The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-10-04
Big PROFIT MADE BY STATE
ON ITS auto TAG SALES

Lansing. Mich, oct. 4.-Few people
in the state realize the amount OF
money that is annually expended in
the state of Michigan for the small
number OF plates used on automobiles,
but some figures that have been gath
cred go to show that the little white
number plates really represent
large amount of money. Figures on
file at the secretary of states office
show that so far this year the state
has received from the sale of number
plates and the issuing OF licenses APP
the state will reap n profit of APP
proximately between $4,000 and $751;
600.
The new supply of numbers, which
has just been received at the depart
ment of state at Lansing reaches up
wards of $4,000 In number, about 81
900 of this number being plates that
will be sold manufacturers of automo-
biles i'm the state 10 be used on cars
used for demonstrating purposes.
These plates cost on an average to
the state of 81 cents per pair and are
sold at SO per pair or profit of $2.73.
Under the old law the state simply
furnished the license and the owner
could purchase n number of plates
wherever he deemed best, but this
method was found To be entirely i'm
practicable. on account of the lack of
uniformity i'm the color and size of the
plates used, so n law was drafted and
adopted whereby the state would fur
nlsh the number of plates at the same
time the license was Issued
This increase in revenue of over
$50 900 per pear in the secretary OF
states office is made without the hir-
ing of one additional clerk.
The money derived from the sale of
the tags is put into the general fund
and distributed to the various depart
ments afterwards, but 1t is being SER
iously talked of framing bill to pre-
sent to the next Legislature whereby
this additional money received from
the sale of automobile licenses and
number plates be placed into the
highway fund of the state and used to
better the condition of the roads.
| IL will be remembered that the state
highway department appropriation
was increased $4,000 during the past
wear because of the extra amount OF
money that was being obtained from
this source. and it is thought that In
time the entire amount will eventual
" find itself deposited in that fund.
The number plates for this year
were black letters on white back
ground. but the plates that are now
being received and which will be used
on all 1911 machines will be just the
reverse, n black background with
white letters.
This change is brought about by the
department to further assist to po-
lice officers of the state in running
down offenders who do not purchase
n license every year II Is stated al
the office of the secretary of state
that there are hundreds. and perhaps
thousands. of automobiles in the state
that are adorned with a license ina
was purchased several years ago. IL
remedy this condition 1t Is though
that at the coming session of the leg
islature a bill will be introduced ere
latinp an officer who will be connected
with the secretary of states onice
who will have for his duties the wori
of travelling over the state and ar
resting offenders of the present aut
laws relative to the use OF nuinpe
plates on their machines.