Arizona republican., 1914-02-16
Secretary of State Osborn Did Not Say It Was Un- constitutional, But He Be- lieves It is Very Un- popular
ACTION WATTS ON
 CALIFORNIA COURTS
Motorists Are Watching for Results of the Suits in California Courts to Try Out the Law of Licenses

While there has been little protest that can be officially noticed reia- tive to the automobile license law of this state, not five per cent of the payments having been made under protest, there has been considerable discussion relative to the matter. In some of the papers through the state it has been made to appear that Secretary of State osborn has said that he believed the law was uncon- stitutional, but he states that he has never made so strong a state ment as this. The sentiment seems to be to pay the tax or license this year and await the determination of the suits that are pending in Cali fornia, where the law is practically the same as in Arizona, the law in this state having been formulated after the California statute, and where suits are now pending at this time.
 In Arizona the receipts from auto mobile licenses go into the state highway fund, contribute to the sup port of the office of the state en- gineer and furnish a handsome bal ance that contributes to highway building. Since practically every autoist is a good roads booster, and since the state highway fund in Ari- ZOna never approaches a sum that meets requirements and desires for highway extension and building, the sentiment of the autoist has been largely in favor of it as a means to increase the monies applicable for road funds, or at least opposition to it has been lessened by that reason. But it is believed that as the fund there will be a turn of sentiment against it, the claim being made that it is entirely out of proportion to the requirements for the control of automobile traffic. But at this time the sentiment is to await the result of the pending actions in California.
 In official circles about Phoenix the belief prevails that there will be a change made in the automobile licensing law at the next session of the legislature and that the law will rot be contested this year in the ex- pectation of such change. If the California courts shall decide against the law in that state then a revision of the Arizona statute is deemed cer- tain to follow
 Secretary Osborn has suggested :. as possible solution of the nIatter that when an automobile shall be liannGp it shall be assessed and taxed by the state, that the state shall there after, after deducting license fee as now collected pay to the city and county in which the car is owned their pro rata of the tax collected This would remove cause for com plaint on the score of double taxa ton. as is now one of the claims It would give the state the revenue and would give the counties and cities their revenue as well.
 Another objection to payment of the license is that it is discrimina- tory. If it shall be made direct tax. as proposed, collected by the state and the pro rata refnitted tc the city and county, and at the samo time the owner exempted from pay ment for it as personal property ir city and county assessment, that source of objection will also be re- moved.
 At this time the auto license law and it's continuance on the statute books, as now written, is distinctly up in the air and will probably re- main so until the California law is decided by the courts of that state