Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-07-27
ROAD BOARD OPPOSES
THE ADANSON BILL
Saws Removal Of License Would
Hurt Road Upkeep
LETTERS TO CONGRESSMEN
Siluation is Placed Squarely Before
Them as to Resultant
Effect

Following is a portion of letter
p Congress by Chairman Zouck OF
On. state Roads Commission relative
IN the Adamson bill which would re
move license fees charged people in
,be District of Columbia for the priv
1erc of using the roads in Maryland: /:
Dear Sirs:
There has been introduced in Con-
press "a bill, known as the Adamson
hll which is the same one that ap-
pcared in the spring of 1916. This
lin has for its purpose the abolish
meut of the license fees charged the
residents Of the District of Columbia
by the state Of Maryland for the priv
ilere of using its roads.
Last year we received from Wash
inrton licenses $S6,9SS,76 for pneu-
matte tire vehicles and $S,0SS.50 for
solid tire vehicles or trucks, making
a total of S9O.077.26. We shall expend
500 600 this year in maintaining the
roads in the two counties bordering
on the District of Columbia, and the
Washington Boulevard.
The money received from the auto
mobile licenses is the only money we
receive TO maintain our State road
system. the Legislature of 1916 hav-
ing removed the one cent State tax,
which was formerly applied to the
mautenanceof State roads. If we
are 10 be deprived of the revenue coll
lectcd from the Washington cars, it
will seriously embarass this Commits
sion When the one cent State tax
was removed. it was thought that the
revenue from the automobile license
would amount 10 sufficient to take
care of our maintenance b ut we find
that we are running behind at the
rate of about 100000 or more, per
year, and il the Adamson Law goes
into effect, il will increase our deficit
another 100000, making total OF
100000. or more, per annum. In view
Of the increased cost of material, la
Dor. etc, and the increased amount
Of traffic which will pass over our
roads because of the war, it will be
utterly impossible for us to maintain
our roads as we have in the past
When the automobile tax license
was first levied we did not have more
than five miles of State roads. The
charge for licenses has been gradu-
ally reduced, Notwithstanding the fact
that the State road system has been
extended until it now comprises about
1900 miles of modern roads. BY di'
viding the amount of money received
by the number of licenses issued, ii Is
found that the State of Maryland is
receiving an average of about $500 to
$500 per year for each license or car
which is using our roads, at cost to
the motorist of only about one-hali
cent per mile of road per year.
The District of Columbia is sur
rounded on three sides by the State
of Maryland and on the other side by
Virginia. Maryland has built /;
state and state Aid roads to the Dis
trict Line. The state of Virginia has
not even built one. CThis eompari
son is not made to criticise Virginia
hut only TO show that Maryland has
been extremely generous to the Dis
trict of Columbia) The only i'm
proved roads entering the District
from Virginia were built by the Gov
ernment or by private enterprise ant
upon which toll-gates have beer
placed.
The taxpayers of Maryland have
made it possible for the automobilist:
of the District of Columbia to have
intercourse with the other States o.
the Union over modern improved
rnahs