Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-17
National Fight on Gasoline
Tax Is Waged by Motorists
Ohio and Chicago Motor Clubs Leading
Bodies in Increment for Flat Rate
System Like California E1pedient.

Why does the Connecticut Lesisla-
ture not favor an adoption of the
California plan, particularly since
Connecticut was a pioneer with the
gas tax idea? Several explanations
have been advanced, but the usual an
swer is that if the State needs the
money for road building and if the
car owner is to pay for it, why go to
the expense of adopting new methods
of getting it?
Why fool the motorist? is the blunt
way in which others have put it.
The money has to be raised some
how, and whether it is raised annu-
ally or in daily dribs makes little diff
ference so long as the principle re-
mains the same. The motorist pays.
What the Ohio State Automobile
Association is trying to impress upon
the officials of Ohio is that the gas
tax is only another way of imposing a
tax upon a class of people-automo-
bile oWnerS-who are already paying
more than their fair share of the eX-
Cessive tax burdens of government.
Ohio Club Fighting.
The Ohio club sets off some addi-
tional fireworks by insisting that ex-
listing tax levies will produce funds
adequate for all actual needs of gov
I
In this connection it is important to
note statement by the motor vehicle
commissioner of Connecticut with re-
speCt to increasing the gas tax while
reducing the registration fees to an
adjusted fiat rate. He says that the
projected new method is not a plan to
raise more money, but to determine
whether more equitable method can
be devised for it's collection and to
~ jStr NV inc
a simpler and easier method for regis
tration.'
That the Connecticut Legislature
does not favor a complete swing to
the gas tax basis is taken by many to
indicate either of two thingS-the
present method of employing a large
staff in order to take care of registra-
ton proceedings is desired for political
reasons, or the collection of fees I'M
der a more extensive gas tax system,
plus fiat-rate registration. would not
effect desired economies.
The Ohio club further objects to the
tax on the ground that it imposes on
the small car owner a burden that is
out of proportion, the club apparently
approaching the fact that no State in
the Union has as vet considered the
fact that the consumption of gas per
car bears no direct relation to actual
road use as determined by mileage.
A fourth objection is raised on the
theory that the tax is expensive to
collect. thus increasing the horde of
taX-collecting and taX-spending Off
Gals of the State.
The Chicago Motor Club is fighting
the gas tax because 1t believes that it
has been lopted in other States only
because tn. people have had no say in
the matter or because local conditions
made it imperative TO raise road build
ing funds somehow. The club urges
motorists to remember that they are
paving SO much for good roads, poll
tics, extravaganza, and such. like,
whether they pay it in dfibs or all sin
lump. Motorists who are ayiag
taxes on the installment plan say that.
as usual. it is the most expensive way.
The Missouri Oil Mems Association
maintains that the tax. and particu-
larry its variation, is affecting the oil
business. one Missouri station losing
so per cent of its trade when that
State recently adopted the tax. At
present the gaX tax in Arkansas is
cents a gallon; in Indiana, 3 cents,
and in Utah, 312 cents.
Copyright. 1929