Evening star., 1922-01-01
zlHlMAN |NO0RSES
GASOLINE TAXPlAN
Believes, However, Maryland
Should Not Ask Similar
Action in District.

The proposed gasoline tax in Mary
land and the plans for automobile
reciprocity between Maryland and the
District are heartily approved by
Representative Fred n. Zihlman of
Maryland. a member of the House
District committee. who has taken
particular interest in automobile
legislation and Is author of the traffic
court bill.
In letters to Gov. Ritchie of Mary
land. to f. Austin Baughman. COM
missioner of motor vehicles for Mary
land. and to John n. Mackall. chair
man of the state roads commission.
Representative Zihlman protested.
however against the requirement
that this gasoline tax should be i'm
posed in the District of Columbia
before Maryland will consider the
proposition as a substitute for the
present automobile license tag.
Mr. zhlman's Letter.
Representative zihlman argues that
the same stipulation could be made
West Virginia with fully as much
justification as to the District. His
letter to Mr.. Mackall is as follows:
Both as a citizen of Maryland and
as a member of the District oe Column
bia committee. | am very much inter-
ested in the proposed gasoline tax.
which will be considered at the COM
ing session of the general assembly
of Maryland.
81 am strongly in favor OF this
tax as more just and equitable
method of raising the necessary funds
for road maintenance and as a SUB
stitute for the present automobile
favor a sufficient tax to abolish the
license tag fee altogether, except
nominal charge for issuance so as
to secure reciprocity with other
states.
This is the only method I have
heard proposed which will put the
tax on those who use the roads, and
which will enable US to secure some
revenue from the increasing number
Of tourists from other states who are
using our state road system.
However. l am utterly unable to
follow your reasoning as to the neces-
sity Of this tax being imposed in the
District of Columbia before Maryland
will consider the proposition or put
it in operation. Why not make the
same stipulation to Pennsylvania.
whose state borders on ours for hum
dreds OF miles. or Virginia and West
Virginia?
Cites varying Prices.
"An automobilist can leave the city
hall in Cumberland. the second largest
city in the state. and be in West
Virginia in two minutes. The pre-
sumption that motorists will come
into the District OF Columbia for their
gasoline because Of a one-cent or a
two-cent tax per gallon is to my mind
not well founded. II this were true,
the gasoline stations in rural COM
munities where they generally charge
or cents more per gallon than in
the large central stations in the
cities, would go out Of business en-
tirely.
.The average motorist purchases
gasoline when he needs 1t. and one
cent increase in price per gallon is
not going to cause him to go very
far out Of his road in order to avoid
it.
However. suppose you have gone
into this matter very fully. and would
appreciate you writing me briefly as
to the premises upon which you base
your position in requesting the Dis
trict Of Columbia to levy similar
tax. Personally. 1 am not opposed to
the tax in the District. but take the
position that the imposition of this
tax should have nothing to do with
our working out the plan in Mary
land"