Show PUBLIC UTILITY TAX Corporations in District of Columbia Columbia Columbia Co Co- Co- Co lumbia Asked to Pay for Privileges Republican Special Service Washington May 26 The The senate committee on tho the District of Columbia Columbia Colum Colum- bia has reported to the senate a n bill which taxes all public utility corporations corporations corpora corpora- thetis In the District of Columbia 12 per pel cent centt on their net e earnings in im addition to what hat they now pa pay The str street et railways now pa pay 4 per cent on their gross earnings and the gas and arid other public utility companies pay 5 per cent Senator Hansbrough of or North Dakota was recently appointed appoint appoint- ed chairman q of a a. sub-committee sub to which a bill was referred an and he made a a. close investigation of or these I companies and found that they were not paying anywhere any near what they could coult afford to pay He accordingly made some Important amendments to the bill which was as one simply authorizing authorizing authorizing au au- au- au the street railway companies to extend their tracks to the new union station here and among these amendments was one providing for tor a large Increase In tho the amount th thay r should pay to the elt city The subcommittee subcommittee subcommittee sub sub- committee adopted these amendments and reported the bill to the full tull committee committee com com- which In turn reported the bill to the senate and authorized Senator Hansbrough to make malta a comprehensive comprehensive comprehensive com com- report incorporating thereIn there there- in the result of his investigations The senator says his report will show that for Cor y years ars these those corporations have been een enjoying privileges which in other cities would have cost them millions but which have cost them here but nominal sums The vice president of one of ot the street railways affected In regard to the bill said raid that It was as an Impossible Impossible Im Im- irn- irn possible measure This amendment he added referring to the Increase of or taxation tax was adopted by the commIttee committee com corn without a hearing healing either cither by the sub-committee sub or the committee If Ie this bill should be passed by congress it would Involve a n practical receivership receivership receiver receiver- ship of all o of our properties This statement was as made b by Gen George H H. H Harries vice president of the Washington Railway Traction company compan Senator Hansbrough says saS the figures which he ho will pro produce uce in his report will be e decidedly Interesting and bearing bearIng bearIng bear- bear Ing out in every wa way his contention that these thes corporations can well ell afford afford af af af- ford to pa pay the a additional 12 per cent Icv levy upon them |