New-York tribune., 1921-08-14
A. A. A. Opposed to-
$40 Tax on Cars for
Federal License
Would Add SlGW. 100000
TO NcarE, $3.50. .OOO,O 900
Paid On, by Motorists in
Various Fees and Impos,s

Motor car owners are opposed to the
s,o0 0Oo .00O special levy suggestion of
Saeyetary Of the Treasury Mellon be
fore fore the HousaNy ays and Means Com
,,;ttee The SD car Federal license
.sx suggested would fall upon 10000
ooo motor vehicles. owners of which
ars already paying $346. .72o 600 in auto
mobile taxes.
The American Automobile Associa
t;nr has lied protest with the Ways
snd Means Committee, reading, in part.
As follows:
"There are now over million COM
rercial vehicles or trucks and over
nine million passenger cars operating
nn the public streets and highways of
tb;s country. This organization, which
rsnresents a large number of these car
oyners. is most emphatically opposed
fo q Federal registration tax of this
sort for the reason that motor vehicle
other class Of individuals.
'The registration tax in some states
;s now as high as 81 per horsepower,
and on the heavier classes of trucks
$3.50 ton. Car owners in many of
these states are paying multitude of
taxes or their cars, including q regis
tration fee. drivers license fee, a
nersonal property tax. municipal fran
rhise tax, q motor fuel tax. etc. Six
or eight states now place tax on gas
which is not in lieu of but in add
ton to other burdens borne by the
motorists
purins 1920 the Federal ex-
else taxes on passenger
amounted to xSS.6Qo.00O
On CONNIE ercisl vehicles .... 1870 900
And On parts accessories and
tires ..................... 4a.9so.ooo
In addition to this car owners
pay in registration and
lirense fees in the various
states approximately. ...... 1oc 900. 600
And on personal property
taxes on motor vehicles at
least ..'.....'............ 5000, 900
And on miscellaneous taxes.
such as motor fuel taxes.
motor transport franchise
taxes mileage taxes. bust
ness taxes on manufacture
ers and dealers, AT least. 10000, 900
Municipal registration and IL
cense fees amounted TO
over .........'........... 1000, 900
And miscellaneous municipal
taxes. such motor trans
portati1r franchise taxes
ana motor fuel taxes for
the benefit OF cities amount
ed to over. r............. 100000
Thus The Federal. state and
municipal burden now car
ried by the motor Vehicia
owners OF the country
amounts 10 grand total
Of approximately SS4672eooo
or sS457 per car.
while it may be said that some of
these taxes are levied upon the manu-
facturers and dealers. the fact is that
they are aways passed on to the pur-
chaser. 1t follows that any increase
would add to the already excessive
burden charged against the automo-
bile user.
In number of states the entire cost
Of construction and maintenance of
state highways or of state bonds for
road Improvement is now borne entire
ly by the motor vehicle owners.
This field of taxation having been
presmpted by the states, it is believed
that, the legislatures of the various
states would oppose any movement on
the part OF the Federal government
to interfere with this plan.
IF Federal tax such as that sug-
gested should be applied to all motor
vehicles in the United States in lieu
Of all other taxes, both state and mu-
nicipal, there would be no objection to
il, but as we understand this bill the