Alma record., 1922-10-19
AUTO CLUB HEAD !
FIGHTS GAS TAX
CALLS PROPOSED PLAN TO
MUlCT CAR OWNERS FOR
FUEL THEY USE UNJUST.
PAY ENOUGH NOW IN TAXES
II Additional Money is Needed to Run
State Affairs Conference Should
Be Called to Work Out Plan.
BY COL. SIDNEY ID. WALDON
President Detroit 4 utOmobUe 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, 10 go before the
Legislature in January. 1923. and ask
that body TO enact a 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 II 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 a good way to raise money.
Auto Mace Michigan.
II there is one State in the Union
where unjust taxes should not be
sadded 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 1t 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 follow;
/. National income taxes common
on all individuals.
Q. Sales tax paid by the manufac-
turer and passed on by him TO the
owner, and limited to the automobile
and few other industries.
3. Take. on repair parts; per
manert charge on the life OF all auto
mobiles whether passenger or truck,
tax specific to the auto owner.
a. State license and registration
fees, virtual monopoly to the auto
mobilist.
5. Scattering taxes, such as driv-
ers license, chauffeur's license, GER
tificate Of title, etc
Motorists Pay Millions.
Bureau of Internal Revenue figures
for 1920, the last available in Govern
mental reports. show that the public
treasury collected in round figures
$267 100000 in special and discrmn-
atory taxes on automobiles In the
year The Federal Government took
S149 100000, the States s107 100000
and Municipalities s1l,00O,OOO
A study of tax figures in Michigan
is interesting. 1t reveals that per-
sonal and real property pay only 290
percent on assessed valuation, while
motor cars pay SIP percent, almost
100 percent more These figures are
based on State figures for 1921, per
sonal and real property value being
s5.4s3 .535. ia, while cars are worth
S131.S14,S63. The real and personal
property pays s15S. 1888, ,56657, and the
automobiles s6,75l.924.51.
When Michigan man buys a Ford
car he must pay taxes equalling ap-
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
per gallon because they have been
told it is small item and because
they do not realize how much the |
motor car owner is already paying in
axes on his vehicle
Would Cost S4,oOo, 900.
Figures supplied the Detroit Auto |
mobile Club by the Standard Oil CO.
md Sinclair Refining Co. the largest
gasoline dealers in Michigan, show /
hat motorists Of Michigan Will be !,
ecu w pay approximately S1,OVV,OVU |
Der annum il they accept the gaso
inc tax. This sum Is based on gaso.
inc sales in 1921. Are the motor car
Jwners OF Michigan ready to hand
,ver this amount just to satisfy the
vhim Of some group OF tax propon-
,nts?
The idea seems to be to tax the au-
when in doubt 1t is as
'umed that the motorist is easy" and
will not object 10 a little more taxa.
ion Even IL more money Is needed to
operate the State Government no tax
II any kind should be founded on rea
ions Of expediency such as ease OF
collection or ability to pay. Every
ak should be based on rules Of JUS
ice and equality.
The gasoline tax is not Just. mas.
much as motorists are already paying
fair share OF Michigan's taxes. II
more money is needed to conduct the
states affairs some equitable way OF
assessing the additional tax should be
worked out. II cannot be found In the
PRESENT plan as promoted and advo-
ated by certain citizens of Michigan
Who seem ready TO tax the automobile
Il every turn