Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28
TAX.
ON GAS ASSA|LED
Motorists Association Sees
Growing Tendency by States
to Raise LevieS.

Vigorous opposition to the growing
tendency on the part of State Legis-
latures to increase gasoline taxes be-
yond reasonable limits was expressed
by the American Motorists Association
in a warning issued here.
Motorists do not object to paying q
reasonable gasoline tax when the funds
are used for the construction and main
tenance of roads" the association de-
clared, but they do object to the pay
ment Of unreasonable, unjust and in
equitable gasoline taxes, and particu-
larly where portion Of the tax Is di-
verted to general public uses"
The privilege of taxing gasoline is
being abused in some States simply be-
cause it is a convenient method OF
raising revenue and because the money
is available for use immediately upon
collection, the associations statement
points out.
All States Tax Gasoline.
Motorists now pay gasoline taxes in
each of the 4S States of the Union
Fifteen States and the District Of Co
lumbia charge a rate Of cents per
gallon, IA States charge cents, IL
States cents, 6 States cents and
State 6 cents.
Since the first gasoline tax was i'm
posed in Oregon 10 years ago, motorists
have paid more than 81 900. 000, 900 In
gasoline taxes. Ninety per cent of this
sum was paid during the last four years
The United States Bureau Of Public
Roads has estimated that the Nations
gasoline tax bill last year was $500 .000,-
600, and it is conservatively predicted
that about $3.50 900 900 will be collected
this year.
THE average gasoline tax rate paid
last year was about rs per cent Of the
filling station price. This is In reality
a sales tax and Is an unreasonable
rate. Unless motorists take prompt
steps to curb the prevailing tendency
of State Legislatures gasoline taxes are
bound to be increased. Moreover, not
all of the money derived from gasoline
taxes is being used for road work ir
some States. This Is a violation Of the
principle under which gasoline taxes
were originally levied" the association:
statement declares.
Two Evils Are Cited.
1.-THE motorist is willing to pay q
reasonable tax on gasoline, because III
feels that construction and mainte.
nance OF good roads can be expedited
from this revenue said Thomas J
Keefe, general manager of the associa.
ton, IN commenting on the present
trend of gasoline taxes. 1.-TWO evils
however, have now sprung UP. First
the ease with which the tax Is collected
which has led some Legislatures to i'm
pose rates out Of all proportion to the
sales price of gasoline. and second
money derived from gasoline taxation 1.
being diverted for uses other thar
highway purposes.
ut must be remembered that thu
gasoline tax is consumers tax 1t !!
a tax per mile upon the operation o.
motor vehicles. In many States the
gasoline tax is now unreasonable ane
motorists themselves must take promp
steps to prevent Legislatures from fur.
Their abusing the gasoline taxing priv.
iege." Keefe declares.
THE present trend to tax the motor.
lists Is typified at the present time by Q
proposal In the Nations Capital to in.
crease the gasoline tax in the Distric
of Columbia by so per cent and use tn,
proceeds to beautify public parks"