Evening star., 1921-08-02
AUT0|STS AROUSED
At PROPOSED TAX
Declare s347,oo 900, Ap-
proximateIy, Is Now Levied
Annually. on Motor Vehicles.

Automobile owners throughout the
country, reports to Washington today
Indicated, are going to make deter
mined fight against the proposal to
place a federal tax on automobiles.
The American Automobile Associa-
tion has fired the opening gun for the
protestants in a statement sent to
Chairman Fordney of the House ways
and means committee requesting a
hearing before action Is taken.
Representative Appleby's bill propos-
ing a federal motor registration fee.
followed by the recommendation yes
terday Of Secretary Mellon for q fiat
tax Of $40 on all cars. aroused motor
lists today to the realisation that moth
Of facts to Congress will prevent the
placing Of more burdens on an indus
try declared to be already overtaxed.
In its letter to Chairman Fordney
the american Automobile Association
presents an interesting array of taxa
million motor vehicles in the United
States now pay into federal. state and
municipal Golfers approximately $347,-
000. 900 annually.
This statement declares the field Of
motor taxation has been pre-empted
Oy tn0 States. II tHc pEOpOSeU leu.
eral tax were substituted for all 9TH
er taxes there would be no objection
to 1T. the association states.
Taxes ON Motor Vehicles.
The letter to Chairman Fordney fol-
lows:
1.-THE papers indicate that Repre-
sentative Appleby of New Jersey has
introduced a bill which is to be con-
sidered by your committee as a part
Of the general scheme Of federal tax
alton. This bill would place a tax of
40 cents per horsepower on passenger
automobiles and $40 to so per ton
on trucks.
There are now more than a million
commercial vehicles or trucks and
more than nine million passenger cars
highways of this country. This or
ganization, which represents a large
number of these car owners, is most
emphatically opposed to federal reg
istration tax of this sort for the rea-
son that the motor vehicle owners now
pay more taxes than any other class
Of individuals.
"The registration tax in some
states is now as high as 81 per
horsepower, and on the heavier
classes Of trucks $3.50 per ton. Car
owners in many of these states are
paying a multltuOe OF taxes on tnelr
cars, including a registration fee, a
drivers license fee, a personal prop
erty tax, a municipal franchise tax.
motor fuel tax, etc. Six or eight
states now place a tax on gasoline of
from l to 2 cents per gallon, which
ls not in lieu of, but in addition to,
other burdens borne by the motorists.
During 1920 the federal excise
taxes on passenger cars amounted to
$83.600.294; on commercial vehicles.
$15,160,456 and on parts, accessories
and tires, $49,960,128.
'.In addition to this car OWNERS pay
in registration and license fees in
the various states approximately
$102.000.000, and in personal property
taxes on motor vehicles at least
$4,000, and in miscellaneous tax
es such as motor fuel taxes, motor
transport franchise taxes, mileage
taxes, business taxes and manufac-
turers and dealers at least 10000
900.
Municipal registration and license
fees amounted to over $1,000. 900, and
municipal miscellaneous taxes, such
as motor transportation franchise
taxes. and motor fuel taxes for the
beneft Of cities amounted to over
$10.000.000.
'Thus the federal, state and munich
pal burden now carried by the motor
/0on+i,,,o6 an Doun . Col,,yon ~