New Britain herald., 1930-12-27
MORE GASOLINE TAXES


 sion, the tax ot two cents a gallon 1 on gasoline sales is not the stand ard throughout the country Indeed. only seven states have as low a gas tax as two cents. the remainder har- ing d higher tax, Thus 1t is quite likely that Connecticut may see an- other attempt made during 1851, when the Legislature meets, 10 raise the tax on gasoline so as to provide additional funds for the large num- bcr Of additional road improvements that everybody seems to want.
 Connecticut will not be in q class by itself if the attempt is made 10 raise the gasoline tax. Proposals to this end are expected to be made in a large number O. states The American Petroleum Institute has already reported that such proposals have already taken definite form III l6 states, while at the elections fast month the voters Of Louisiana and New Jersey authorized increases in their states gasoline taxes. The lat ter IS significant, 1t having been generally believed that voters are opposed 10 increased gasoline taxes, Us well as having other forms Of tax ation increased. In Louisiana the tax is already four cents a gallon, while it has only been two cents in New Jersey,
 The four cents gallon tax exists in n sta,es, il being the most popu- lar form ol gasoline tax; but it is five cents in nine states, and six cents in three states. Seeing that an attempt is likely to be made in Con- nectjcGt 10 raise the tax to three cents. it might he mentioned that the rate already is three cents in nine states.
 The latest figures on the gasoline tax situation arc interesting. The fol- lowing was the tax by states on April l, 1880;
 Two cents 2 gallon was being in1- posed by seven states and the Dis rriet Of Columbia;-Connecticut. Dis trirt os Columbia, Massachusetts, Missouri New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island. and Wisconsin.
 Three cents a gallon in nine sta,,s:-CalIforma. Delaware, IlH- nois, Iowa. Kansas, Michigan Minne- sota North Dakota and Washington
 Three and one-ha!f cents in Utah,
 Four cents in 19 statcs:-Ala- hama. Arizona. Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana Maine, Maryland. Ne hraska, Nevada, New Hampshire. l Ohio, Oklahoma. Oregon, Pennsyl- , vania Ohr"c cents after July D. South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming.
 FIvr cents in nine statee:-Arhan- . sas, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana. New Mexico. North Caro- lima Tennessee. and Virginia.
 SIX cents in three states.-FIorila, G"orgia. and South Carolina.
 The popularity or gasoline taxes is easily understood. Motorists are continually clamoring for more and ! better Highways, and no other method except bond issues goes 50 i far in providing them as gasoline taxes. Even when road bonds are is- . sued, as in New Jersey, they are paid of through the operation Of the gasoline tax; or at least. that is tho intention.
 Tn f states have revenues Of i app7oEimat-i iy tWo billions of do.lars. 1. and ot tms 12 1-2 per cent came , from no.or-tuel taxes; but ill addi- {. ton, If per cent came from motor i vehicle taxes, Combined, this means 25 1-2 per cent Of the states income l came from automobiles. And at the ! same tine, highways accounted for Y per cent ot the states oxpendi- ,rrns. That means that 9 l-2 per . c'ut O. 'he money derived from tnc . operation Of automobiles goea 10 o'a.r sourcr~ than road work.
 Which mrans that in some states ,h, gasoline tax and the motor v@- 'dcLc tax comes handy as providing money for the general fund,