The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-25
SEEK TO DOUBLE
 TAXES ON AUTOS
Many Motorists Speak in Favor of Bill By MT. Sher
 wood of Westport

Hartford, Feb. 25.-After a three hour hearing in which automobilists and others argued on the merits and demerits of various bills aiming to ina pose an extra tax upon all automobile owners in the state, the opponents and the proponents of increased taxation |united in support of bill fathered by Representative Sherwood of Westport, which dobules the present registra- ton fee, but eliminates the auto from any form of local taxation by towns or cities. Although the feeling seemed to be unanimously in favor of 1t on the part of those persons who went to the hearing there is some question whether it will be reported favorably
 by the committee, as several of the members say they are opposed to any bill which would deprive the towns they represent of income for the ben eft of the state as 9 whole. Most of the debate was on the question Of in creased taxation and it brought out a proposal from Representative Russell of MiddIetown that the tax on horses be increased. The proposal was not, however. introduced as a fornaI amendment.
 The first hearing was on biII pro hibiting mufflers from being open It was Introduced by Representative IF. R. Sherwood of Westport- O. M. Rob inson of New Haven, chairman of the legal committee of the State Autonao-
 bile association, said he was in favor of such a bill, and the only speaker opposed to it was Representative w.. s. Rogers of Lttchheld. who thought that 1t was sometimes necessary to keep mufflers open for short time in testing engines.
 Mir. Sherwood then spoke in favor of 9 bill he had introduced in regard to registration fees for automobiles The bill fixes the following schedule of registration fees off motor veEi- c1es: Motor cycles, $4 each; comma err cial automobiles, $14 for the first 1 900 pounds and $6 for each additional thou sand pounds or fraction; livery 5auto- mobiles, SEQ; dealers automobiles, $1oo; dealers motor cycles, $20; all other automobiles $1 for. each horsepower
 this tax to be in lieu of any or all oth-- CT taxes whatever.
 MT. Sherwood said that the present charge for pleasure cars was 50 cents for each horsepower and that his bill planned a doubling Of the tax, blit that the increase was not as great as 1t ap-. peared, since 1t eliminated all other
 taxes on autos. At present, he said, additional taxes are laid by the towns in which the car owner lives and these latter taxes are various and inconsis- tent, in some cases being very high and in others comparatively low He thought that all money derived from
 taxes on automobiles should go to the state. which is required by law to. spend it in improving and maintaining highways. H edid not think the extra cost of the fees was excessive, in view Of the greater benefit the automobiIist
 would get from the extra money spent on roads, which they would use Tha income from auto fees was $45O. GOO last year and is estimated at $500. 900 for this year The change would bring $1, ,Oo0, 900 into the state treasury. A score of automobiles, including ! m Q r1ea1~Nf NfN<,~@=r e bly,, spoke in favor of the bill and there was little opposition to f.