Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-03
TAX ON AUTOS
BRINGS MANY PROTESTS
Representative Bnchrach, OF New
Jersey, Assnils Secretary Mel
Ions Recommendations.
fBy United Newsl

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-Secretarv
OF the Treasury MELONS rccommen-
dations FOR taxes on automobiles and
bank checks. and Increased letter
postage. already have provoked =
storm of protest
Representative Bachrach. OF New
Jersey. Republican member OF tho
Ways and Means Committee, de-
clared that If Melons proposals were
accepted taxes of 5000 persons would
be reduced. while taxes of 5000. 600
would be Increased
I'VE should encourage the poor man
to get motor car and take his
family out in the air. instead of i'm
posing tax on him." said Bachracn.
Automobile owners already are tho
most heavily taxed"
Would he Nuisance.
He said the tax on bank checks
would be the greatest nuisance i'm
history" and opposed the suggested
increase in the tax on incomes be-
tween $4,000 and $500
The American Automobile Associa-
ton. II national organization of own
erS and users Of motor vehicles. an
nounced its intention of fighting the
automobile tax.
Pointing out that the 10000. 900 au-
tomobIles already pay n tax OF $685.
79G.S7S. or s36.67 a car. the associa-
ton declared further taxation would
seriously interfere with transporta-
ton. in which the automobile has be-
come an important factor.
While 1t may be said that some
of these taxes are levied upon manu-
lecturers and dealers. the fact Is that
they are always passed on to the
purchaser" said the association. 1T
follows that any increase would add
To the already excessive burden
charged against the automobile user
Entitled to Consideration.
Fundamentally. the motor vehicle
is an element in transportation and IL.
as Secretary OF the Treasury Mellon
has indicated. we should repeal or
cut down transportation taxes, then
| certainly the burden OF this factor
in highway transportation, which
last year was estimated to have
hauled more than 1000, 100000 tons OF
freight and carried almost 5,00o, 0O0,-
600 passengers is entitled to the same
consideration as the older agencies
railroad and water operation is de-
pendent upon delivery of the load
Highway transport is the indispcns-
able link In tho chains"
The association said third OF all
and that approximately 66 per cen,
of all passenger ears are owned and
operated by men having an income
OF $4,000 or less.
To-day the entire cost of construc.
ton and maintenance of State high.
ways or OF State bonds for road i'm
provcment Is levied against the motor
vehicle in many States" the associa
ton said. The presumption Of this
source of revenue by the States would
be Immediately interfered with by
any further Federal tax and would
cause n strong and reasoned protest
by State Legislatures who already see
many OF their earlier sources of revc-
nue. taken over by the national gov.
eminent.
Summing up these facts, 1t is the
belief of those in the American Auto
| mobile Association that an unjust
burden would he added to the diff,
ficultics already besctting the car.
owner by the imposition OF further
taxes. burden which would in fact
add measurahly to the cost of trans
pcrtation. ard which could have che
same Influence as high rates have had
in the railroad fieid-a gradual dry
ing up of revcnuc--which in time mus,
rcrceptibly affect the national in.
come"