San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-29
EXCISE UNFAIR
/ EVEN WITH
ROAD MD
Continuation Of Federal
Policy and Repeal Of
Tax Urged by A.A.A.

ley of the government on the same
scale as heretofore and repeal Of the
entire excise tax structure on motor
vehicles were the outstanding features
Of a vigorous plea presented TO the
House ways and means committee by
The American Automobile Association
in connection with the current hear
ings on the new revenue bill.
The automobile owners plea for re-
lief from the fedora, excise tax bur
den. amounting at present to more
than s130.OO0OO0 a year-and TO
SS64. O00. GOO since 1911-was made TO
the ways and means committee by
Oscar ]. Brown of Syracuse, \. y.
chairman of the legislative board OF
ne A. A. A.
CLEARLY UNFAIR"
Secretary of the Treasury MELONS
contention that federal aid to roads
iustifies continuation of the excise tax
on messenger cars was declared Who'll
Is untenable by the A. 4. A. spokes-
man who adduced legal and consutu-
tional reasons why Congress cannot
impose a special class levy TO be ex-
pended for the general good of the
country.
THE secretarys stand he said,
as weak and clearly unfair to the
motorists. His theory that It is tel
eral function TO levy direct taxes for
special benefits is illegal as well as
impractical" He continued:
..The federal aid act was passed By
Congress in 1916 as measure for the
general good of the nation whereas
the excise tax was passed in 1917 as
n specific measure TO meet specific
war needs and it was never the intent
of Congress that confusion should
arise between the federal aid prin-
ciple. to which the government has
committed itself. and this tax.
NOT JUSTIFIED.
1.-The excise tax or any other federal
tax levied against class Is Justified
only TO the extent that the revenues
are to be expended for the general
public welfare. Congress itself has
refused 10 recognize any other theory
If it had. then we might properly ask
why appropriations for federal aid NJ
10 June 80. 1926, were only S493,'
100000 and excise taxes collected were
1864. DOC, 600, or nearly double. We
might further ask why it is that Con-
gress does not make special levy on
ships for the huge sums 1t SPENDS
annually in river and harbor improve
Dent.
Congress might just as well charge
-,l e. q
our public buildings or for the use
Of our public libraries. To be con
sistent it should also tax the rail-
saroads heavily for the huge profits
ethey have received from the original
grants of 15S.000000 acres of land.
1t should also tax as n class the rail
roads for having established for them
-an Interstate Commerce Commission
she manufacturer and the distributor
for the special support Of the Depart
ment of Commerce; the farmer for
having a Department of Agriculture;
and the Indian oil operator and miner
for the Department Of Interior. Each
rsulfiIls a federal function but bene-
fits directly only certain classes.
NOT SECTIONAL.
You should also consider the 1act
that it will not take more than five
years at the present rate Of construc-
>tion, according TO estimates OF the
Bureau of Public Roads. 10 complete
the national system. There is then
an Incorporated balance to the
credit Of American motorists for fed
.eral highway construction Of nearly
$500. 100000. Congress is therefore
doubly obligated TO do away with the
tax Immediately"
The A.A.A. spokesman warned
against the tendency TO make federal
aid sectional issue.
Federal aid for roads" be said. as
not a sectional matter. The road
problems Of the West do not differ
in principle one iota from the road
problems of the East. The issue
is truly national as it affects trans
portatiOn. business progress and de-
.5ense in the wider aspect