Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-02-18
NEW AUTO LAW
IS KEENLY
WATCHED
UNPOPULARITY OF LEGIS-
LATIVE MEASURE IS
CONSPICUOUS; AWAIT
DEVELOPMENTS
(From Tuesdays DailyD


While there has been little protest
that can be officially noticed rcla
tive to the automobile license law
OF this State. not five per cent OF
the payments having been made
under protest. there has been con-
siderable discussion relative to the
matter. In some OF the papers
through the State ii has been made
to appear that Secretary OF State
Osborn has said that he believed
the law was unconstitutional. but
he states that he has never made
SO strong Z statement 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 California, 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 au-
toist Is I good roads booster. and
since the State highway fund in
Arizona never approaches sum
that meets requirements and desires
for highway extension and building
the sentiment OF the autoist has
been largely in favor OF it rs 4
means to increase the monies ap-
pEcable for road funds. or at least
opposition to it has been lessened
by that reason. But it is believed
that as the fund mounts up, rs II
is now mounting. there will be
turn OF sentiment against it. the
claim being made that it is entirely
ont OF proportion to the require
ments for the control OF. automobile
traffic. But at this time the senti-
ment is to await the result OF the
pending actions in California.
In official circles the belief pre-
walls that there will be a change
made in the automobile licensing
law at the next session of the legis-
lature and that the law will not be
contested this year in the expec- /.
tation OF such change. If the Cali
fornia courts shall decide against
the law in that State. then a re-
vision OF the Arizona statute is
deemed certain to follow.
Secretary Osborn has suggested
as a possible solution OF the matter
that when an automobile shall be
registered for a State license, that
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
plant on the score OF double taxa
ton. as is now one OF the claims.
1t would give the State the revenue
and would give the counties and
NihANo AlANll hNA4uN d. MNl.
Another objection to payment of
the license is that it is discrimi-
natory If it shall be made direct
tax. as proposed. collected by the
State and the pro rata RENTED to
the city and county, and at the
same time the owner exempted from
payment for it as personal property
in city and county assessment. that
source OF objection will also be re-
moved.
Vt this time the auto license law
and its continuance on the statute
books. as now written. is distinctly
up in the air and viii probably
remain So until the California law
IS decided by the courts OF that
State