Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-06
why pcnalIze the Automobiles?

wv It'll ono fell Swoop Of its trusty taxa
w ton Ak, Auditor Moore would have the
General Assembly merrily lop off the head
Of the automobile goose that is laying the
golden eggs Of improved highways in Vir
ginia. His suggested solution Of the road
perplexity in this State is to levy tax on
every motor-driven vehicle so excessive that
the entire $6,000,000 needed to meet dollar
for dollar the Federal appropriation can be
secured from this single source and make the
construction Of the State highway system i'm
mediatey possible. In brief, he suggests
that the automobile owners themselves build
the roads for Virginia without financial as
sistance from the remainder of the States
100000 population.
Auditor Moore's plan to penalize the auto
mobile goes entirely too far. While perhaps
he does not intend it so, he would tax up
wards Of so per cent OF them out of existence,
and thus defeat his whole project for there
is point beyond which automobiles can
not and will not go. They will hardly object
to reasonable increase in rates, although
they are rather heavily burdened already by
having to pay license fees TO both the State
and community, in return for which double
charge they receive the precious privilege of
hammering their cars to pieces over streaks
of mud in winter and rock-bestrewn gulles
in summer. II tax higher but still within
sane bounds will bring real roads, no large
number Of them will be found in opposition,
but they will work to defeat tax which
would force hundreds of them to dispose Of
their cars, and all this in order that the rest
of the State may be spared the necessity OF
contributing TO road system which is for
the common use Of all.
1t is fallacious argument that the auto
mobilists should bear all the expense OF road
building because a class they have the
major use of the highways. They are glad
to pay for that use, but to them accrues no
direct benefit from the millions of dollars
that will come into the State yearly from
the tourist trade-trade now lost because no
self-respecting tourist will pass within the
States borders. To them will not come the
benefit which the farmers will derive from
roads that enable them to move half a
dozen loads Of produce to the station where
now they can move but one. To them will
not come, except. indirectly, the impetus that
VIII be given to education when schoolhouses
and community centers are made accessible
through the medium of decent roads All
these things will inure to the benefit and
prosperity of the whole State, and to them
every citizen should gladly give his fair share
There is no reason under the sun why one
class Of citizens should be saddled with the
burden.
There are better and more reasonable ways
than that suggested by the Auditor, and the
General Assembly no doubt is competent to
lind them. If it can, then the 900 that
a special session would cost would be money
wisely expended; If it is not competent to
devise ways and means Of securing the Fed
eral aid without loss Of further valuable time
and without class injustice, then that knowl-
edge, for future guidance alone, would be
worth to the taxpayers what the session
would cost.