Evening star., 1924-01-23
z|HLMAN REPORTS
GAS-TAX MEASURE
Gives Tables Showing Ex-
pected Gain in Revenue for
D. c. UnGer New Plan.

The majority report from the House
District committee on the gasoline
tax, which is expected to result in
reciprocity on automobile tags be-
tween the District of Columbia and
Maryland. was made to the House to-
day by Representative Fred n. Zihl-
man of Maryland.
Representative Zihlman points out
that the lowering of the present reg
istration license tag fee and the ex-
emption of motor vehicles from the
personal property tax up to the sum
of $1,000 has been approved by the
District of Columbia Commissioners,
in line with the policy adopted by
many of the states as more just
and equitable method of raising reve-
nue. from motor vehicles, putting the
burden of taxation upon those classes
of cars which use the streets and
roads of the District most.
Gas Tax Widespread.
Thirty-five states now have a gaso-
line tax, the report shows. and all
the states within one hundred miles
of the District have adopted this
method of raising revenue from motor
vehicles. The following States now
have a gasoline tax: Alabama, Ari-
zona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho,
Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana. Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts,, Mississippi,
Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire,
New Mexico. North Carolina, North
Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsyl-
yania South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont
Virginia, Washington, West Virgini:
and Wyoming.
report says. the states of Iowa
Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin have
passed similar laws, which were
vetoed by the governors OF those
states.
The District Commissioners have
estimated that under the current law
they would receive a revenue or ap-
proximately s4S0,000 for the year IVA
from registration tags and s475,0oO
from personal property tax on auto :
mobiles and trucks, total OF
S955,000.
Would Increase Revenue.
Last year statistics were gathered
as to the use of motor vehicles fuel
in the District and it was estimated
that with a two-cent per gallon tax
on gasoline, a revenue resulting from
, the enactment of this bill would be
approximately s1,000,000
1t Is estimated. the Zihlman report
says, that there are approximately
100, geo automobiles and trucks in the
District and that of this number about
five-sixths are assessed at less thar
$1,000 and would be exempt from the
personal property tax under the pro.
visions of this bill.
"The committee feels that this form
of taxation is fairest to all auto.
mobile owners and users in the Dis.
trict, as it places the burden of taxa
ton upon that class of cars thai
makes most use of the roads and streets
and relieves from taxation those car.
which are only used for pleasure ant
in going to and from work. the
Zihlman report says.
Table Presented.
Appended to the report is the table
issued by the California State Auto.
mobile Association, showing the aver.
age mileage and gasoline consump.
! tion of automobiles. Representative
Zihlman analyses this table and says
: that it shows the average amount
| paid under the gasoline tax for ordi.
nary automobiles would be s1o.34; fo
commercial automobiles, $25; for taxi
cabs, $40; for non-residents. s.; for ligh
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