Arizona republican., 1922-02-26
DECLARE BONUS
TAX PROGRAM
IS ALL WRONG
Big Associations Oppose
Metheds For Raising
Soldier Bonus Funds

committee to provide soldier bonus
funds is not going to be railroaded
through Congress as promptly as
some of its proponents desire is in
dicated by the fact that already four
huge organizations have declared
their emphatic opposition to 1t and
are now proceeding to resist it with
every ounce of strength and influence
at their commG.Fd. These are the
American Farm Bureau Federation.
the National Grange, the American
Automobile Association and the Ma
tional Automobile Chamber Of Com
merce.
According to American Automobile
association officials. this formidable
array of opposition will be augu-
nlented by three other big national
organizations.
Some of these organizations have
announced opposition to the program
in its entirely while others will con-
fire their efforts to defeating the
proposed two additional forms OF
taxation to be put on the motor car.
According to figures furnished by
the A. A. A., motorists last year paid
in automobile taxes approximately
1886, 100000, which, officials of the
organization assert, represents ex-
ccssive and unfair taxation. The
aQ0kb4Ol1ul AGtA NAOhA0AAAg ~ AoA = A~A O0tt
would add to this sum $120.000,000
annually for an uncertain number OF
years and would tend to cripple a
great American industry as well as
deprive countless small business en-
terprises OF the use Of an invaluable
commercial utility.
Officials OF the National Grange
state that almost fifty per cent Of
this special taxation would fall on
the farmers of the country who are
already at the bottom of the income
ladder in respect to prices they re-
ceive for their products.
National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce officials state that any
more tax on the automobile would
be the proverbial last straw for the
industry in that it would seriously
affect the further sales of auto
mobiles, believing that the array OF
various taxes a prospective purchaser
yAald face would frighten him out
8buying. Any further Gripping OF
THE automobile industry would. It Is
pointed out, mean additional unen-
ployment.
Highway building would also be
seriously retarded, according to the
Al. A. A., for the reason that those
persons who already own cars would
balk at all proposed local taxation
for this purpose, and a three-year
slump in road building now would
require vast sums Of money later
and ten years of time for this i'm
portant work to regain its present
equilibrium.
All interests feel that they should
be heard before the Senate Finance
and House Ways and Means commit
tees take any definite action upon
xok drastic a measure: hearings
Chairman Fordney, told representa-
ft4ex ofs the National Automobile
Chamber or Commerce and the A. A..
4 after announcement of the program
could not be had. On this point the
four named organizations intend 10
take issue with those in charge of
the program, claiming that the plan
was developed practically over night
and that every legislative and tech@
nical expedient is being employed to
railroad it through Congress.
According to President George G..
Diehl Of the A. A. A., 'it is the most
high handed procedure the motorists
OF the country have ever faced and
will not be tolerated If ten million
substantial American citizens can
prevent It,"
Unless the Congress of the United
states is willing to legislate against
one particular class to provide funds
for a soldier bonus, the bill of Rep
resentative Bacharach calling for
tax OF cents a gallon on gasoline,
and the suggestion of Secretary OF
the Treasury Mellon proposing tax
~ 50 cents a horsepower on auto
mobiles will not receive serious con-
sideration from our national legis-
lators This is the opinion OF Presl-
dent George C.. Diehl of the American
Automobile Association who declares
that to tax motorists alone to provide
soldier bonus funds would be class
legislation of the most perniclous va
riety.
Pointing out that the motorists of
the country last year paid In taxes
S229 046. .246. Mr.. Diehl offers the OBJ
Se,vation that this sum seems to be
N anough taxation for the car owners
10 carry without adding an extra bur-
sen that would tend to break the
back of one Of Americas greatest
Iust why Secretary Mellon and
gancressmar Bacharach should want
u tax car owners further is some
what of a mystery. declares the "a
g. 4. head. Mr.. Diehl is OF m tmhe
opinion that neither is aware OF m ane
tlay,endous burden automobilists are
,,.a, ~, carrying for, he says, it can
aAt he that they are deliberately
,+,rs 10 legislate such valuable
,s{ilc utility as the automoplle OF
pAe. !ea sfreets and highways.
tNs 3t,no forth the motor car Is an
aS1r well-taxed commodity, Mr.
forwarded a statement tc
C,iairraan - Tordney of the House
STsys and Means Committee vhlcl
savs. in part: ,,,, 49,.
s.That the motorists OF the country
who are already paying heaVlei -N' laAe'
a,,ld tlam he required to produce the
a,sav needed to pay the soldier DO
Iho,iV nnear to be class legislation o.
the most pernicious sort.
IN n,ssrl,,y-ing 1921 the automobile owners
-. rountry paid in registratlor
81 aloue approximately one hund
Aeg7 and twenty million doliars
Ts,ld Ts secretary Melons suggestloi
ona,ried out by Congress, % cen
.anower tax would place on Cd
A0scr an additional burden o
hout one hundred ana MY atn na,ilio.
i,ars a year. A tax OF cents
doiialS .,,o,1ld mean ar extra burden
sslloh ~ one hundred and fifty mil
non dollars year. =, ~ 1T,,ta,
zen million motor Vehlci
s... rho are now paying lnul
t,',,Se 9wmePs Of separate and distinct taxe
sis-,eoating 1892, 100000 or about %
agg,Se a, The various items included j
sbe car owners tax bill for the pas pas
',ear vs may be briefly outlined as toi
lows. .eser
Fedefal es0'so ~......SGi.38S,1S ~
Federal eA0iSo '''@ -. 11,64oO5
rcdSral excise tax. aeceS