Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-12-21
Exposition
Continued from Page one.)

bill, but not enough. There still
remain 80 or 33 representatives
who refuse to see that the gaso-
line levy is other than-a disguised
sister Of the direct levy, or Is not
burdened with dangers and in
justices against which their con-
stituents would utter forceful
complaint.
Against Gas Tax.
Here are just few Of the argu-
incentive stumps which the gaso-
line tax proponents must blast to
clear their road, as advanced by
various members Of the house and
senate:
That the gasoline tax would be
as direct a drain upon the prop
erty holders of the state rs the
property tax in that SIS per cent
OF the automobile owners OF the
state are also taxpayers.
That the farmer, who depends
upon his automobile or truck to
bring him In close contact with
market and social centers and thus
uses his vehicles to greater ex-
tent that his city brother. would
be forced to bear the burden of
the tax.
That the funds OF the highway
commission are almost exhausted
and Ii the state road and highway
construction program is to be con-
tinued the money must be raised
through an increased gasoline tax,
either directly or by bond issues
financed by such tax.
Many Against Anv Tax.
That to increase the gasoline
tax another cent per gallon would
result In thousands OF automobile
and truck owners in those parts OF
the state along the Washington
boundary buying their gasoline in
the neighboring state, thus ex-
empting Portland and the Colum-
bia river districts, which would
benefit most directly from the fair,
from paying their Just share OF the
tax.
Added to the many legislators
who refuse to entertain the sug-
gestion of gasoline tax for cne
or ell Of the above enumerated rea-
sons are those whoarc standing
pat for a poll tax, or an income
tax, or simply no tax at all. And
there are more than the fair boost
ers will admit who out and out
"furninst" any tax at nll.
A Grand Muddle.
In its last analysis the situation
as regards the fair tax proposal Is
one grand muddle, Of which no
one has yet been able to definite
Iy make head or tail. Organized
even to an excess that Is obnoxi-
GUS to a goodly portion Of the
Legislators, the friends OF the ex-
position are fighting blindiy be-
cause they have nothing concrete
to fight and because the weapons
they are accustomed to utilizing
are useless against foe they can
not definitely locate.
The so-cailed organization ma
chine, which operated SO success
fully In the regular session of last
spring just simply doesn't exist so
far as the fair question is con-
cerned. Every house member out
side OF the fair group is apparent
ly an organization unto himself.
and secret organization at that,
who refuses to be led or driven.
With the first-round defeat of the
direct property tax plan the
round robin" organization ceased
to exist so far as leadership was
concerned, and the fair tax now
faces thirty-odd enemies, all OF
them "hid in the woods"
Leaders OF both houses today
were frank In their admissions
that they could see little chance
for the gasoline tax proposal and
were at loss TO suggest any other
alternative OF the direct property
tax proposal which could command
enough support to put a fair fl
nancing plan through the legisla-
ture.