The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-08-02
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Chairman Zouch of the State Roads
Commission Is Apprehensive Con-
corning the Future.

L
land, Md.
DEAR SIR: There has been introduc-
ed in Congress a bill, known as the
Adamson Bill, which is the same one
that appeared in the spring of 1916.
This bill has for its purpose the abolish
ment of the license fees charged the
residents of the District of Columbia by
the State of Maryland for the privilege
of using its roads.
Last year we received from Washing
ton licenses $50, 988. 76 for pneumatic
tire vehicles and 3,O88. so for solid tire
vehicles or trucks, making a total of
$90,077.26. We shall expend $10C, 900
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 automo-
mobile licenses is the only money which
we receive to maintain our State road
system, the Legislature of 1916 having
removed the one cent State tax, which
was formerly applied to the maintenance
of State roads. If we are to be depriv-
ed of the revenue collected from the
Washington cars, it will seriously embar-
rass this Commission. When the one
cent State tax was removed, it was
thought that the revenue from the
automobile licenses would amount to
sufficient to take care of our main
tenance, but we find that we are run
ming behind at the rate of about 800,
900 or more, per year, and if the
Adamson Law goes into effect, it will
increase our deficit another 100000,
making a total of $4,000 or more, per
annum. In view of the increased cost
of material, labor, ETC., and the in
creased 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 gradually reduced,
notwithstanding the fact that the State
road system has been extended until it
now comprises about 1900 miles of
modern roads. By dividing the amount
of money received by the number of
licenses issued, it 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 motor
list of only about one-half cent per mile
Of road per year,
The District Of Columbia is surround
ed on three sides by the State of Mary
land and on the other side by Virginia.
Maryland has built II State and State
AID roads to the District Line. The
State Of Virginia has not built even one.
This comparison is not made to criti-
else Virginia, but only to show that
MARYLAND has been extremely generous
to the District Of Columbia The only
improved roads entering the District
from Virginia were built by the Govern
ment or by private enterprise and upon
which toll-gates have been placed.
The taxpayers of Maryland have made
it possible for the automobilists of the
District of Columbia to have intercourse
with the other States of the Union over
modern improved roads.
Maryland has reciprocity with every
state and territory within the United
States, which extends to our State the
same privilege and the use of their many
miles of road, but we think it is unfair
to allow the same privilege to the
District of Columbia, which has only a
small number of miles of thickly travel
ed streets to offer in return. However
any member of Congress or temporary
resident of the District of Columbia who
has complied with the automobile laws
of his own state may use the Maryland
roads, unmolested, by displaying his
home license
The taxpayers of Maryland have
willingly contributed the $24, 600, 000 in
Guiding the $4,000, 900, spent upon
Baltimore City streets and the Hanover
Street Bridge, which has been neces-
sarY to complete its modern system of
State and State Aid Roads, but with
our maintenance cost, as well as our
maintenance deficit, increasing, and
with our tax rate, increasing each year,
it is doubtful. to my mind, whether they
will allow the deficit to mount higher
and higher, as it will do it we are not
to receive the revenue derived from
the District of Columbia licenses.
If the maintenance of our roads is to
continue, money must be raised in some
way. There are only three methods
known, namely, first, direct taxation,
second. licenses, and third, toll-gates.
The Legislature eliminated the first
and an effort is now being made to
a