The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-11-11
S3, SCOTT PAID STATE IN "GAS"
TAXES IN YEAR
Figures Indicate Steady Increase In
CONSUMPTION OF Fuel

Consumption OF Fuel
In the fiscal year of 1927, which
ended September 80, owners and op-
orators of motor vehicles paid to the
State gasoline taxes totaling $3,52O,-
I'll, it was learned last week when
the figures for the last half of the
year were made public by VIM. S.
Gordy, State Comptroller.
The figures indicate that the point
of saturation has not been reached in
the automobile industry and that the
consumption of gasoline is increas-
:, ing steadily.
A gasoline tax of 1 cent gallon
in the fiscal year just ended produc-
ed $1,269,00O, whereas in the pre-
vious fiscal year, 1925, tax of l
cent produced $1,O57,O0O, and in
1925, $941, 700.
If the consumption of gasoline
continues in the fiscal year of 1928
as last year, there will be available
for the maintenance of roads, the
construction of new lateral roads
and the elimination of grade cros-
sings approximately twenty-five per
cent more funds than was estimated
when gasoline tax bills were present
ed to the Legislature last winter.
In the first six months of the year
the 2-cent tax which goes for mainte-
nance of roads yielded $1,219,467,
to September 80 yielded $1,31S,914,
less refunds.
Figures For Last Six Months.
There was only a 2-cent tax on
gasoline prior to April l, this year,
consequently figures for the lateral
road tax of " cents and the grade
crossing tax of u cent are available
only for the latter half of the fiscal
year.
The complete figures for the Sec
ond six month period are:
Receipts
2cent Observation-Disclosures tax.
l u, cent tax. ....... 764,230.86
R-cent tax .254,7 ,746.16
Total receipts so, 1856, ,492.OO
Refunds
I-CeuC TAX. S4o, ,oUU.Io
l accent tax ........ 25,34O.58
12-cent tax .......... S,446.5l
1-cent tax Ct. R. tags) 2,86O.7O
Total refunds -. .$85,247.97
The item of $2,S60.70 refunded to
holders of ST. r. Tags" represents
money returned to owners of motor
vehicles operated exclusively within
the limits of Baltimore city and other
incorporated towns of the State.
The other refunds were to purchasers
of gasoline which was used in trac-
tors, pleasure boats and similar We
hicles which never use State roads.
OF the net receipts in each classiti-
cation, that is, gross receipts less re-
funds, the State Roads Commission
received 80 per cent and Baltimore
received or was credited on the books
of the State Roads Commission with
the other twenty per cent.
Baltimore city received $459,962,-
.73 of the total net receipts from gas
oline tax Of $2,301,244.03 for the
second six-month period of the year.
OF the amount the city received,
$146,919.S3 was from the h-cent
lateral road tax and 49,259.92 from
the " cent grade-crossing tax.
The State Roads Commission re-
ceived $197,O29.73 for elimination
of grade crossings and $5S7,679.4O
for construction of lateral roads.
For maintenance, the commission re-
ceived $1,O55, 5,131.S2.
AS the Grade-crossing tax Of 1s
cent is one-quarter of the tax levied
for maintenance of roads, which is 2
cents, these figures on the surface
are difficult to reconcile, because in
actual totals the amount received
for grade crossings is approximately
$66,000 less than one-quarter of$1,-
O55, 1899.
Difference Explained
In other words, from the figures
themselves it appears that the State
obtained in six months only $751;
900 from it's one-half cent tax, and
that similar amount
would be raised in the next six
the total would be only
1894, 900 or $4,000 less than the
amount the State should receive
after paying Baltimore its 20 per
cent, as estimated last winter.
Ii this contention we're true, the
gasoline-tax figures would indicate
that the consumption of gasoline was
decreasing. This, however, is not
true, and Geo. H. Dawson, auditor of
the State Roads Commission, ex-
planned the difference existed be-