The Washington times., 1909-03-20
An Unjust
Proposition

To the Editor OF The Washington Times:
The proposition 10 place wheel
tax on motor vehicles is an unjust and
unreasonable scheme for raising reve-
nue. in that it discriminates against one
class of vehicles over all others.
To place burden on any class OF car
riages not borne by other vehicles sim
ply because they have a different mo-
tive power is only discrimination. A
wheel tax on all classes of vehicles
would bring such a storm Of protest
from the majority of taxpayers that
the lawmakers dare not consider such
proposition, and yet the same thing.
affecting as It does such a compare
lively small minority. is boldly advo-
Gated regardless of it's injustice.
Second, it is unjust, in that it is a
specific tax and not ad valorem. The
poor man who rides in his old second
hand machine woyh 500 Cand there are
many such in the District. and perhaps
the majority of them worth less than
$500 pays the same amount Of tax
identically as the rich man whose high
priced chauffeur handles his 5000 car.
A travesty on justice.
Another consideration is the discour-
agement OF the modern and vastly I'M
proved means of transportation that
should be encouraged by every possible
means. The advent Of the motor We
hicle is doing more to relieve the con-
gested condition of streets than any
other agency, as they traverse the
streets In less than one-haf the time
of horse-drawn vehicles, thus Tequir-
ing less than one-half the number OF
vehicles to convey the same number OF
people. They extend the area of the
possible resident section by affOrding
quick and comfortable transit, thus
aiding in the expansion of the city and
relieving the congested district as no
other factor entering into it does.
From a sanitary consideration they
are an important factor. The sight
OF animal eXcretions on the streets eX-
cites little comment or protest only
because OF our familiarity with IL
Consider for a moment this one feature
I'm it's filthiness and its foulness. Sup
pose we had never been accustomed
10 this condition and were to one day
walk the streets and come suddenly
face TO face with it What a howl
from the populace would result and
what a scramble by the Health De-
partment and the officials to eliminate
such a nuisance.
AS matters now exist II costs more
20 clean streets of horse manure than
all the expenses combined occasiOned
by the use of motor cars.
2 rom a AuNl9IllLlFtHH SLdNUpoiAt tiieLe
lis every reason for encoU raging the use
! Of power vehicles rather than 10 dis
courage their use by unjust and unTea-
sonable special taxation.
4 sight Of the overdTiVen horse with
his head pulled high in the air until
every muscle is strained 20 the last
pitch, mourning intense pain, and the
/ tail locked by some unfeeling inhumaT
monster, thus depriving him for life OF
/ his only means of defense against the
torture OF flies
/ Again, mans best friend" chained tC
a heavy burden. slipping and sliding
/ over rough cobbles, often urged and
/ goaded by ignorant and vicious negro
I drivers. These two pictures alone should
/ put 70 shame the unthinkine man not
i7evOid Of ali humanitarian instincts who
/ supports any measure calculated to dis
lcouretge the use of power vehicles
The antipathy that existed against the
Z first bus line. the first srea mbOat, the
! first locomotive, the first bicycle, is
Z spending Itself against the automobile
/ but this generation should be too en-
i frightened to permit OF nefaHOus legisla-
! ton 70 impede progress.
I The writer is not an owner Of nor in,
/ terested in the manufacture or sale 81
motor vehicles of any description. but
| desires to see fair treatment TO al
classes and progressive institutions fos-
tered, not hindered by unjust burdens
E R. JONES.
/ Washington, D. G. March Is. 1909