The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-26
Question Interest
ingly Discussed by
A. III. Burton
OF LOCAL BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Offers the Apparently
Only Feasible
Solution.

A. H. Burton, secretary of the board
of assessors, discussed the bicycle tax
alton question last week at meeting
of the local consulate, giving an inter
esting talk on the question which has
caused great trouble in every state in
the Union. His talk was the more in
teresting from the fact that he is
member of the board of assessors and
riders displayed curiosity regarding his
ideas as to the solution of the trouble
some question. Mr.. Burtons took a SEN
sible view of the question, and appar-
entity the only feasible solution. His
talk, which was heard by only small
percentage of riders, is of interest to
every wheel owner. He spoke as fol-
lows:
Il trust that we all have the same
end in view, namely, the beneftting of
our interests in cycling. l am an en-
thusiastic member of the L. A. W. I
Joined that body as soon as | began
10 ride a wheel, and have always been
satisfied with my membership therein,
believing that it has our best interests
at heart. While its judgment has
doubtless been criticised with reference
TO professional racing, yet we must all
admit that we receive numerous bene-
fits from the organization, which more
than counteract any mistakes the lead
ers of the l.. A W. may have made in
the direction of racing.
There is still much to be done, how
ever, in the interest of the large class
of bicycle riders We all desire to at
tain the same end, although we have
doubtless different ideas as to manner
of procedure. Having had some eXper-
fence in the matter of bicycle taxation,
and being well aware OF the present
very unsatisfactory plan, l have been
requested to state my views as to the
best way to overcome the problem; of
how best to advance the interest of hi
cycle riders by improving our roads and
streets, and at the same time doing it
IN an equitable manner, having in mind
JUSTICE TO THE INDIVIDUAL
and to the community.
The existing plan is unfair to riders
and. uns satisfactory to the cities and
towns Of the commonwealth. 1t is I'M
fa1r- TO the riders, because some pay
tax on their wheels while others enjoy
the same privileges free of cost, and it
is unsatisfactory to the cities because
there are hundreds of thousands of dol
lars worth of legitimate taxable prop
erty invested in bicycles that cannot
be reached. For instance there are
PIODobls cVuO DlCyCltS III use IN TINS
city, representing an approximate value
of $4,000 Cat SIS each). The tax upon
this amount at the present rate is 1920
OF this amount | doubt if the city gets
$500 showing conclusively that the
present plan is unfair, unjust and I'M
satisfactory
This matter has been given long and
careful consideration by the boards of
assessors in many places besides Wor-
cester, and the local board, prompted by
lts past experience in handling the BIZ
cycle question is of the opinion nat
the only just and equitable plan to
solve this problem is to petition the
legislature for an act authorizing the
licensing of all bicycles owned in the
commonwealth.
! have no doubt
THERE WILL BE DIRECTORS.
as there naturally would be, to anv law
calling Tor the compulsory payments of
any sum Of money in the form of tax
or license, as know only too well from
experience in carrying out the duties
of my office as member of the board
OF assessors, that anything in the form
OF tax is Objectionable to a majority.
at least, Of the people from it's very ma
ture, If. for no other reason. We must
all admit, however that while tax
may be ever so Objectionable. If is still
1t has been suggested to me in This
connection that petition of this nature
70 the legislature would place bicycles
IN a class by themselves requiring spe-
cial legislation, whereas, they have
been already legally classed with other
vehicles and enjoy the same rights and
privileges on the highway I admit all
this, but I claim and / believe, con-
sistently that we as bicycle riders alb
solutely need special legislation, for
While our wheels may legally enjoy the
same rights and privileges as the car
rlages OF our neighbors who take their
outdoor recreation behind a horse. still
we need more in the line of good roads
tnan DO the horses. A drive in car
riage can be fairly well enjoyed over
roads that would be far from enjoy
able on bicycle
The more l think of this matter the
more / am convinced that as bicvcIe
riders, we are in a class by ourselves.
consequently, our needs are not neces-
sarily the needs of others, and we have
needs that no other class of pleasure
seekers possess. The question might
be asked if bicycles and CARRIAGES are
IN the same class, and it is necessary
TO license the former, why is it not lust
as necessary to license the latter. To
this question, | would say that on ac-
count of the much larger intrinsic value
of a carriage over a bicycle, the former
is assessable and taxed according to
its value, thereby doing away with the
NECESSITY OF ANY SPECIAL IL
CENSE.
1t must not be understood that this is
a plan to simplify the work of the
assessors, although l assure you a state
bicycle license law would be hailed
with delight by every board of assess
ors in Massachusetts. Bicycles are the
bugbear of assessors and tax collectors.
and give more trouble than all the rest
of the property combined
Now, the one thing we need as cy-
clists more than any other, is good
roads, but 1t is no earthly use for us to
bind ourselves together and howl for
good roads That plan has been tried
and has done more harm than good.
We must display a willingness to ex-
ert ourselves in our own behalf as we
all know that the roads of Massachu-
sets, at least, cannot be talked into
good condition to ride over AS an
individual bicycle rider, ] am not salts
fed with the roads as they are at pres
ent, and in order to improve them / am
willing to tax myself 81 year. know
fng that the money would be used for
Improvement of our highway.
This, / feelSure, would be the decision
Of every bicycle rider worthy of being
classed with self-respecting cyclists,
and if this is done it will be but a
very short time before we have as good