreed today to three of t varied assortment of new taxes it will propose—a weight tax on motor vehicles, an increase in insurance taxes and an inheritance and estates tax The rates to be recommended have not been determined, but the subcom- mittee will meet again tomorrow to work out these details and also decide what other proposed tax sources should be tapped to keep the District out of the red in the fiscal year beginninz July 1. It is likely the proposals of the Commissioners will be followed with respect to the weight, insurance and inheritance and estate taxe: In the meantime, Represen Nichols, Democrat Oklahoma, dumped into the laps of the subcom- | mittee, of which he is 2 member, t draft of a proposed new tax bodying another scheme for rai | revenue—a general sales tax on retail sales which would prod roughly about $4,500,000 a year. Would Raise Tag Costs. The motor vehicle weight tax rec- ommended by the Commissioners would raise the cost of tags for privat vehicles from $1 to a graduated scale, ranging from $5 to $12, and continue the existing personal property tax on cars. Truck tags would be consid ably higher. This plan is estimated yield $1,500,000 a year in additional revenue. The inheritance and estates tax suggested by the Commissioners would | be modeled after either the M. i | or Virginia inheritance tax law would produce $800,000, it is mated The insurance tax which the Com= missioners proposed would raise t, present rate on net pramium receipts from 1.5 to 2 per cent, and y: $200,000 additional in rev this source. Altogether, the three plans would produce a total of $2.500.000 toward | the anticipated $6,000.000 deficit. The | subcommittee, however, is reported to | have agreed tentatively to place the revenue from the weight tax on motor vehicles into a special fund with the gasoline tax revenues to support the highway department and enable it to embark on an extensive traffic allevia tion program. If this plan is carried out the subcommittee must find meth~ ods to raise an additional $5,000,000. “One of the most nettling incon- sistencies of our American form of government is noted immediately by every aviation enthusiast upon his first visit to Washington,” it was stated by the association. especially true if he comes from a nicipal airport. After the thrill he experiences at the first glimpse of | Washington’s Monument, the Capitol and all the other imposing Federal buildings, he starts perceptibly as he finally locates the so-called airport and buckles down to the precarious task of effecting a safe landing. “Of course, he knows nothing of the particular difficulties incident to the provision of a suitable field for the National Capital, and furthermore he isn't at all interested in alibis. After all, these Federal people came out and told him and the officials of his home town just what they had to have in the way of an airport, and refused to compromise on area, approaches, improvements, etc., if the local boys wanted air transport service. “And so our enthusiast, who right- fully expected some aeronautical in- spiration at the National Capital, gets his business taken care of and breathes a sigh of relief as he makes good on & take-off over nasty ob- structions or the busy highway which cuts quite a chunk off the field. Situation Full of Dynamite. The situation here “would be funny if it weren't so packed with dyna- mite,” the national aviation body pointed out. “In the first place,” it was stated, “there is no public airport for civil aviation. It is all well and good for some 500-odd cities throughout the Nation to have their municipal air- ports, but Washington—well, it’s a lit- tle different here. That's a laugh. Show us one city which has not had some particularly individual problem to solve in connection with its airport development and we wouldn't get so lathered up over this subject. “The silly part of it all is that it just isn’t good form to mention the airport. Any newcomer who ventures to comment on it is very promptly and properly shushed. Washington air- port talk is tabooed. There is sbme [Pguarded talk about a bigger airport farther down the river, which may be ready about the time the Passama- quoddy project and the Florida canal are completed, but no one will hazard & guess as to just when. “In the meantime scheduled air transport operations are being con- ducted from a private airport which is probebly the most hazardous in the whole country. The Washington Airport has just one thing to recom- mend it, and that is its accessibility. But on every other count it just doesn’t rate.” It was charged that the landing area is too small and that there are dangerous obstacles in the vicinity, especially in the event of a low over- cast. “The present airport has one good runway—if pilots get on it and stay on it,” the editorial continued. “But woe be unto any one who drifts off it in a westerly wind! Buildings to the south, and hills risiz = abruptly to the west and southwest, leave the fleld with but one good approach, and that is from the north. And yet the book says a terminal airport should be an all-way fleld.” “This is ! city which is justly proud of its mu- | Out of the varied assortment of other tax-raising plans pending bee fore the subcom: tee for some time, the proposal of Nichols for a general sales tax on retail sales is expected to | receive serious consider: stitute for the g scheme of the Comm Sales Tax Proposed. | Every person engaged in the busie ness of selling commodities or mere | chandise at retail would be required under the Nichols bill to pay monthly | a tax of 1! per cent of the gross pro- | ceeds derived from sales. The tax would apply to all sales at retail of tangible personal property, sales at or by restaurants, hotels. dining ecars, auctioneers, funeral directors, sales of admission to theaters, athletic con- tests, circuses, carnivals, dance halls and all other places of amusement, as well as all retail sales of electric power and light, natural and artificial gas, water, telephone use and messages | and telegrams | Credit merchants would be per- mitted to pay the tax on the basis of | cash actually received Administration and enforcement of the proposed tax plan would be lodaed in the Commissioners. The proposed bill prescribes that the tax go into effect July 1. Estimates have been given the subs committee that retail sales in the District last year totaled about $330.- 000,000. On that basis it is believed a 1! per cent tax, as proposed by Nichols, would yield about $4.500.000. The Commissioners estimated that their .business privilege or gross ree ceipts tax plan would produce about $2,500,000. To Consider Gas Levy. Two other proposals of the Commisa sioners, one calling for an increase from 2 to 3 cents in the gasoline tax and the other an income tax, have not been discarded by the subcommittee, and probably will be given further consideration. Decided opposition to an increase in the gasoline tax has been registered by Nichols, and only several members of the subcommittee have indicated they favor an income tax. The Commissioners suggested an income tax only at the insistence of subcommittee members, but then promptly endeavored to kill the plan by questioning its constitutionality. Fear was expressed that, since an in- come tax, to be worthwhile, would have to dip into the earnings of Fed- eral employes, the courts might hold it unconstitutional in%iew of the fact that States are not permitted to tax the income of a Government worker, ROAD BILL TABLED Measure Would Have Given D. C. Federal Funds. ‘The House Roads Committee yester= day tabled the bill sponsored by Chair= man Cartwright which would permit District participation in Federal road- building funds. In a lengthy hearing, this measure was supported by Thomas H. Mc-- Donald, chief of the Federal Bureau of Public Roads, Engineer Commissioner Dan I. Sultan and Capt. H. C. White= hurst, director in charge of District highways. The principal objection ‘was registered by Representative Whit= tington, Democrat, of Mississippi. N