The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-29
SOUNDS PROTEST
TOPREVENT TAX
PENDING ON OILS
American Automobile As
ISOLATION Enters Fight
Against Proposals.

Believing that the proposed tariff
of IS cents barrel on crude oil, IS
cents barrel on fuel oil. and the
proposed 81 to So tariff on asphalt.
II successful, would materially and
adversely affect the individual auto
mobile owners of the country and
add TO their already heavy upkeep.
maintenance and taxation burdens.
the American Automobile Associa-
ton has entered a vigorous protest
against these proposals.
Speaking in behalf of the owners
II more than 100000 motor We
hicles, the A. A. A. representatives
appeared before the Chited state.
senate committee on finance and
made IL plain that the A. A. q.
would fight to the last Sitch any
proposal designed to take any mare
revenue from the motor car. While
the A. A. A. representatives went
before the committee prepared TO
combat only IS cats a barrel tax
on crude oil, they learned that Ger
tain interests were even planning
oil tariff to the extent Of 81
barrel.
In presenting argument against
tariff on oil. il was pointed out by
the A. A. A. men that more IMAM
10000. 900 automobiles are owned in
the United States. or more than 81
per cent OF all the automobiles In
the world. in contrast with which,
less than Is per cent OF the worlds
oil supply is located in the United
States. Further facts presented by
the A. A. A. show that while the
United States holds this less than 10
Der cent of the WORLD 1il sources.
II Is furnishing two-thrids OF the
worlds annual requirements and at
the same time consuming more than
three fourths of the worlds 'otal
production. which II was ported cat.
makes il necessary for Uncle Sam
to import more than 20 per cent TO
meet his own needs. II was asserted
that any tariff which would prohibit
or restrict the flow OF oil to this coun-
try would affect adversely. in some
form, nearly every citizen within it's
borders.
Some of the other points made by
the A. A. A. against a tariff are as
follows:
Conservative estimate OF the in
crease in the price of gasoline derived
from Mexican oil. resulting from the
proposed tariff. reaches from ~ to =
cents a gallon and therefore, the en-
tire gasoline supply would bear an
additional burden cost OF about $40
0o0. 900. This burden would fall upon
the consumers who are the American
owners of automobiles. over 5000
600 in number: the American owners
OF other gas engines. over 100000
In number; American farmers own
ing 100000 farm tractors; and the
American users of kerosene, which
In one form or another finds its way
into almost every one OF the $4,000,
900 American homes.
III the production and sale OF
motor vehicles continues to increase
in the future as I'm the past 10 years
it is not unlikely that we shall soon
be compelled to purchase immense
quantities OF oil in foreign countries
"A tariff on oil would place a
premium on the rapid depletion of
this one of our greatest natural re-
sources: Furthermore IL would enable
and encourage foreign countries to
monopolize foreign supplies of pc
troleum.
The use Of the automobile. the
truck. the tractor. and the gasoline
stationary engine has become a vital
and necessary factor in the Individual
and industrial life OF the nation. To
impose additional cost on the in
dividual, as well as industry general
ly. at time Of severe Industrial de-
preston. would be to tax the nation
Tor the benefit OF a few who do not
need help. and to commit an eco
nomic and therefore. political
wrong.
Since this tariff on oil was pro-
posed by its advocates in the House
OF Representatives. the price of crude
oil in the Mid-Continent field has in
creased from 30 cents to S225 a
barrel. or $50 ner cent