Evening star., 1921-11-22
CENT TAX ON "GAS"
ST|RS AUT0|STSI
Maryland Proposal Regarded
lust. But Equitable ADJUST
ment Is Questioned.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE, November 22-Auto-
| mobilists of Maryland are stirred by
| the proposal of a tax Of 1 cent on
! every gallon of gasoline used for
motor cars. While there is but little
\ difference Of public opinion, appar-
entity. over the justness of the tax.
the feasibility of imposing it is being
questioned.
H. M. Lucius, secretary of the Auto
mobile Club Of Maryland. said while
he had not had time to give the
| matter detailed study and was not
I in position to speak in representa-
1 tive capacity, he personally favored
| my personal view" he said, "is
that the per cent tax on gasoline
is the most equitable way Of charg-
r., ing motorists for the wear and tear
Of the roads for which they are re-
! sponsible.
Sees Actual Mileage Basis.
Naturally the only aust thing is to
mileage. The man who drives his car
few miles a week obviously Is not
/ responsible for the road damage
created by the man who travels hun
dreds Of miles in his car during the
same period.
But this tax certainly should not
| be additional to the registration fee
| OF 50 cents per horse power that is
! now imposed. That should be en-
| tirely eliminated, or else it should be
| reduced to the actual cost Of the
| registration tags.
Il do not think any state Is main
| tanning its roads better than Mary
| land and the good work certainly
| should be kept up"
"Hard to ControI."
A. Stanly Zell. one Of the largest
automobile dealers here, declared he
very hard to control.
Where is the line going to be
drawn" he said. without bringing
up the question of class legislation
owners of motor boats for damage
| done the state roads and the same is
true of owners Of other gasoline
driven engines that do not affect the
roads.
What is going to prevent a man,
il he is dishonest, when he buys
gallon of gasoline for his passenger
! car declaring it is for tractor or a
launch?
"The gasoline tax is certainly not
good thing IL it is to be imposed In
addition to the registration fee. That
would make Il hardship. But without
the present horsepower charge. the
one cent per gallon tax would be
eQu1tdO ptONlOeU d proper H1etnOu
of control could be formulated"
Roads comn,issfo0er's View.
John n Mackall. chairman OF tie
state roads commission. who proposed
the tax on gasoline, made the follow
ing statement:
THE tax has been proposed to elimi-
nate the present road commission de-
! felt Of approximately S1.200.00O. and
any amount in excess of the money
needed for that purpose will be used
! for maintenance during the succeed
ing year.
TT is true that the gasoline tax will
be additional to the horsepower fee.
I. but that condition will not be perma-
nent. Either one or the other will be
eliminated at the end of two years.
We want to try the innovation out.
and it will necessarily be expert
mental at first.
81 do not think the question of con-
troll will be very difficult. I believe
that the greater majority of people
are honest and. even II man did seek
to abuse the law. there would not be
much difficulty in checking up on him.
THE exemptions would include all
gasoline driven engines except motor
vehicles that use the highways" <----,-