The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-18
rHE AUTOMOBILE TAX.

That the particular tax program
fixed by the house ways and means
committee TO provide soldier bonus
funds is not going to be railroaded
through congress as promptly as some
Of it's proponents desire is indicated by
the fact that already four huge organ
izations have declared their emphatic
opposition to it and are now proceed
ing to resist it with every ounce OF
strength and influence at their COM
nand. These are the American Farm
Bureau federation, the National
grange, the American Automobile as
ISOLATION and the National Automobile
chamber Of commerce.
According to American Automobile
association officials this formidable
array of opposition viii be augmented
by three other big national organiza-
tions.
Some of these organizations have
announced opposition to the program
in its entirety, while others will con-
fine their efforts to defeating the pro-
posed two additional forms of taxa
,tion to be put on the motor car.
According to figures furnished by
the A. A. A. motorists last year paid
In automobile taxes approximately
$685., O00, 900, which, officials of the or
ganization assert, represents excessive
and unfair taxation. The additional
tax program, If carried out. would add
to this sum $3.50, 100000 annually for
an uncertain number of years and
would tend to cripple a great American
industry as well as deprive countless
small enterprises of the use OF an in
valuable commercial utility.
Officials of the national grange state
that almost so 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 receive for their pro-
ducts.
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 automobiles, believing
that the array of various taxes a pro-
spective purchaser would face would
brighten him out of buying. Any fur
ther Gripping of the automobile indus
try would. it is pointed out, mean adj
ditional unemployment.
Highway building would also be SER
iously retarded, according to the A. A.
A.. for the reason that those persons
who already own cars would balk at
all the 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 important work to regain
it's present equilibrium.
All interests feel that they should
be heard before the senate finance and
house ways and means committees
take any definite action on so drastic
measure. Hearings, Chairman Ford
ney, told representatives Of the Ma
tional chamber of commerce and the
A. A A., after announcement Of the
program could not be had. On this
point the four named organizations
intend to take issue with those in
charge of the program, claiming that
the plan was developed practically
over night and that every legislative
and technical expedient is being en-
ployed to railroad 1t through congress.
According to President George c..
Diehl of the A. A. A, st is the most
high handed procedure the motorists
of the country have ever faced, and it
will not be tolerated If ten million
substantial American citizens can pre-
vent It."