The Washington times., 1930-10-21
BOOSTS
AUTOCOSTS
SL,270,0O0
Secretary Shaw Protests That
Small District Mileage
Renders Rise Unnecessary

Classifying the proposed tax
increase to cents gallon on
gasoline in the District as
wholly unreasonable and TN
justified" the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association today
issued a vigorous protest to the
proposal. .-
The proposition recommended
last night at a Joint meeting OF
the traffic advisory council and
the traffic advisory committee
was assailed in a letter sent to-
day by Edward D. Shaw, secre-
tary of the association, to the
District Commissioners
In the letter Mr.. Shaw pointed
out that the proposed increase
which would cost District mo-
torist an additional $1,270, 900 an
nually, was a 90 per cent tax II
the retail price was taken as
basis and more than a 40 per
cent tax if the wholesale price
was used in computation.
Calls It Unreasonable
Mr.. Shaw declared the tax
would be unreasonable because
Of the small total of mileage in
the District and not at all justi"
fled under present conditions. He
explained that in Maryland, with
q community 40 miles wide in
some instances, the Accent tax is
not unduly exorbitant, while in
the District it would be totally
unnecessary.
A further financial burden
would be placed on local motor
lists with adoption Of the commit
tees recommendation that regis
tration fees for private automo-
biles be increased from 81 to SO Q
year. {
The proposed 2-cent increase in
the gasoline tax met with vigorous
opposition at last nights meet
ing. It was finally recon-
mended by a vote Of 8 to 6, with
four members of the committees
failing to vote. The increased
registration fee was also opposed.
but the recommendation was
adopted. with the understanding
that it carried with it a recon-
mendation for elimination Of the
personal property tax on motor
vehicles.
Ban On Solid Tire
Other recommendations adopted
at the joint session included the
following:
/. Restriction of registration Of
solid.tire vehicles to those already
owned and registered in the Dis
trict, thus gradually elimina ting
solid-tire vehicles in Washington,
2. Enactment of a law reQu1r'
ing inspection of all motor We
hicles, and prohibiting registra-
ton or re-registration of any
vehicle unless, it has been In
spected and found in a safe con-
dition.
3. establishment Of q police
squad equipped and trained to
test headlights, brakes and other
safety equipment.
4. ETOV1S1Ou OF 4u110, na0o
up from the 81 increase IN reg
| istration fees, to provide for po'
lice inspection Of unsafe vehicles.
Amendment Adopted !.
An amendment to this proposal,
offered by Capt. H. c. White.
hurst, District highway engineer
and acting chairman of the two
groups, was adopted, calling on
the Police Department to dis
continue the practice Of selling
confiScated vehicles, unless they
have been tested and found to
be in safe running condition.
Another recommendation pro
vided that all funds derived from
the gasoline tax, registration fees,
operators permits and Borland
law assessments be credited to
the road and street fund and
that appropriations !. be made
from this fund for all expendi-
tures of the highway department,
with the exception Of sidewalk
construction.