The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-29
MARYLAND
VANTSGAS
lax IN DIG.
WIN Try to Have Commissioners
Approve Assessments to Pro-
teot States Dealers.

IoCt OLdLoS OeaI0IS.
Maryland, fearing that the pro-
posed tax on gasoline will seriously
! hurt the gasoline selling business in
nearby Maryland places, will en-
deavor to have the Commissioners
recommend to Congress that sim
liar tax be imposed on gasoline in
Washington. This was the infor-
nation current in Washington to-
day. To this end Highway Com
missioner Mackall will confer with
the District Commissioner tomor-
row morning.
Measure May Pass.
The proposed tax on gasoline will
be submitted to the Maryland Legis-
lature when 1t convenes next month,
ana the chances of its passage are
considered bright.
It Is understood that II the District
Will levy tax on gasoline Maryland
Will endeavor gradually to replace the
repatriation rate now charged to
washington motorists who use the
which IL collected In the District,
would go into the United States
Treasury with other taxes. while the
tax collected In Maryland would 20
into the Maryland treasury.
The Commissioners refused to dis
cuss the plan today. but 1t is under
I stood that they are opposed to the
plan. Washington motorists generally
are opposed to the plan also.
The gasoline tax is now imposed in
several states.
Reciprocity Is Bait.
The bait which will be held out to
the Commissioners to get them in
sympathy with the plan, is said to be
reciprocity, which has long been
sought for by District officials and
motorists. Washington motorists are
the only ones who are now taxed by
Maryland for the privilege of using
! the roads In that state. Motorists
from every other state can use the
roads In Maryland without securing
Maryland tags. Maryland is also the
only state which 80 discriminates
against Washington motorists.
Several efforts have been made to
force Maryland to reciprocate with the
District OF Columbia, but the Mary
land delegation in Congress has always
succeeded In shelving such legislation.
Maryland contends that Washington
motorists use the Maryland roads as
much as Marylanders and therefore
sNould be made to pay for their up
keep.
In refutation of this statement the
American Automobile Association,
which for many years has been fight
ing for reciprocity and has succeeded
in getting 1t in every state but Mary
land, made a careful survey of the
situation and found that the state
ment. made by the Maryland author
1tiea was far from srue.
Warrington motorifA pay about
$3.50, 600 a year to the state for auto
mobile tags, which is more than one
fourth of the entire amount collected.
OF the entire amount collected, ii was
learned, about 100000 was spent on
the streets of Baltimore. OF this
amount Washington motorists paid
about 100000. The American Auto
mobile Association said it failed to see
why Washington motorists should be
Obliged to pay one-fourth Of the up
keep of the streets Of Baltimore when
they seldom used them.
Motorists Pay Bill.
The average price paid for a Mary
land tag by Washingtonians was
S19.12, while the average price paid
by Marylanders for District tags was
Sl.19. Maryland pays about $61 900 a
year for District tags. OF this amount
more than 80 per cent is paid by resi-
dents Of Maryland who live in the
nearby suburbs and make their living
in Washington, 1t is said.
More than So per cent OF the traffic
over the Maryland roads leading into
tho District originates in Maryland,
It was learned by the investigation.
Another fact brought out In the inves-
tigation was that the bulk Of the
money paid by Washington motorists
was used for roads which District
motorists seldom use.
II II estimated that there is about
1,70O miles OF roads in Maryland, Of
which only between 800 and 500 are
used by Washington motorists In their
trips to Harpers Ferry, Leonardtown,
baltimore and the Southern Maryland
fishinR resorts. 1t was also learned
that the roads which the Washington
motorists used most We're not In as
god repair AZ the roads which they
did not use.
ID. @. Man Opposes Tax.
Rudolph Jose, former president of
the Automotive Trade Association of
washington voiced the sentiments Of
the majority Of automobile owners,
Wn6n no 5dAo eiiht hV was OPpooSu W
\ Rasoline tax. Mr.. Jose said that he
thought Washington motorists should
not be Disseminated against by the
Maryland authorities, and that COM
ulete reciprocity should be given
Washington motorists in Maryland
and Maryland motorists In Washing
ton. M
Washington has always been
willing to grant Maryland motorists
complete reciprocity, but Maryland
has always stood out against it," he
aid. washington motorists are now
.aying q tax for tags and in addition
ire paying personal property tax
on their automobiles. and / believe
that two taxes are sufficient. Any ad-
Iitional tax would be an unjustifiable
burden, and I hope that the Commits
sioners will not be lured by the re-
ciprocity lullaby"