The Washington herald., 1922-08-06

mates the Maryland office In the
District. It win be worth Ioes to
our customers in not having to go
through with the present arrange.
ments necessary to drive in Mary
land.
\ 1T Is q splendid idea and the
only way TO equalize the tax on
automobiles" said Michael Heister,
OF Milburn. Heister and Company.
architects. Il am heartily in favor
of It,"
s Anything to get rid of the pres
ent annoyance of obtaining Mary
land tags and the carrying of two
tags said NJ A. Loomis. at pres
ent In charge OF the Washington
office. National Grange. IT am in
favor OF the tax on gasoline and
believe 1t to be the only fair way
of taxing automobiles.
Il am IN favor OF any possible
means Of eliminating the Maryland
registration office In the District
Of Columbia and the gasoline tax
looks like the best method to me-"
said II. o. Bishop. newspaper cor
respondent. National Press Club. Il
have heard people say things about
this office. which no newspaper
would ever dare print. and the gas
oline tax. in my opinion will save
many a notorist losing his chances
for heaven on account of his Ian
guage after an experience with
this office"
Among others favoring the gas
tax in lieu of horsepower tax are:
DR.. &c. Rice, 1892 Sixteenth street.:
DR.. ]. H. Branson. 1923 Massachu-
setts avenue northwest; Lieut.. Col.
w, C. Jones, u. S. NJ. c., 2s06 Ord
way streetnorthwest; John M. Cher
nv, 43l woodward Building: DR..
Louise Eose. 1881 Columbia road
northwest; w. H. Moses. Eleventh
trict Building.
would save the average motorist
practically half of his present Dis
trict and Maryland fees" said NJ. o.
Eldridge, secretary of the District
A. A. A. Figures compiled by the
National Automobile Dealers As
ISOLATION show that the average
basoline consumption per car in the
United States is 400 gallons per
year. with the addition of the pay
ment of 81 for tags in the District
under the new plan. the average
taxation OF the District motorist
would be 50.
Truck Would Pay More
THE operators or large trucks
going into Maryland would be the
ultimate gamers under this new
plan as under the present Maryland
laws they are compelled to pay
from $50 to $500 per year for their
tags. depending upon the weight Of
the trucks. Under the new arrange
ment these truck owners would pay
81 for tags and the balance of their
taxes by, means of the gasoline tax.
The only persons whose taxes
would be increased under the new
plan would be those owners of
trucks which operate entirely in the
District and l think every motorist
will agree that a heavy truck should
pay more toward the upkeep of our
city streets than pleasure
vehicle"
"A letter received from II. G..
Shirley. State Highway Commits
sioner of Virginia indicates that
Virginia will have a gasoline tax
before the proposed District tax
goes into effect. Motorists through
the country are turning to the plan
as embodied in our recommends
tions as the proper solution of the
automobile tax question. Several
other States with situations similar
to that existing between the Dis
trict and Maryland are studying
this plan with a view to obtaining
an equitable taxation between their
States and adjoining domains.
We are perfectly willing to have
the Commissioners take a referen-
dunn on this question. or to adopt
any other meani of determining the
real sentiment toward such a tax
in Washington, as we feel certain
that any motorist giving careful
study to the present situation and
that provided under the gasoline
tax will favor the new plan"