Morning journal and courier., 1893-05-15
TAXING BICYOLES.

The assessors of Lowell, Massachusetts, and of Paris, France, have, 1t is said, made up their minds to tax bicycles Colonel Albert A. Pope, who is, of course, deeply interested in everything concerning bi- cycles, comes to the front with a protest against the taxing of the wheels. He makes a good argument, which will be ap preciated by all who use bicycles. He points out that bicycles are merely ma chimes by means of which muscular power can be ussd in locomotlon to better sd- vantage than in walking, ana persons using their muscles in this way gre, as the word velocipede expresses, swift footed. Me ohanioians estimate that six miles can be ridden on 6 bicycle with no greater ex- penditure of power than is required in walking one mile. The real value of the invention is 60 great that it is not strange that at first glance it should be thought to be @ subject for taxation, yet it should be remembered that to the great number of riders 1t Is Q necessity as we'll as @ luxury as means of transportation. This can be easily proved If a person will take the trouble to observe how many work on wheels. This Is particularly nc ticeabls in manufacturing cities and towns, where large numbers of men ride on their bicycles to business. The bicycle is help ing to solve the tenement-houee problem, ss 1t enables the workman to live in ha o,hr hu xxyha ha hao nf tho advantages of country life, and yet he can ride to his work in the city. A tax on bi- cycles would be burden placed directly upon thousands of the better class of me @ necessity-as much so as their tools or household effeots, which are exempt from taxation. If the bicycle, which increases the amount of work that may be performed by the body, is a fit object to bs specially taxed, then every other machine, device or tool which increases the amount of work that may be performed by muscular effort is fit subject for taxation. In the mind of some persons, and probably in the minds of the assessors, 8 bicycle is 6 bi- SJohe, "uotheA " bc poofAy Soh5siu uOscaJ unsafe machine, the value of which does not exceed $10, or whether 1t be one of the most perfect make with pneumatic tires, the value of these tires alone being greater than the whole machine of another make. On what principle of equity, therefore, could the average assessor determine the taxable value of bioyclesi It would be necessary for him to take board of ex- perts along with him to examine every ma chine, If 1t were to bs taxed ct its true valuation, the same as other property is, in theory, taxed. It surely would be most unjust to have a fixed sum ss 6 tax on | every bicycle whether it be worth $10 or $15O.
 Colonel Pope further points out that bl
 cycles as we'll as the bicycle riders have
 done much to promote the cause of better
 roads; the bicycles, because the wheels i'm l prove the road; and the riders, because
 they are road inspectors and workers fol road improvement. Therefore, instead of
 these useful machines being a subject ol | taxation, it would seem that it would b,
 more equitable to pay a bounty to thsi
 owners because of the good work they ar'
 doing in the betterment of the highways
 It is certain that there will be very gen
 eral protest against taxing bicycles.