The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-12-14
ARMY AUTOS
NOT TAXABLE
Machines Used for Official Bust
ness Are Exempt From
License Fee.

Army officers using automobiles in
Oahu county or any other county of
the Territory may hereafter be exempt
from taking out license to operate on
any street or road in the Territory.
There are number of autos in use by
army and navy officers in the Territory
and most of them are employed large.
ly on official business. Take, for in
stance, the machine operated by and
on behalf of Major winslow of the
Engineer Corps. That machine has
played an important part in the
progress of the military works of Fort
Ruger, Fort De Russy and the battery
at Pearl Harpos. At is used almost
exclusively for official business and has
been used so much that the major wants
the government to chip in and buy him
more modern machine.
The government in arriving at the
decision that army autos are exempt
from taxes, says they must not DO
driven in excess of any speed regula-
ton. Major Winslow's old machine
can never be accused of "burning up
at least two autos, and as the post is
so far away from town, it is necessary
that they be used in considerable Of
fetal business and they may therefore
be exempt. There are several autos at
Schofeld Barracks, two at the naval
station and at least one assigned to
Camp Very The Army and Navy Reg
ister's comment on the auto decision
is as follows:
"The Army automobiles are not to
| be subjected to State or municipal tax.
alton and the war department is pre-
pared to fight any encroachment upon
its prerogative. Several cases have re-
general of the Army relative to the
procurement of licenses from civil au'
thorities for operation of automobiles
pertaining to the military establish
mdnt. Many of the States and munich
palities provide for registration OF
motor vehicles operated within theil
limits and impose special tax through
fees for such licenses or for identified
ton tags. By decisions of the Su
preme Court, it is held that the proper
ty of the United States and the instru
mentalities whereby it performs it:
| SONeTnIleHldl luHCIlUHs can HUJ De tdA
ed, and this has led the quartermaste
general to instruct officers of his de
partment that it is not necessary t,
procure such licenses to cover the us,
of motor vehicle owned by the gov
eminent or operated exclusively by Off
GERS or employees of the government fo
official purposes only. General Aleshir,
has, therefore, prohibited the use o.
public funds for any such purpose. TIL,
vehicles will bear an inscription indi
eating ownership, and those who driv
! such vehicles are cautioned to exercis
great care to observe the speed regula
tions. IF there is any interference b.
the civil authorities in this particular
the representatives of the government
will explain the situation, and, if thi
is not sufficient, the matter is to b
reported to the war department, as Gen
eral Aleshire says, with view of sub
hitting the matter to the department
of justice for such legal action as i
may be deemed necessary to indicat
and make clear the rights of the Uni
ted States in that regard. Wher
Army officers have automobiles whic
are used for private purposes, these in
} structions, of course, do not apply"