Evening star., 1927-03-25

| An increase in the gasoline tax from
| . 70 31s cents q gallon, advocated by
| Capt. II. G. Whitehurst, Assistant En-
| gineer Commissioner. as one plan Tor
| carrying out a projected hVe-year
! highway improvement program, is
not expected to meet with the ap-
provaI of the Board of District Com
| missionerS.
| While unwilling, at this time, to eX-
press a definite opinion on Capt.
| Whitehursts recommendation, the
| Commissioners, it was indicated TO-
| day, do not believe that the major por-
| ton of the expense of improvements
| made to the streets should be saddled
| upon the motorists. who are now con
| tributing approximately Sl,0O0,00O a
wear to the District for this purpose
through the present 2-cent tax.
MAY Raise Truck Fee.
Rather than an increased tax on
gasoline. the commissioners, it was
said. would be more inclined to favor
higher registration fee for heavy
commercial vehicles and motor busses,
If it is found absolutely necessary to
raise additional reVnues for highway
work. Engineer Commissioner j.
Franklin Bell, who has supervision
over the highway department, feels
that this plan would be far more equi-
table than a 31a cent gasoline tax, in
view of the fact that the heavy trucks
and motor busses do more damage to
the streets, occupy more space and are
much noisier than the pleasure cars.
The two States contiguous to the
District. Maryland and Virginia, Com
missioner Bell explained. collect high
registration fees from trucks on the
theory that they are greater deteriora-
tors of the highways than the pleasure
vehicles. In the District, however the
registration fee of 81 is the same for
commercial and pleasure vehicles. and
there is no difference in the gasoline
tax for either type. A registration fee
equivalent to that charged in either
Maryland or Virginia for commercial
vehicles is Commissioner Bells pro
posal.
Present Levy Low.
Capt. Whitehurst. in his recon-
mendation for a higher gasoline tax
pointed out that the present tax on
cars in Washington is extremely low
in comparison with many of the
States where Identification tags aver
age well above $40. An increase from
2 to 3i2 cents would mean an average
increase of Approximately $40 a year
per car paid. he said, lin such
manner as not to form a hardship
upon any one"
ut is inevitable that the gas tax
will sooner or later be increa sed to
provide larger funds for highway
work, where the requirements and
needs are greater than ever before
and standards and cost of construction
increased over former times. The
automobile. which is now in practical
l.. ~ oh ~
this new and more expensive roadway
requirement. and it is only right and
just it bear its proportionate share of
the money necessary for the construc-
tion and maintenance.
Investigation Is Started.
II further advocate the gas tax as
applied to highways as reaching the
users, also a class that in number
of instances pay no other form Of tax
while receiving the manifold ad-
vantages and privileges of improved
highways. The replacement of the
personal tax on cars with the gas
tax "a plan proposed by Tax Asses
sor William p. Richards) would not
accomplish the desired results of
taxation in that it is a tax on per-
sonal property which would then only
be taxed according to the purchases
of gas in the District and the amount
of its use and not as personal prop
erty. An increase on graded scale
in the license plate, would. believe.
more nearly accomplish the desired
result and greatly simplify the sug-
gested plan"
An investigation into the need OF
an increase in the gasoline tax for
Washington, which has been urged
by some. following the action of
Maryland legislators, was started by
the streets and avenues committee
of the Washington Board of Trade
yesterday.
Shinn Is Chairman.
George Shinn, chairman Of the COM
mittee, was empowered to request the
District Commissioners to supply the
Board of Trade with data concerning
the amount of taxes raised here dur
ing the past fiscal year. how such
money was expended. streets inn
proved, the needs for the coming fis'
cal year and the program for the cur
rent year, etc.
The committee also indicated it will
devote considerable attention this
year to a study of development OF
streets and highways in the growing
suburban areas Of the District, with
particular attention to the main traf-