The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-10-06
AUTO CLUB HEAD
FIGHTS GAS TAX
CALLS PROPOSED PLAN TO
MuLcT CAR OWNERS FOR
FUEL THEY USE UNJUST
PAY ENOUGH NOW IN TAXES
~ Additional Money 10 Needed to Run
state Affairs Conference should
Be Called to Work Out Plan.
ny COL. SIDNEY d. .WALDON
. President Detroit Antomo6tts Club


Preadent Detroit Antomo6tts Club
Certain interests in the State OF
Michigan are advocating tax on all
gasoline used within the borders OF
the State. They have been openly
working for the measure for some
months to develop sentiment in favor
of additional, taxation for the. man who
owns a motor car 1t is their inten-
tion, they intimate, to go before the
Legislature in January, 1928, and ask
that body to enact law that will re-
quire every user OF gasoline to pay a
tax of one cent or more per gallon on
all they purchase.
AS Is usually the case in tax mat
ters the proponents OF the plan are
proceeding under the assumption that
anything used In connection with an
automobile is readily taxable. They
seem to feel it is the duty Of the more
than 100000 motor car owners in
Michigan to dig into their purses just
because somebody happens to think
this good way to raise money.
Auto Made Michigan.
II there is one State in the Union
where unjust taxes should not be
saddled on to the motor car 1t is
Michigan. The motor car has been
the making of the Wolverine State
industrially. Had not this wonder in
dustry of the Goth century developed
in Michigan the State would be in
dustrially where it was two decades
back. We all know Michigan was
not among the industrial leaders,
though she is today, and the motor
car is to be thanked for the progress
made.
The motorists OF Michigan and the
United States are already paying
their fair share and perhaps more, Of
the taxes. Take, for instance, the
main tax levies, Of which there are
five. They may be listed as follows
1. National income taxes common
on all individuals.
2. Sales tax paid by the manufac-
turer and passed on by him to the
owner. and limited to the automobile
and few other industries.
8. Taxes on repair parts; per-
anent charge on the life Of all auto
mobiles, whether passenger or truck.
a tax specific to the auto owner.
4. State license and registration
fees, virtual monopoly to the auto
mobilist. Il
s. Scattering taxes, such as driv-
.er's license. chauffeur's license, cer-
tificate of title, etc.
Motorists Pay Millions.
Bureau OF Internal Revenue figures
Tor 1920, the last available in Govern
mental reports, show that the public
treasury collected in round figures
$267, 100000 in special and discrimin-
atory taxes on automobiles In the
year. The Federal Government took
$149, 100000, the States $107.00O.000,
and Municipalities s11.000,000.
A study of tax figures in Michigan
is interesting. It reveals that per-
sonal and real property pay only 2.90
percent on assessed valuation, while
motor cars pay 5.12 percent, almost
100 per cent more. These figures are
based on State figures for 1921. per-
6Oudl duu IOdl PiOPOity NoAuS OSAho
$5,483.5 3.535.114. while cars are worth
$131,S14,S63. The real and personal
property pays 15S,3SS, ,566.57, and the
automobiles $6,751,924.51.
When a Michigan man buys Ford
car he must pay taxes equalling ap-
proximately percent OF the cost OF
the car. The United States takes
part and Michigan the rest. Is any
other property as heavily taxed?
Many people have tentatively as
sented to a tax Of one or more cents
Der gallon because they have been
told II Is a small item and because
they do not realize how much the
motor car owner is already paying in
taxes on his vehicle.
Would Cost $4.o0o,ooo.
Figures supplied the Detroit Auto
mobile Club by the Standard OIL Co.
and Sinclair Refining Co.. the largest
gasoline dealers in Michigan, show
that motorists Of Michigan will be
forced to pay approximately $4,000. 900
per annum II they accept the gaso-
line tax. This sum is based on gaso-
line sales in 1921. Are the motor car
owners of Michigan ready to hand
over this amount Just to satisfy the
whim Of some group Of tax propon-
entsf
Would Make Thick Earth Crust. /
The amount of land above sea level
In the world would make a crust coo