Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26
T is to be hoped that the traffic
committees report favoring q
gasoline fay 0f 4 rents q gallon

is TO De nope0 ChaC the CraTHC
committees report favoring q
gasoline tax of cents a gallon
for the District of Columbia
will be turned down. Such an
added burden upon the motorists
is both discrimination and unfair
particularly so when there is no
sound reason given for such an
increase.
Washington cannot be compared
with the neighboring States whose
present gasoline taxes are higher
than here. Their systems of road
ways far surpass those in the Dis
trict. If through political con-
nivance their rates were raised to
10 cents a gallon would any one
suggest that the rates here should
be raised to corresponding level,
just to balance?
Increased Taxes Unwarranted.
1t is true that in Washington
there is to be found governmental
exemptions to this tax and be-
cause of which the city loses a
large revenue, but it cannot seem
right to the clear minded that the
paying residents should be forced
to pay more. And besides it ap-
pears that the yearly amount
meets all sufficient needs.
Just because a tax is not felt at
the time, because it is paid in such
small amounts and because 1t is
one of the easiest taxes to collect,
can be no legitimate excuse for its
levy. And although the tax is
paid in small amounts the totals
are sure to be felt in time by
the family budget. A Accent tax
per gallon is an approximate tax
OF Is per cent, which certainly is
a high rate on commodity that
is not a luxury, but a necessity.
The 2-cent-per-gallon tax should
not be increased.
Pressed For Honors.
Washington has a strong rival
for first honorS on the low fatality
list. Indeed, the rival, Boston,
Mass, is so strong that according
to the last report of the Census
Bureau is tied with the National
Capital with 1874. per cent on the
rate of per 100000 population.
A small rise in Washington'S
percentage figures is caused by
the figures obtained through
the 1880 census. The population
estimate of Washington on which
former figures were based was
higher than what was actually
found to be the case. The in
creased death rate since August
appears to be higher than hereto
fore, but the actual death rate has
not increased.
Traffic fatalities claimed four
in September, 1880, against two in
September, 1929. But for the year
1880, including September, the Ma
tional Capital has had As traffic
deaths, against 81 for the first
nine months of 1929.
For the 52-week period ending
October the Census Bureau lists
the following 20 cities:
Record of 20 Cities.
Washington, 1874; Boston, 1874;
Baltimore, 14.1; Minneapolis, 1874;
st. Louis, TIA; Milwaukee, 17.9;
San Francisco, 1873; New Orleans,
1876; Philadelphia, 1879; New York,
1879; Kansas City, 1913; Detroit,
221; Chicago, 23.1; Pittsburgh,
23.5; indianapolis, 1855; Los An
geles, 26.7; Buffalo, 27.3; Newark,
27.3; Cleveland, 281, and Cincin-
natl, 28.7.
Thus it may be seen that the
"bad CITY," Cleveland, which has
had the worst record of the 20
largest cities, has gotten a little
better and allowed the BOBBY prize
to go to its Ohio sister, Cincinnati.
These cities listed above all have
a population of $4,000 or more.
In this regard there may be cities
with better or worse records, but
not, belonging to the above CLASH
f1cation.
Loading Zones.
A completing task is at present
facing the director Of traffic. He
is engaged in the reallotment OF
shipping entrances, or loading
zones, as he prefers to call them.
It Is his purpose to place them
along the curb where the most
loading and unloading is done.
For the heaviest shipper, he de-
sires to give the most room.
In times gone by he has granted
the request of many merchants to
have signs erected in front of
their stores. He gives the permit
and the merchants pay the ex-
pense for their erection. Now new
stores have located on the various
business streets of the city, neces-