Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02


Gently voted a 100 per cent increase in
gasoline taxes for the District, with
usurpation of its authority and with
having q miSconception of its functions,
the Aemrican Motorists Association in
a statement issued last night, reviewing
the councils action, bitterly hayed both
the council and its report
1.-The purpose for which the council
was formed was not to devise ways and
means of pillorying the already over
taxed motorists of the District OF Co
lumbia," declares Thomas j. Keefe,
general manager of the A. M. A. 1T
was not an appropriation committee.
It's duty is not to raise funds. Congress
did not ask its opinion as to the most
painless way to make the motorist give
until it hurts. Yet even the most cur
sorry glance at the councils report Is
SUFFICIENT to convince the most uninttlat-
ed that the council conceived its sole
duty to be that of ways and means
committee to raise funds.
Cites Added Burdens.
Almost every provision of the 10
recommendations, if adopted, would
mean an added burden to the motorists
Of the District of Columbia. The sole
purpose Of the council, as its name I'M
plies, is to bring relief to the motoring
traffic conditions, and to give the Dis
trict Commissioners the benefit Of what
ever wisdom could be gotten from So
called traffic experts.
Had It occurred to the committee In
its quest Of succor for the motorists, the
council could have really done an ef-
fective job by taxing each motorlst 5000
per year. This would have driven the
vast ma ority Of cars from the streets
of the District, and would have ade-
ouately solved the traffic problems for
those remaining.
THE sole argument for additional
highway funds is additional highway
construction. No claim for this argu-
ment is advanced by the committee.
On the contrary, the council explains
how the added funds can be spent-by
paying out Of such additional revenue
highway administrative salaries.
The committee has placed ltseli IN
the position Of attempting to regulate
the fiscal relations of the District Gov
eminent with the Federal Government.
By raising $4,000, 900 from the motor
lists, instead of half that sum through
a 2-cent gasoline tax, the council would
stand an excellent chance OF jockey1ng
the District into the position where
Congress has another opportunity TO
cut down on its annual contribution to
the Districts upkeep.
For the sake of argument, suppose
the council in its zeal for the motor
lists should extract $40 600, 900 per year
in one form of tax or another. Is there
a person in the District so dull that he
would not recognize that 1t would mean
that Congress would carve just that
much from the Federal Government
annual contribution toward the Dis
trict?
Predicts Congressional Attitude.
Suppose the tax should yield a sub
stantiai surplus at the end Of the fiscal
year. Is there any doubt but that a
score of eager Congressman would
not trample each other TO death IN
their rush for recognition Of the House
floor and proclaim to the world that
the District, that step-ch1ld OF Con-
gress, is rolling in wealth while the
Congressmen's own children back
home do not know where their next
lolly-pop is coming from?
1.-The American Motorists Assocla-
ton. composed solely of independent
automobile clubs and receiving not one
cent of subsidy from any organization
or manufacturing group, believes In the
cause CT the motorists.
ut challenges the right of another
large motoring organization, assuming
the authority to speak for the District
motorists, to pillory District motorists
on a accent gasoline tax when it is not
shown that there is any necessity Tor
the tax.
During the consideration Of the re-
port representation was made by rep
resentative of this national motoring
organization that that organization in
dorsed the report in behalf Of the mo-
florists of the District Of Columbia.
TIA party in Boston was made famous
/ because Of the same attitude toward
| taxation without representation. Grant
/ ing to that organization twice the num-
! Der CT motorists enrolled under its BAN
ner as it has, the American Motorists
Association would still contend that the
! organization cannot bespeak for the
motorists OF the District an indorse-
ment of a proposed tax increasing the
! gasoline taxation by 100 per cent.
Not VIII Of Members.
+ Neither the Commissioners nor the
public, however, should be lulled into
! dorsement of the councils report re-
| fleets the will Of its members. The best
proof of this is that one of the bitterest
opponents OF the councils report is him
/ self an official Of that national organi-
/ Zatlcn. The matter has never been
presented to the motorists OF the Dis
| tritc, either through a referendum OF
any other method.
/ NO argument whatever is advanced
by the council as to why the tax should
be increased 100 per cent. The condi-
ton of the streets is not given as ar
I excuse for increased funds for highWa y
| construction. A recent survey made in
220 cities shows that washington ranks
third. II not second, in so far as its
streets and highways are concerned
nance standpoint.
THE present yield from the Accent
tax affords sufflcient funds to construct
from IS to 40 miles per year, with suffi-
cient funds left over to maintain the