Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-14

agriculturSts see a balance on the proper
side of the ledger they will invest in
automobiles and the dealers are getting
ready to supply the demand, which is
sure to come within the next few weeks.
~.
Charles Thaddeus Terry. chairman of
the legislative board of the American
Automobile Association, scored a hit with
his address last week al the convention
In Detroit. He spoke on various subjects,
including THE Basis of Motor Car Taxa
ton He said that this was fundament-
ally an engineering subject inasmuch as
it involved the proper method of COM
putting the horsepower of cars as we'll as
the construction of highways adequate
for modern needs. He stated further that
there is nothing in the nature of an auto
mobile as vehicle which should so far
distinguish it from other vehicles using
the highways as to warrant the IMPOSE
ton upon it of a special species of taxa
ton. 1t is fundamental in our system of
government that taxes shall be levied on
the basis of equality and without dis
elimination: that they shall be levied
upon some uniform basis which shall
equalize the burden. The prevailing basis
of taxation in our country is that of val
uatlon of the property taxed. If the au-
tomobleS were taxed according to their
value, just as all other personal property
is taxed according to its value, we should
have no objection. If the distinction
were made between all vehicles on the
one hand and all other personal property
on the other hand, and the discrimination
were so far allowed to have it's sway as
to permit the imposition of a tax upon
vehicles as such, and not in proportion to
their value, then must seek for the
basis upon which the rate of taxation
no cd iSn only
possible basis of taxation of vehicles, if
it is not to depend upon their value. and
that is the amount of their use of the
highways We say here that even though
that were adopted as the basis of the
taxation of vehicles we would not be
heard in protest, provided all vehicles
were taxed so accurately as might be in
proportion to their use of the highways
But when this process of discrimination
is pressed to the absurd point of distin-
gushing between different classes of We
hicles, so that the whole burden of taxa
ton for the use of the highways is I'M
posed upon one class of vehicles for the
benefit of all the others. then we say II
is time to register vigorous protest and
in no uncertain terms. There is no ground
in reason or logic upon which to predi-
cate the proposition that automobiles
should be taxed for the use of highways
and all other vehicles go scot free. Diff
ferent kinds of vehicles wear the high
ways to different degrees, and if we are
to have a tax based upon the use of the
highways, then 1T should be graduated ac
cording to the amount which each species
of vehicle wears the road.
Charlie Myers and his family left
for Braddock Heights, Md, where they
expect to spend the remainder of the
month of August The trip was made
from this city in a motor car.
Consul Andrew ]. McConnico of ST.
Johns reports that the Automobile Club
of Canada has entered into an agree
ment with the farmers along the route
for the improvement of the highway from
Montreal. via st. Johns. to Rouses point,
n. Y. The road extends along the Richie
lieu river, is lined with good farms and
small villages and is the main road over
which automobiliStS and travellers by other
conveyances enter or leave Canada from
or to the United States.
While automobile manufacturers are
fond of stating that the motor car has ar
rived at practically a state of perfection,
and that only minor refinements and i'm
provements are possible, thousands of in
FeHlOTS anu lnecHdIItS OH DOtH sues OIL
the Atlantic busy trying to design a
perfect engine, that will overcome num-
Der of defects that exist in the gasoline
motor as at present designed.
At the Automobile Club of America in
New York city the other day, however a
young mechanical engineer of New York,
after six years of intelligent study and
persistent experiments. showed and dem
onstrated small, light and simply de-
signed car, which he thinks will revolu- |
tioniZe the business of motor car manu-
facture and solve many important prob |
lens that have perplexed and annoyed
those who have been operating motor We
hicles for business and pleasure 1t is al |
most certain that this engine, on account |
of its small size. light weight and great
power, will be of inestima BILE value and
assistance in solving some of the prob |
lens which confront our aeronautical
friends.
The controversy anent the Glidden tour
continues to be waged with interest and
some of the facts brought to light have
caused wide discussion and excitement
among those familiar with the inner
working of motordom, on account of the
popularity of the situation One par