The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-10
Motor Car Licenses May Be
Raised 500 Per Cent.
Provide Funds for Roads Under
New Amendment.
NEED S4,5OO,OOO ANNUALLY
State Aid to Counties for Hard
Surfaced Highways.
Tax To Be Based on Horse
power of Each Car.

Automobile license fees may be
boosted 500 to 500 per cent in order to
provide additional road building rev.
enues under provisions of the hard
surface road amendment to the state
constitution. Members of the state
highway commission are In session in
Topeka today and vii! prepare a series
of recommendations TO the state legis-
lature relative to their new road build
ing program.
One of the first moves in the hard
surface road project will be a general
overhauling of the present license tax
law. A measure based entirely on
horsepower and class of machine will
be framed in advance of the opening
of the legislative session in January.
An increase of not less than 500 per
cent in the present automobile license
revenue will be urged. The increase
may be boosted 500 per cent. II was
claimed today by members of the
highway commission that this fund
would be sufficient to meet the states
responsibility for hard surface road
aid without the floating of a bond is
sue.
Based on 100000 Cars.
1t is probable that the road aid
budget will be based on 10000 cars in
use in this state. Under the present
law owners of these cars would pay
into the state and local funds total
of $1.500,000 a year in licenses. An
increase of 800 per cent would boost
this total to s4,500,o0o a year. while
a 500 per cent advance would mean n
gross revenue of $4,000 900.
A graduated system of taxation on
cars will be worked out before the
proposed license law is drafted. The
basis of this tax will be the class and
horsepower of the car used. High
I
trucks would carry the bulk of the
burden.
On Each Car IS.
1t is probable that the proposed en-
,actment will call for an average return
to the counties of SIS on each car
This money would be used for good
road maintenance under statutes pro-
viding for its use. Such a distribution
would give back to the counties total
OF $l.50Q.o0Q year. This amount is
believed sufficient to care for all drag
ging expense on county dirt roads and
for repairs on hard surface highways
The balance of the fund would he
used under direction of the state high
way commission as state aid to coun-
ties building hard surface roads. lex
cept expense for administration of the
automobile license law, the proposed
advance of 800 per cent in fees would
mean total of $4,000. 900 year to
the state department.. Should the av-
erage license be increased 500 per
cent. the state would have a fund of
S5,000,oo0 to S6,000.000 year from
the license fund. while the money for
local county use would be $1,50O.00e
to 81. 2.500.0 900.
A general legislative program is to
be worked out by the state commis-
sion. Governor Allen. who is an ex-
officio chairman of the commission.
will be asked to approve the proposals
before they are submitted to the legfs-
lators- 1t Is probable that the entire
program VIII be outlined in the next
ten days and will be sent to members
of the house and senate in advance Of
opening of the 1921 session