Evening star., 1909-05-06
CANNOT COLLECT TAX
Defects in Auto Wheel Provi-
sion of District Bill.
MAKES COMMENT
Suggests That Matter Be Referred to
Corporation Counsel.
OWNERS ARE READY TO FIGHT
Proposition That the Color Of Ii
cense Tags Be Changed Annually,
Beginning With July 1.
OWNERS ARE READY TO FIGHT

Defects in the clause in the last Dis
trict appropriation act providing for
| wheel tax on automobiles cause the guam
dary Of District officials as to how to col
lect the tax
The matter has been referred to the
corporation counsel for an opinion as to
ways and means to enforce the tax.
The attention OF the District assessor
w. p. Richards, was recently called by
Commissioner West to the provision that
! Hereafter there shall be assessed and
collected an annual wheel tax on all
automobiles or other motor vehicles
owned and operated in the District of Co
lumbfa having seats for only two persons
the sum Of So, and on all such vehicles
having seats for more than two persons
an additional tax of 81 for each additional
seat"
| Points Out Difficulties. j.
The difficulties of enforcing the law
were pointed out to the Commissioners
| by the assessor.
The clause in the appropriation bill re-
lating to wheel tax on automobiles seems
to be defective in one or two ways and
needs remedial legislation. he said
This additional tax on automob biles now
makes 1t necessary for persons to pay
| three different amounts-namely. one for
number. required under the police regu-
lations; one for personal tax, collected
in the same way as general tax, and the
last for wheel tax. which is practically
a license allowing vehicles to run over
the highways of the District.
Manner Of Assessment.
| although the law requires that
such wheel assessment shall be made,
/ no of
nor any time in which the assessment
is to begin. l assume that this wheel
tax should be handled by the license
division Of this office and that the work
should be begun at once, although on
| account of certain preliminaries it Will
take about two months to have books
| ready and notices made out, from
which fact 1T might seem that July 1
would be the proper time for institut-
ing the tax.
After that the money is to be COL
| lected by some means not provided by
law, and as there is no penalty provided
| in the act tas the act is not made amend
atory to any other act there is no
way of collecting the tax where parties
refuse to pay.
| 1T is therefore imperative and needs
some amendment to put 1T in force
Owners Intend to Fight.
That automobile owners intend to
| fight collection Of the tax is shown by
an act of Leroy Mark, who recently
applied for bill for his wheel tax and
stated that he intended to test the va
| lidity Of the law.
1T will take considerable time to
make out tax against all automo-
biles." the assessor explained to the
Commissioners, and as the law is to
be subject to assault, I feel that no
bills should be given out until the Dis
trict Is quite sure Of the best methods
of procedure. 1 therefore recommend
that this paper, with the suggestions
| contained therein. be forwarded to the
corporation counsel for advice as to
the best way of enforcing this tax"
Change in Color Of Tags.
A proposed amendment to the police
| regulations, requiring the placing of an
| Identification number on each automobile,
which will be considered by Corporation
Counsel E. H. Thomas, is as follows:
"Beginning July 1, 1909 and each year
thereafter, the color Of the Identification
tag shall be changed from that of the
previous year, and every motor vehicle
shall. within thirty days after July 1 of
| each year, display the tag of the color
provided by the District of Columbia for
| the year beginning said date. No extra
charge shall be made for the new identi-
ficatiOn tag when the tag for the previous
| tiOn is made for the new tag; but the
secretary of the auto board shall not de-
liver a new Identification tag until the
applicant therefor shall have surrendered
| the duplicate of a receipt Of the collector
of taxes Of the District Of Columbia for
the payment Of the annual wheel tax. as
provided In the act of Congress dated
| March 3, 1909. making appropriations
etc. and an additional number tag Of the
color Of the Identification tag, the figures
| to be not less than two inches high. with
strokes not less than three-Quarters of an
inch in width, designating the number of
seats the vehicle is licensed as having,
| shall be supplied by the District Of Co
| lumbia and rigidly fastened to the lower
part OF the Identification tag and dis
played on the vehicles, as provided for the
Identification tag.
Provided, That the secretary of the
auto board is directed to charge the sum
OF 81 for the annual Identification tag of
motor cycles when the tag Of the previ-
GUS year Is surrendered. to cover the cost
| OF the tag and other expenses"