Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-24
CHANGE IN TRAFFIC
Law IS PROTESTED.
A. A. A. Representative 0p-
posed to License Fee as
Revenue Measure.

Protest was made at hearing be-
fore the House today against amend.
ments to the traffic law which is
now pending on the House calendar,
TO be taken up for action in the
House on next District day.
On motion Of Representative Stalk.
err. Republican, of New York. the
District committee heard George
w. Orutt, representing the American
Automobile Association who spoke
both for the District of Columbia di-
vision. being a member of it's advisory
committee. and for the national or
ganization. He asked that these
amendments be recalled from the
House calendar and reconSidered. MIR.
Onutt told the committee that tie
national association considers the use
OF the license fee as IA revenue meas
ure a vicious precedent to the Stctes.
He said that the purpose of a CIV
er's license Is to serve az a means of
identification and to bring the person
more readily within the control of the
police officials. 1t is justified only in
the exercise of the inherent police
powers in all political entities. 1t is
primarily. II not solely. Il safety
measure, and II is contrary to the
established principles of law as well
as fair play to pervert the purpose Of
such u measure by making il tax
ing law"
Aimed ut BlantOn Measure.
This criticism was directed against
an amendment sponsored by Repre-
sentative Blanton, Democrat. OF Tex
az, which provides that when new
permits are issued on July l they
shall be for n threeyear period at a
fee OF 81 a year. the revenue from
which. estimated at S325,000 to $780,
600. is to be used for installation and
operation of the electro signal light
system.
MIR. Offutt also. on behalf of the
American Automobile Association,
protested against the provision au-
IholiZing the director of traffic to s,Is-
pend or revoke drivers permits Tor In
traction Of the traffic act as we'll as
ior violations of regulations promul-
gated by the traffic director. He con
tended that tinal authority should be
taken out OF the hands OF any SINCE
Official by providing Ier an appear 10
the court TO nave the license restored.
the revocation to stand until the
court acts.
Referred to Subcommittee.
On motion Of Representative Reid,
Republican, Of Illinois, THESE protests
were referred to the traffic suDcommIt-
tee for consideration in connection
with Zihlman traffic bill which was in
troduced at the request or the District
Commissioners lie questioned the
legality on several points. particularly
on granting a right TO appeal from
non judicial officer. In this he was
supported by Representative William
c. Hammer, Democrat, OF North
Carolina.
Automobile owners in Washington
are assessed less per capita Tor auto
mobile operation than in most States
of the United States. Traffic Director
EIdridge said todaH discussing the
bill MIR. Eldridge defended the pro
vision in the bill for yearly renewal
Of drivers permits, declaring mat 1t
would permit a more ready check on
law yioiators and make IL difficult tor
persistent lawpreakers to secure the
right to drive an automobile in the
District.
MIR. Eldridge said the average cost
in taxes by the District 70 owners or
automobiles here is about S12 a year,
made up Of a IS average gas tax paid
at the source: an average personal
tax Of about S. on automobiles and a
So fee for license. This fee, under the
Blanton bill. would be reduced to 81
a year. He said the average cost 10
automobile owners levied by the
States was about SIS. MIR. Eidridge
quote figures from many State motor
vehicle laws tending to show the cost
to District taxpayers OF ownership
and operation of automobiles TO be
lower than in most other jurisdictions.