Imperial Valley press., 1922-02-15
TRUCKP KPORTATLON
READY TO PAY
ITS TAXES
Secretary Mott Argues That
Side of the Case as it is
NoU Presented
Last Year Motor Trucks Car.
ried More Than Billion Tons
of Freight

HANFORD, Feb. 15.-'It is funda-
mentally necessary that every organ
ization deriving benefit from public
| service agencies should bear fair
share of then up-keep and mainte-
NANCE declared Fred Mott, Secre-
tary of the California Motor Trans
portation Association in state
ment made here today in discussing
motor trans portation. "The cutlery
against the truck is utterly foolish and
can accomplish no good purpose
save that of harassing and restrict
ing the legitimate use of tremen
dous important service to the public
said Mr.. Mott. "Truck men realize
that an adequate tax should be paid
for the privilege of operating upon
our highways, and on their part.
there is no effort of any kind what
soever to escape any such obligation.
''The motor truck has never been
subsidized. 1t has fought its way
upward against the most violent op-
position. It's position today as an
unquestioned factor in transportation
is fully appreciated by thoughtful
men. In the fiscal year ending June.
1921 motor trucks hauled 1900 ,001,-
300 tens of freight, nearly half as
much as the tonnage carried BY the
railroads. F. A. Seymour, general
manager of the Associated Ralsin
Growers voiced the opinion of the
shipping interests when he said re-
Gently: About Is percent Of the
raisin crop Is at some time IN It's
distribution carried upon motor
trucks. Any movement which will in
terfere with their economical opera
tion can only have far-reaching ef-
feet This is an indication of the
present value of motor transporta-
tion. If restrictive laws and ordin
ances are enacted, which On one hand
cut down the limit truck can carry
TO such a point that its operation
would be uneconomic, and on the
other hand impose a tax wholly cut
# proportion to the revenue derived
rom the operation of motor trucks,
It is clear that this vitally important
business will be done away with.
"a recent survey in the motor |
truck industry showed that one
.on truck operating with a one way |
cad cost twice as much per ton-mile |
as a three-ton truck, while five ton |
truck would cost but one third as
much as the amount involved in the |
operation of a one ton truck. Hence
Il is apparent that it is much more
economical to operate trucks up t
,he full capacity of the highways al
ways preserving q proper margin OF |
safety. This IS dictated not only |
rom the economc reasonableness OF |
he proposition, but also for the fur
Their reason that it is infinitely better
% have a comparatively few trucks
,rerating upon our highways, large
enough to carry q good sized load,
than to have scores Of light trucks
running M and down the highways
and increasing road congestion, thus |
making it more difficult for one to
drive with safety over our hlghway
system.
at is the purpose of the California
Motor Transport Association to IN
vestigate this problem and endeavol
TO find the economic medium as well |
as an approximately just tax for bus
and truck transportation agencies.
The association is particularly con-
.erned with the enforcement of al
existing laws and ordinances to the |
end that damage to our highways |
nay be arrested and adequate pro-
lection assured for our roads.