Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-18
Many Against
Proposed Increase
In Tax on Gasoline

Portland, Nov. 1.-THE proposal
made by the State Highway Com
mission that the f1soline tax In
cents, in order to give additional
funds for road construction, has not
met with favor in all quarters. In
fact, the majority of those who have
expressed an opinion have voiced
strong disapproval of the idea. They
advance the theory that we are do
ing everything possible to induce
visitors to come to Maine, spending
large sums of money in advertising,
and in view of this fact it does not
seem consistent to them to send out
such a cordial invitation for motor
lists TO come to Maine and then de-
liberately turn around and extert
an excessive tax of five cents on
every gallon of gasoline which they
will use while within the limits OF
the State.
Those interviewed declare that
while the aggregate amount might
not be large the idea would be so
exaggerated In the minds of many
that they would give little thought
to the financial side of the tax but
would feel annoyed at the spirit
which it manifested. They express
sed the opinion that it would keep
large numbers of motorists out of
Maine and would also induce other
large numbers who come into the
State to restrict the amount of tour
ing which they did within it.
The tax would be made extremely
apparent because of the fact that
Massachusetts, has none. and motor
lists coming into Maine would pay,
for instance 10 cents for gasoline in
the Bay States and a few miles
farther on, within the limits of the
State of Maine would be forced to
pay "a cents. This, it was believed,
would have a very bad effect. and
would do serious injury to the tour
list business OF Maine
Among those interviewed on this
subject who We're willing TO express
their views, was John Clarke Scates
of Westbrook, former secretary of
the Maine Automobile Association
and one of the most prominent fix
lures in the highway development of
the State. Mr.. Scates stated his posi-
ton as follows:
Il am unalterably opposed to the
five cent gasoline tax proposed by
the Highway Commission before the
bubSCIb committee. rom d business
an economic point it is the worst
thing the State could do, for 1t sin
giles out one commodity and places an
unjust and unreasonable tax on it,
Nothing could be invented that would
so discourage and retard the tourist
industry on which We are spending
money for advertising and endeavor-
Ing to develop as this five cent gaso-
line tax Especially would this be
true in regard to the tourist Of limit
ed means. 1t must be. remembered
that fully 80 per cent of our tourists
are business and professional people
OF moderate means. The millionaire
is the exception, not the rule Massa-
chusetts has no gasoline tax. One can
imagine the state of mind of tourists
coming through Massachusetts see
ing gasoline signs 10 cents and Just
as soon as they cross the Maine bor-
der gasoline signs "a cents staring
them in the face everywhere. Quite
naturally they think advertising has
gotten them into the state in order to
nlulct hem.
TT is generally admitted that I'M
proved highways are a benefit to the
State as a whole, and such being The
fact the only fair and just way to
raise money, If more money is need
ed, Is to issue serial bonds, or else
build them by direct approximation.
The idea of the highway commission
in placing five-cent gasoline tax on
the business interests of the State