Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-10
INDIANA AUTO
MEN OPPOSE
MELLON TAX
President Lupton of HoOsier
Association Issues State
ment in Protest.
BURDENS NOW GREAT

Declaring that automobiles. including
passenger cars and trucks. are bearing a
great portion OF State and Federal tax
alton now and that the proposal Of Sec
rotary Mellon that an additional tax Of
$40 on every motor vehicle N the Ma
ton is entirely too great a burden, the
officials Of the HOosier State Automobile
Association and its local branch, the
Hoosier Motor Club, have taken up the
cUdgels in a concerted effort 10 avert
this proposed additional taxation.
In a Statement issued Jointly by a G..
Lupton OF Hartford City, president Of the
Hoosier State Association. and Guy X.
Jeffries OF this city, president Of the
Hoosier Motor Club, 1t is declared there
are, in round numbers. ten million motor
vehicles in the United States now, and
these are paying separate and distinct
taxes amounting to S34S. 769,SIS, or nearly
S35 a vehicle per annUm.
Assuming" says the statement, that
each Of these vehicles is valued for tax
alton purposes at S+OO. it will be seen
that each is paying close to 0 per cent,
which is a higher rate Of taxation than
IS assessed on any other one thing.
EXCESS TAXES
OFTEN FOUGHT.
The Hoosier State Automobile As
ISOLATION" the statement continues. has
fought many excess taxes, both State and
Federal, and has succeeded in averting
most of them, but here again tObs up
the Federal Government with a pro-
posal to levy a $40 tax on every motor
vehicle. During the wartime period the
Government tried to stick on a tax OF
approximately $50 on each car. In short,
the officials at Washington still have the
notion that the motor vehicle Is a luxury
instead Of a necessity. and think it can
be made the goat Of any and all sorts
Of Federal taxation.
I'VE have been preaching this summer
TO Indiana motorists the necessity of or
ganization so as TO enable them better to
look out for their own interests The
present proposal should cause all non
affiliated automobile owners in this
State to wake up to the value OF close CO
operation with the recognized agency that
can best fight their battles.
Secretary OF Treasury Mellon has Sc
riously proposed this SO tax and only
the most emphatic protest on the part Of
automobile owners can avert this burden
In making this protest in the name OF
the organized motorists Of Indiana We
invite the immediate cooperation Of all
owners who are not yet within the or
Eanization fold.
CALL SENT
FOR AID.
The American Automobile Association
with which we are affiliated sends out
a call for assistance in this fight, be-
cause their officials declare the ad-
dItiOnal tax has a strong chance of be
ing adopted
AT the last session Of the Indiana
Legislature our association succeeded
in killing. for the third consecutive time,
a proposal to double the State license
fees We also killed a seriously fought
for bill to levy a tax Of 12-cent a gallon
on gasoline. By averting this State
legislation our association saved for the
Indiana motorist, this year alone, no less
than 5000, 900. An additional burden
OF approximately $1,000 600 is now about
to be placed on motor vehicle owners Of
this State through this Federal action.
I've appeal to motorists throughout
the State TO assist US in fighting this
odfous tax. The motor vehicle is too i'm
portant 70 the welfare OF the State and
Nation Already paying an avera &c Of
per cent IN special taxes, this absolute
IL necessary means Of transportation Is
now bearing more than its share Of State
and Federal unkeep."
The HoOsier State Association an
nOunces that 1t viii gladly receive all let
tiers Of protest from throughout Indiana,
at its headquarters in the Clsypo0l HO-
tel, and that all such letters viii be put
TO good use.