The Washington times., 1922-09-03
URGES STREET
EXPENSES BE.
TAXES0NA AUTOS
Rudolph Jose Sees $500. 900
Possible in Short Time.
Fines to Support Court.

Maintenance OF the District
streets and highways from the
proceeds Of the sale OF automobile
licenses and from the fines col
lected from automobile drivers In
traffic court is urged by Rudolph
Jose, president Of the Washington
Automotive Trade Association.
Mr.. Jose estimates that the
revenus from these two sources.
after deducting all the costs OF
operating them, would furnish con
siderably greater funds Tor Ds'
trict street and highway needs than
is at present available through
Congressional appropriations.
There are today more than
$4,000 automobiles owned by resi-
dents Of Washington" Mr.. Jose
declared. Automobile dealers are
now selling about 100 new cars
day, in spite of the fact that
August 10 a slack season for the
automobile trade. At this, rate
there win undoubtedly be 100000
automobiles licensed in the District
OF Columbia by next summer.
This means one car for every five
people In the city.
Basic Income $500,000.
"It is certain that the owners Of
these 100000 cars will each pay an
average of IS for their car licenses.
Right there is an income of
$500 900. Now. it is only fair that l
the operating expenses Of the
license bureau should come out Of
the taxes. These would include
little more than the cost Of the
license plates, clerical expenses,
and the cost of maintaining the
quarters. Deduct these bureau ex.
penses and devote the remainder
to streets. This sum alone would
be far greater than this years ap-
propriations.
"Fines collected in the traffic
court all come from the pockets
of automobile owners and oper-
ators. who are the greatest users
Of our streets.
you may recall that few
years ago on the Sixteenth street
hill Just beyond the Tiger bridge
there was posted a sign urging
automobile drivers to 20 slow, be-
cause every, mile above q certain
speed caused damage to the road
surface. approximate figures being
given.
Now II the speeders are the
ones who cause the greatest dam
age to streets they are certainly
the ones who should pay for their
repair. The amounts of their fines
would probably represent approx
mately their fair share Of the
burden.
Fines To support Court.
THE costs Of operating the
traffic court should. Of course, be
deducted from the fines collected
and anything in excess Of those
costs should be expended on the
roads.
"I am certain that II these
are only just and reasonable meas
ures-our roads would be put into
better condition by far than they
are under the present system.
The taxpayer, too, would undoubt-
edly feel better satisfied, even
though his taxes were not appre.
ciably lessened. to know that the
cost of maintaining the streets
was being placed on the shoulders
of the men who use the streets
The automobile owner, in paying
his tax or in paying his fine,
would be more satisfied in knowing
that his money would be expended
for his direct benefit and for the
common good of the city"
Damage Done to Autos.
Asked whether 1t would be posi-
BILE to arrive at an approximate
estimate Of the amount of damage
done to automobiles by rough high
ways in the District. Mr.. Jose said:
THAT would be an exceedingly
difficult problem. A dozen differ.
ent men might give that many
differing estimates. think this
10 about the safest way Of arriving
at an approximate conclusion:
Supposing the streets to be In
perfect condition, think II would
not be Tar wrong to say that
per cent Would cover the cost Of
repairs to the average machine.
automobile per year.
ont condition Il is conservative to
state that the cost of repairs is
per cent, or about double what
they would be II our streets and
highways were In repair.
average car at $4,000 this would
give ua total repair bin today OF
% 100000 o year for. the automo.
bilss In washington alone. This
bill might be reduced at $4,000, 900
Ift the streets were IN perfect
shape.
"fhis means that washington's
poor streets are costing the resi-.
dents OF this city ts.ooo.ooo year
In automobile repair bills, This
sum should put our Highways In
condition and the reduction In the
cost Of repairs for ons year would
thus mean an annual saving OF
more than ts,ooo,ooo for each year
thereafter.
Iils Figures Approximats,
"of course, / wouldn't iike 10 BAY
that these figures are accurate
Others will undoubtedly differ with
them, There h No method by
which We can arrive al an accurate
figure, But j don't think they
can he very ar tram the actual
truth,H Mr. jesse criticised the
condition Of the majority az the
main highways through the city,