Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-22
MOST income TAX
PAYERS OWN AUTOS
Twelve of Every Nineteen in
This District Run Car,
Collector Figures.

BALTIMORE, August 81 (SpeciaD.-
Income tax payers in the, Maryland
district (which includes the District
Of Columbia) number 191.760 ac-
-oording- figures -in-=the Office of
the collector OF fnternai revenue. The
aggregate paid from July /. 1919. to
June 80. 1920. was $55.oo7. 26e.67.
There are about 10000 passenger
cars in Maryland and about $4,000
motor trucks tho automobile COM
missioners Office approximateS From
3s.eee to 10000 automobiles is the
estimate that ofice makes for the
number Of motor cars in tho District
Of Columbia
Thus, at a conservative estimate,
there are 10000 automobiles in
bia, which comprises the Maryland
internal revenue district-that is,
there are 1900 persons who pay an
income tax who do not own an auto
mobile. II motor cycles are classed as
automobiles this number of non
motor-owning income tax payers will
be considerably reduced.
Most Are Really Poor.
Eliminating this latter considera-
ton. in the interest Of conservatism,
it win be seen that about twelve
out Of every nineteen persons who
pay an income tax own q motorcar
three. No one needs to DO reminded
that the income tax is not an impost
exclusively upon the rich; on the
other hand, the owning Of an auto
mobile presupposes considerable af-
duenca
With $1,000 as the yearly income
above which unmarried persons are
called upon to pay tax: with $4,000
As the limit in tho case of heads of
families, though exemptions are al
lowed for dependents and with $1,000
per annum cutting but a small figure
those days the bulk Of the income
tax payers may be classed as rela-
lively poor. On tho other hand, the
automobile, always an expensive lux
ury, has not lesSened any in cost, up
keep and operation. Like everything
else, it has done the reverse.
From all considerations 1t would
appear that there il q disproportion-
ately large number of automobile
owners as compared with income tax
payers At the internal revenue Of
fice they can suggest several explana-
lions for this apparent disproportion,
but these explanations, even in their
aggregate effect, appear insufficient.
Some Cars Presents.
For instance. as Deputy Collector
of Internal Revenue Lewis M. Mil
bourne points out, one income tax
payer may own several motor cars.
Or perhaps a non-income tax payer
may own q car which has been given
him by his parents, for example.
This would presuppose that the ex-
penses Of operation and maintenance
are also being betrayed for him. Or
. person in comparatively straitened
circumstances may be buying q car on
tho installment plan. using the ma
chine in some revenue-producing ca
pacity.. Also it may be recollected
that tho advertising columns carry
some wonderful bargains in used cars.
purchasable upon convenient terms.
The deputy collector said that on
several occasions the collectors Of
nee, with the assistance Of the auto
mobile commissioners office, has made
a check-up of seeming discrepancies
between the number of income tax
payers and the number Of motor car
owners. Some discrepancies have been
discovered, but the results have not
warranted the time, trouble and ex-
pense of the Investigation.
Tho last investigation took place
about two years ago, and it is said
at the Office that mono 10 now in
prospect.