The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-08-02


DURING the past few weeks there has
been considerable discussion relative to
the temporary tourist tax levied by New
Jersey on motorists from other states. The
amount of this tax ia one dollar and per-
mits nonresident to motor In this state
for ten days.
The states of Pennsylvania, New York
and Massachusetts have begun retaliatory
measures against Jerseymen on account
of the tourist tax levied in this state
Last week the Highway Commissioner of
Massachusetts issued an order that New
Jersey automobiles shall be debarred
from nonresident touring privileges in
that state, and will be compelled to secure
full Massachusetts license and pay the
full price therefor.
There are eighteen states which extend
the courtesy of ten days privilege of
touring in their territory without securing
an extra license. Most of these states
have clauses in their laws that allow re-
taliation against any state that does not
agree to this reciprocal arrangement.
New Jersey appears to be the only state
that will not recognize the licenses of
other states, and Its motorists when tour
ing in other states are now being sub
jected to petty annoyances and to the
rigid adherence to other state laws on this
account.
OF course the New Jersey law was pass
ed to produce revenue from the nom
resident tax. The argument for the law
was that this state had expended vast
sums of money for improved highways,
more than any other state according to its
size, and as all the money derived from
motor licenses Is expended on our roads,
1t was argued that non-residents who en-
joy these fine highways should In some
measure assist in paying for their mainte-
nance. Commissioner Smith says the money
derived from all motor licenses Is not suf-
ficient to keep our roads In repair, from
which fact 1t would appear that the license
fees are not excessive or that the tourist
tax is unreasonable or unjust.
Other states maintain, however, that
they also expend considerable money on
their roads. including the motor fees. and
that their residents should be allowed the
same privilege In this state as has been
accorded Je-seymen when visiting sister
states.
The question to be settled In this con-
troversy is, Has the income from tourists
licenses been sufficiently large to warrant
a continuance of the system and to offset
the annoyance and expense our motorists
suffer when touring In other states The
total receipts from this source In 1909 was
about $1,000, which sum seems rather too
insignificant to maintain a law that Is
proving to be so obnoxious to motorists
from other states.
New Jersey, on account of its location
along the ocean, Is visited by many motor.
lists each summer, and these people spend
large amounts of money at our seaside
resorts. 1t would seem, from a business
standpoint, that the petty annoyance of
compelling them to get one dollar license
should be abrogated, particularly IN view
of the fact that the total Of these fees is
too small to warrant its continuance.
Assemblyman Walter E. Edge, of At
lantic county, last winter unsuccessfully
fathered bill to repeal that part of the
act which provoked retaliatory legislation
In other states.
In an interview last week on this sub
ject Colonel Edge said:
eff the bill introduced In our legisla
ture last winter had passed, New Jersey
would, of course. have lost the $1,000.
which amount they had collected In 1909
for this 81 temporary tourist license, and
would unquestionably have lost some adj
ditional revenue that is now paid by nom
resident tourists for annual licenses. On
the other hand. New Jersey motorists,
who paid something like $3.50, 900 them
selves to the state, according to the motor
departments reports of 1909, would have
been absolutely saved very large sums
which they are now compelled to pay
Pennsylvania, New York, and other states
If they wish to motor In them, which a
large majority of them undoubtedly do.
This is q very small part of 1t however.
The business interests Of the State OF New
.Jersey-not only the seashore resorts
along the coast, but the small stores,
garages and hotels In every section OF the
state-have lost revenue because of the
boycott that has existed impossible to
compute.
I'VE must take into consideration the
fact that 5000 non-residents did not take
advantage of the 81 temporary license
which was open to them In 1909, but CON
tributed about SO, 900 to the state for q
full years license instead. Why would
thew not naturally do the same thing with |
the reciprocal clause, emitting the 81, If
thew intended to use the state roads more
than temporarily, rather than be bothered
nv being held up If they did attempt
to use 1t more than the ten days allowed
at seems to me that If you do not view
this in any other way. 1t should be viewed
as a straight out business proposition, and
If viewed In that light alone New Jersey
can afford to lose few thousand dollars
for the sake Of taking In many thousands
of dollars and saving our citizens larger
expense account as well.
I'm addition to all this Is the Dao Ieei-
inc that ali acknowledge has been engen-
dered all over the Eastern states because
of New Jerseys generally conceded atti-
fude with motor legislation"