Evening star., 1925-10-11
MOTORISTS WILL FIGHT
FOR REPEAL OF TAXES
Will Ask Congress to Set Aside Those
Which " ere War Measures and Are
Now Considered Discriminatory.

eral highway act was passed in 1916. a
year prior to the passage Of the motor
vehicle excise tax, and that the former
| was Il measure having in mind the
! general good and prosperity of the
! country as n whole and not designed
! TO benefit any particular group.
! The motoriSt has contributed liber-
| ally to all taxing units. He feels that
! he has been neither scientifically nor
! equitably taxed. The city, the county,
! the State and the Federal Government.
all have collected from him repeatedly
| and unStintingly for use of the public
| highways, even though the funds so
collected. in many instances. were
used to defray general Government eX-
penses. Although the motorist makes
large use of the highways, their eco
nomic value is by no means limited to
| his class.
Tax Used to Help Others.
Society at large benefits from their
Improvement, development and MAIN
tenance, yet the revenues derived from
Federal and State taxes against motor
vehicles last year amounted to 44.S
per cent of the total highway expendi-
lures of the Nation. out OF $79 900, :
count of the gasoline tax. only $4S,-
600 paid by motorists last year on ac-
100000 went to State highway work.
the remainder being used for fish
hatcheries, school funds, general ex-
penses ito pay city police departments
and to retire old railroad bonds.
Treasury actuarieS estimate that for
the fiscal year 1926 there will be sur
plus in Federal funds of between
$3.50 100000 and $500, 100000 which
will be available for tax reduction.
Four kinds of taxes are scheduled for
ra1i
tor vehicles, tires. parts and acces-
sorieS; Inheritance, gift and income.
The motor vehicle excise taxes for the
fiscal year 1925 amounted TO $124, $685.
900. which, If eliminated entirely. would
still leave ample room for reductions
in the other three classes.
President Coolidge and Secretary
Mellon have urged that the Federal tax
on inheritanceS, which already are am
ply taxed by the States, constitutes
double taxation, and that Il reduction
in income taxes will benefit the largest
single class of taxpayers in the coun.
try and at the same time result in
larger revenues for the Federal Gov
ernment through increased business
activity. According to the American
Automobile Association, there are
$4,000, 900 automobile owners in the
United States, as against 100000 in
come taxpayers, Whlch TACT would
seem to indicate that the automobile
excise tax is more universal than any
other form of major taxation.
Many Taxes Repealed.
The automobile. along with hun
dreds of other commodities, was taxed
for revenue to defray the expenses
of the war. Since the original war
revenue act in 1917, however, excises
on the large majority Of these COM
modities were repealed SO that there
now remains taxed as luxuries and
non-essentials automobiles, tires and
accessories; cigar and cigarette hold
ers; coin-operated devices, mah-jong
and pung chow sets, cameras, sculp-
ture and paintings and jewelry. On
the other hand, relief from the special
war taxes has been granted to ath-
letic and sporting goods, candy, chew
ing gum, dirk knives, hunting and
bowie knives, hunting and shooting
garments, livery boots, motion picture
films, patent medicines, perfumes and
toilet preparations. piano-players and
monographs, portable electric fans,
sailing and motor boats. thermos bot
ties, yachts, furs and many other ar
ticles.
Probably the outstanding argument
CONTINUED on Ninth Page.)