Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-15
Mr.. MANlEy'S
TAX PLAN
CRITICIZED
SCHEME DECLARED
UNSOUND AND
DANGEROUS

The proposed plan of Mr.. Samuel
c. Manley of Augusta to double the
present license fee on Motor Vehicles
has met with immediate criticism
from the motor owning public.
It seems to be the present con-
sensus Of opinion among those In
touch with motorists that the present
license fees and other direct taxes on
the motor vehicle are already too
high.
To increase our present fees would
be a decided backward step-almost
as bad as going back to toll gates.
The automobile owner is not the one
who receives the greatest benefit
from good highways-as good high
ways increase ten fold the value of
farm and other property adjacent to
them: does the motorist receive any
direct benefit from this?
Should the automobile owner be
made to pay double simply because
good highways have reduced the
number Of abandoned farms in the
State and so improved conditions, in
some formerly remote communities
80 that instead Of the younger gener-
alton leaving home as soon as they
could break away are now returning
and building up their old places with
modern homes?
Should the motorist be squeezed
again because our city merchants
can now almost double their volume
Of sales and the number OF their Gus
toners owing 10 the greater ease
With which our rural friends can get
in to trade with us?
Is it just that we soak him another
million and a half just because more
good highways encourage out OF
State vacationists to spend their
summers and their dollars in Maine?
No one class Of people benefits
more than any other class by having
good roads, but every man, woman
and child does reap a direct benefit
from them and should pay his pro-
portion OF the expense of their con-
struction and repair.
Motoring is no longer "joy riding"
There are very few pleasure cars
left in the United States. Almost
every motor vehicle has an important
duty to perform when it starts out in
the neutrality-suspicious. it is to de-
liver the milk. to carry the surgeon
to heal the sick or maybe the under
taker to bury the dead, we cannot all
have a chauffeur in livery take us
out for a little fresh air. To about
95 percent of the automobile owners
their car is one Of their principal
means of earning a livelihood and
every added burden that we place
upon him must of necessity increase
the cost Of his products and his serv-
ices.
There are some expenses attendant
on the operation of Motor Vehicle
in Maine which have been materially
reduced in the past three years: in
fact since Webber's Auto Electric
Service located at 10 Dickman street
was opened for business thousands
OF motorists have learned that they
can save considerable money and
valuable time by taking their gen.
orators, starting motors and storage
batteries when in need OF repairs, to
this modern and well equipped shop,
run on the golden rule policy by
skilled mechanics and electricians.
Our shop is right in the heart OF
the city, only a stones throw from
the Post Office and the Depot and we
will pay the transportation one way
on any piece Of auto electric equip
ment sent in to us for repairs during
this winter.
Don't forget the name and the
place, Weber Auto Electric Service
located at 10 Dickman street, Au-
gusta.--Adv.
dec5dlt