The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-02-12

| Uub W1ACA NAAOA CuROA NCN0AAC S~AO AA~~@
| jority report This calls for tax OF
two cents gallon.
This latter report, submitted to the
Legislature, is the one signed by Mo-
tor Vehicle Commissioner Dill as a
member of the Survey Commission.
Six OF eleven members had signed
last weeks report. Mr.. Roberts
action left last weeks plan with only
five advocates.
In statement with the new ma
jority report, it was explained:
Since the preparation Of the So
called minority report, the signing
of the report by another member con-
verts it into a majority report and
1t is respectfully submitted as such.
The final signer is William H. Rob-
erts, representing on the commission
the State Association of Boards OF
Freeholders.
"In signing the report, Mr.. Roberts
states that the Association Of Free
holders, on his recommendation, has
authorized him to sign the report
favoring the recommended schedule
Of fees for motor trucks proposed by
Commissioner Dill
1.-THE association further suggests
that the distribution of motor We
hicle receipts should be so per cent
to the counties. 10 per cent to the
municipalities, and 40 per cent to the
State Highway department, after the
cost of operation of the Motor We
hicle department is deducted"
At the present time, counties re-
ceive in the neighborhood OF thirty
per cent Of the fees through allot-
ment from the state.
With the imposition of gasoline
tax, the report declared passenger
car registrations should be reduced
to SO a car, but that the heavier
motor trucks should pay much greater
fees. Trucks of 1000 gross weight
should pay a $40 license fee. the same
as at present. The fee should rise
according to graduated scale until
maximum fee of 1910 for 10000
pound truck is reached. The present
maximum is 500.
On the basis of 1924 registrations.
the proposed, fees would bring in a
revenue OF $12,795, 850.54, while the
majority report estimated that under
their plan about 100000 would be
realized on the basis of 1923 motor
registration figures.
The charge was made that tho
present system of reserving motor
~ hfCh
maintenance purposes, advocated by
the majority of the committee, has
been urged by motor vehicle inter-
ests as a means of keeping down
their taxation.
Motor vehicle receipts will increase
with the years, the minority report
points out, while maintenance costs
will drop as highway construction
becomes more perfect.
New construction costs, on the
other hand, will increase, the present
report contends. The reservation of
motor vehicle fees for maintenance
only. said the report, is unfair to the
general taxpayer, as 1t shifts the
whole burden of constructing new
state highways onto his shoulders.
1.-THE operators of motor vehicles
at present are not financing the con-
struction of the rights of way which
they use, but are only meeting the
maintenance COSTS declared the
report. "This is an injustice to
the general property taxpayers"
The minority report secuted the
assertion contained in the findings of
the majority that 40 per cent OF the
total expenditure for highways is now
being paid by motorists, asserting that
but 17.8 per cent Of road construction
Is being provided for by automobiles
In New Jersey.
Both sides agree that motor vehi-
cles In 1923 contributed somewhere
between $S.O00,O0O and $10,000,00O to-
ward highway construction. The ma
iority contend, however, that only
$40 900 900 was raised by general and
special taxes for road work for that
year, while the present report places
the total at $56,000,OG0, including
money expended in bridge and tunnel
work.
A u1uSTGuCS OF OpAAAOu WdS dAc~
registered upon the question as to
whether more money Is needed for
highway construction work in New
Jersey. The previous report dismiss
ed the problem, according to the mi
nority, with bare mention and an
assumption that no greater state rev.
enues for highway purposes are
needed.
It is pointed out that 1--WE years ago
there was spent for state purposes.
exclusive Of state aid, 10,200,00O. and
last year there was spent q total OF
$44 ,00O, 900. This increase is likely
to be continued, said the report, me-
cessitating further revenue than Is
now available.
In an appendix to the report. State
Highway Engineer w. G. Sloan de-
clares: 1.-THE highway construction
program in this state is not keeping
pace with the increased demands be-
ing made upon it by the increase in
motor vehicle traffic.