Evening star., 1923-07-15
.AARYLAND TO CUT
AUTO TAX IN HALF
1924 Tags to Be Issued on
Charge of About 26 Cents
Per Horsepower.

Because of the effectiveness of the
gasoline tax in Maryland, registra-
ton fees for automobiles in that state
in 1924 will be reduced from so cents
per horsepower to approximately &c
cents per horsepower.
The Maryland motorist in getting
his 1925 tags for thirty horsepower
car Will, therefore, pay, instead of
his customary SIS. only about $3.50.
The remainder will be made up In
the cents per gallon additional
which he will pay for gasoline.
Figures to Vary Little.
These figures may not be exact but
according to John n. Mackall, chairman
of the state roads commission. they are
approximately correct. and probably
will prove to be not more than cent or
two out of the way in either direction.
They are computed on the returns to
the automobile commissioners off1ce Tor
registration fees from June l. 1922. to
May 81, 1923. and on the returns from
the gasoline tax of l cent gollon for
the same period. The 1,cent tax on gas
oline, which provides for the deficit in
the roads maintenance fund, yielded for
the year which ended May 81 a net re-
turn of s6S2,143 to the state. For the
same period the receipts of the automo-
ton fees amounted to S2,22S.999.
Would Yield 81 .2e4,2ss.
Allowing for no increase in the num-
Der of automobiles. although there was
an increase OF "a per cent in 1923 over
1922. the gasoline tax at 9 cents gal
lon. according to Mr.. Mackall. will yield
s1.264.2s6- This is Sc per cent of the
tration fees, leaving Al per cent to be
provided for through registration fees.
On that basis, the registration fees will
be 26 cents per horsepower. instead OF
60 cents. the gas tax providing the re-
naming 81 cents.
All fees for the registration of autono-
bileS are supposed to be used for the
maintenance of the state roads system.
although in the past small parts of these
revenues have been used for other state
purposes. The amount of money needed
for road maintenance is recommended
by the road commissioners to the gov
ernor. The governor places the amount
in the budget which he sends to the leg
tslature. The road maintenance require
ments for 1928 were S1,S50,000, and the
reconstruction requirements were about
S1.000,000. so it is figured the roads
commission should have received for
maintenance and reconstruction. s2.S50,-
900. Instead, by the end of the year. il
will have received S2.100.o00.
With the 2cent gas tax and a regis
LrdtlOn Zee OF 20 cents per horsepower
for automobiles. approxima tely the same
amount as the roads commission will
get in 1923 for maintenance will be
yielded for the same purpose in 1924.
VIII Need More, He Says.
I'VE will need more money than that
for maintenance and reconstruction in
1924" said Mr.. Mackall, for there is
a constantly increasing demand for the
widening of roads. The state was wise
in building comparatively narrow roads
when we embarked upon a road-bulld-
ing policy, for the motor cars were not
numerous and the roads were ample to
carry the traffic
But now the traffic is getting heavy
for them and we will have to widen
them by building shoulders on each side
of the most seriously congested roads.
The automobilists of the state are per-
fectly willing to pay for this work in
their gasoline tax and in registration
fees. provided they are assured that no
part of the money will be diverted to
other purposes"