Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-18
MOTOR VEHICLES
HIT BY TAX RAISE.
A. A. A. Publishes Figures
Showing Three.Fold In
crease in 1927.

A thvce-fold increase of State motor
vehicle taxes over automobile registra-
tons, and an average per vehicle In
crease of 10 per cent in 1927 over the
preceding year. is shown in the annual
survey of the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION released here yesterday.
The survey shows total increase of
motor vehicle registration for the United
States in 1927 as Sc per cent while
the increase in the total amount Of Spe-
cisl car taxes exclusive of personal
property taxesl for the 4s States and
the District Of Columbia is given as
iel per cent
Cites Facts Disclosed.
The facts disclosed by our annual
motor vehicle registration and taxation
map show &c greater extent than
ever before the heavy proportion Of
taxes that the motorists are bearing
and afford a timely warning to the Fed
eral Government 10 set out OF the tax
Ing field. which is already overex-
plotted" Thomas P. Henry. president Of
the A. A. A. declared. The figures
should clinch the argument for the i'm
mediate repeal OF the Federal war ex-
else tax.
officials of the national motoring
BODY pointed out that the motor tax
figures are particularly significant In
view OF the gathering here next week
OF the annual Motor Congress OF dele
gates from more than 1000 A. A. A.
motor clubs throughout the country 10
take I'D various phases OF motoring
problems and car owner welfare.
Summary OF Situation.
Following is a summary of other
facts brought out in the annual tax re-
Vitw.
Firts: The average per vehicle tax
levy for the entire country was S23.7S
III 1927. as compared with S2l so in
1926. an increase Of &c per cent in a
period OF y months, The per vehicle
tax has increased 21S per cent since
1919. when il stood at 1855.
Secord: Special taxes collected from
car owners BY the States reached
new nigh peak last year. with total OF
1852 2a.e2Si6. as compared with S411.-
s55 $50 III 1925 all increase of s76,-
744o45
Third: The States revenue from
the gasoline tax increased 35.4 per cent
In 1927. the total being s254 109 .262. as
compared with sIs7.603,23i the previous
year.
Seven States had more than 100000
registrations in 1927. They were New
York. 1893. 429: California. 1858. 1875:
Pennsylvania, l.583.763: Ohio, 1870
4Is: Illinois, l.43a.985; Michigan, L.
l5e.344. and Texas. 1115.899. MaSSa-
cfusetts. with 81, l07 registrations,
naS the next in line TO the seven lead
ing States having more than 100000
registrations.
Highest Five States
In State fees. drivers licenses and
gasoline taxes the highest five States
were Pennsylvania. S43.2i2.552 90; New
York. s3l.743.545.47: Michigan, $751;
025. 367.I2: Ohio. S30.54O. 90l go, and
Texas. s30.2l5. 600.
In the amounts collected from the
gas tax Ohio with s1e.S94.675 led the
list: next came California. with $l9.-
e26f75: Pennsylvania. $l7.296.332:
Texas. sI4.56o 900. and Michigan. $l4.-
1891
The FIVE States with the highest per
vehicle tax we're Florida. $4ls5: Ore
eon, S4l As: Arkansas. s29.2i: Georgia.
S3ss and Virginia. s3793. The Dis
trict Of Columbia. with si0e2, had the
lowest per vehicle tax levy.