Milford chronicle., 1922-11-10
USE TAX ON GASOLINE
TO BUILD HIGHWAYS
ACTIVITIES OF SEVERAL STATES PROM
lSE TO DEVELOP INTO A NATION
WIDE MOVEMENT.
EXPECT $4O,OOO,OOO YEAR
EXPERTS SAY The PROPOSAL OF GOOD
ROADS BUREAU OF CENT-A-GALLON
LEVY is EQUITABLE.

The proposal to place a tax on ev-
cry gallon of gasoline consumed by
motorists for the purpose of raising
funds to build new highways is gain
ing ground in this country, while at
the same time the movement has
spread abroad. Those who sponsor
such tax are doing so on the theory
that those who derive the greatest
! benefit from good roads should bear
the greater portion of the burden. It
is argued that the man who travels
only about 5000 miles annually over
the highways of the various States
should not be forced to pay as much
as the owner of a motor car or truck
who probably travels as much as 15-
900 or 10000 miles or more, as the
wear and tear in the latter case would
naturally be greater than in the case
of the former.
Thomas H. Macdonald, Chief of the
Bureau of Good Roads, according to
the National Petroleum News, has fig
ured that it is possible to raise a rev.
enue of $4O,OO0,000 annually for good
roads by imposing tax of one cent a
gallon on gasoline used by all varie- !
ties of motOr-driven vehicles using the
public highways. This proposal, how ]
ever, is not an original one, as the I
plan already is in effect in several !
States and more are expected to adopt t
It during the coming year.
''This method of raising funds" &
says Mr.. Macdonald, 'is rapidly grow /
ng in favor and has been adopted in i
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Con-
lecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisi- e
ina, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, il
Iew Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Il
Dakota and Washington. Of these Ct
'tates only Oregon, New Mexico, Col a
rado and Kentucky had such tax a
rior to January 1, 1921. The tax in h
Iaryland, Mississippi and South Car
lima has been adopted during the IL
resent year." il
This system of levying taxes on dl
lOse who benefit the most, it is point ib
out, has been considered by many hs
zperts, and various plans have been
lccessfully worked out for the appor-
Of heavy assessments for g
lblic improvements over large areas. ~
| this way, it is claimed, both those
rectly and those indirectly benefited
" their share.
In England, the question of impos-
g a tax upon gasoline in lieu of the TH
esent horsepower tax on motor
rs and trucks has been receiving
e attention of the authorities during
e past few weeks. Commenting on
3 proposal, The Petroleum Times of
ndon says: There is no doubt that
2 suggested reintroduction of the tOt
irit (gasoline) tax is by far the II D['
Dst equitable. The motor legislation no no
nmittee, of which Sir w. Joynson- IeI
cks, M. P, is the chairman, has, to- Cle Cle
her with other interests, drafted a C [oa
" taxation system which ought to oIe'
ectively meet the case in that it VI
kes the person who uses the roads PAL
the greatest extent pay the great !;, uII
n toward their upkeep. The sugges- VII .
l is that motor spirit shall bear a u! uiI
, while the annual registration and lIll l
nse tax upon automobiles shall be SUI
lOminal amount. The new method nea
poses one fiat rate upon all import eIs
motor spirit used by motorists" @ Lell