Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
Gov. Blaine Fayors the
Proposed GaS-AutO Tax
GOVERNOR EXPECTED TO SIGN
WEIGHT AND GASOLINE TAX
MEASURES

Wisconsin automobile owners are
faced with new highway financing
program of vital concern to every
driver of motor vehicle, now that
the two major road tax measures of
the present legislative session are be-
fore Governor Blaine for approval If
accepted by the executive an entirely
new taxing system for automobiles
will go into effect on July of this
year.
Members of the joint highway COM
mittee of the legislature declare that
the governor sat in committee meet
:ngs when the new plan for a gaso-
line tax and a graduated license fee
based upon weight, were agreed upon.
They say that he gave his approval
to these proposals before they were
reported to the legislature, and ex-
pressed the opinion that the proposed
financing plan will go into effect
with executive approval.
IL the governor signs the DIIlS, AFTER
July every motorist in Wisconsin
will pay two cent tax on each gal
lon of gasoline purchased by him. BY
applying this flat tax the state will
realize $3,OOOO0O annually for road
purposes the highway commission es-
Inmates.
The proposed graduated license fee
based upon weight if signed will take
the place of the present flat $40 IL
cense fee and would be applied next
January This measure would raise
$6,O0O,0OO annually according to the
commission estimates.
Following are the rates proposed in
the weight tax bill and to be applied
to all automobiles in the state If that
measure is approved by Governor
Blaine.
For automibile weighing 1000 TBS.
or less $40
For vehicles weighing more than
1900 and less than 1900 lbs. $11.
For vehicles Of more than 1900 and
less than 1000 ms. $12.
For vehicles Of more than 1000 and
less than 24OO lbs, SIS.
For vehicles OF more. than 240O and
less than $500 TBS. $14
For vehicles Of more than $500 and
less than 1900 ms. SIS.
For vehicles or more than 5000 and
less than 5000 ms. SIS.
For vehicles OF more than 5000 and
less than 1000 his. $40
For vehicle of more than 1000 and
less than $500 IBIS. $22.
For vehicles over $500 and under
5000 lbs $24.
All vehicles over 5000 lbs. $26.
If the automobile owner can certi-
fy that his car has been used five
years or more a deduction Of Is per
cent in the license fee would be allow
ed, except that no fee may be lower
than SO.
By application of the gasoline tax
and the weight tax fund of $4,000
900 would be created each year From
this total $4,000 would be deducted
for administration of the law by the
secretary of state. Then from the re-
manning total Is per cent or $2,19O, 900
would be allotted to counties for main
tenance and construction of highways
as the county boards see fit.
The state would retain the remain
ing amount. OF this $16S,OOO would be
used for maintenance Of the state
highway department Funds suffi-
cient to meet federal aid amounting
to $2,20O,O0O would then go for this
purpose. State aid to counties would
be allotted to the amount of $785,000
with $125,OOO to go to the special
bridge fund. After all the deductions
the remaining 1925, 900 would be set
aside for the maintenance Of state
trunk highways, each county to re-
ceive $500 a mile for each mile of
otoLO II uuh highway Ill LAC guilty
Motor truck fees provided in the
bill now before the governor call for
a $40 charge against trucks of ~
tons and less than 2A tons SIS.
For trucks more than 2A tons and
less than tons, $40
For trucks more than tons and less
than tons $50:
For trucks more than tons and
less than tons $45.
For trucks with gross weight of
5 tons or more, fee of $45 plus
fee of $40 for each ton or fractions
thereof in excess of tons. Passen-
ger carrying busses pay three times
the motor truck fee for the same
weight
The provisions of the original bill
taxing tourists if they remained in
the state more than 10 days has been
eliminated by the amended measure
as it has gone to the governor.