Evening star., 1924-03-16
RECOGNITION WON
'15:uo"
FOR AUTO TRUCKS
Reduction of Taxes on Re-
H[S S..EF ~
pair Parts Marks End Of
nv ,,'ss Long Struggle.

mo development more clearly es-
tablishes the place of the motor ve-
hicle than the recent action of the
House of Representatives in amend
ing the new revenue bill by reducing
SO per cent the tax on repair parts
and accessories and exempting from
taxation certain truck chassis" says
Fred C. Chandler, president OF the
Chandler Motor Car Company.
1T is, of course, not certain that
the Senate will concur. 1t is also a
possibility that the Senate may go
still further in relief than the House
OF Representatives.
But, in any event, it is q notable
accomplishment to have convint ed the
lower branch of the national legisla-
tn e that automobiles are a utility
TO take the burden off transportation.
THE extent of progress shown by
this action can best be gIasped BY
making comparison with the condi-
tions seven years ago. when the drSt
urgency re, enue bill was passed.
"It will be recalled that at that
time very few members of either the
House of Representatives OF the Sem
ate evidenced any computations
against heavy taxations on motor We
hicles.
Special Consideration.
There seemed to be a feeling that
the passenger car was a luxury and
that the truck had not reached the
point of commercial availability to
entitle 1t to any special considera-
tion.
formed a proper subject for almost
any limit of taxation. and there was
at one time good chance that cars
would have to carry a tax of 20 per
cent and trucks 10 per cent.
TT will be recalled that ono Of the
great tasks Of the National Automo-
bile Chamber of Commerce, the
American Automobile Association and
the National Automobile Dealers As
sociation was to demonstrate to Con-
greSs the important place of the mo-
tor vehicle in the nations fabric Of
transportation.
Those who made the fight for the
National Automobile Chamber Of
Commerce, including Hugh Chalmers,
Charles Hanch, A. B. c. Hardy, George
VI. Graham and Alfred Reeves, found
no very sympathetic welcome await
ing them when they went before the
and the Senate finance committee to
plead the cause of the industry and
Of the automobile user.
"But 1t was found that the men,
UerS steadily grew more responsive TO
the campaign Of education.
Every time q revenue bill was un-
der consideration the National Auto
mobile Chamber of Commerce pre-
sented its spokesmen and protested
against the injustice of the principle
of maintaining war taxes in peace
times against an article of high util-
ity.
Two Expressions Effective.
'Two expressions were found very
effective in this campaign OF educa-
~First. Reference to the tax on re-
pair parts as misfortune tax car
ried a: very strong appeal to those
who had overlooked the fact that by
collecting tax on a broken axle. for
example. the United States was capi-
talking the hard luck of the. man
whose car had sustained the damage.
Second. The term Stigma tax was
a reminder that maintaining war
taxes on automobiles put the motor
vehicle in the same class as murder
Gus weapons, narcotics. alcoholic
liquors and other similar things
whose value to the community is so
frankly questioned that taxes are
purposely made high In order to re-
strict their use.
Undoubtedly. the great increase
In the use OF motor cars and motor
trucks has had its influence in chang
Ing the legislative viewpoint.
AT the time the National Automo-
bile Chamber of Commerce began it's
reg,strations in the United States
"Now they have grown to 15.oeo, 900.
''Tnis is an increase of 200 Per cent
IN about seven years.
mo alert student Of national prog
Yess could be Indifferent to the sig
nificance of these figures.
1IThe refore, we have seen a steady