Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15

ME rapid growth of well sur
faced highways today is a
tribute to the gasoline tax.
without the funds derived
from this method of taxation
hundreds Of miles of roadway
could not have been built. In
many instances the ease and COM
fort Of travel, the saving to the
automobile itself has more than
recompensed the autoist for the
money spent by him in the pur-
chase of gas.
Gasoline Taxation.
This does not mean, however,
that every gasoline tax is right
whatever the price may be, and
unquestionably the funds thus
raised should go for highway work
solely. The tax, easily obtained,
should not be raised to heights
Just because of this fact. Legis-
latureS are now converting in
many States. Before most of
them is the subject of the gasoline
tax. Some States are contemplate
ing a raise in the rates.
Gasoline today sells at low
figure-the lowest in years. In
some States the tax on gasoline is
more than so per cent of the price
of gasoline per gallon itself. Such
a tax seems very high in proper
ton It is to be hoped that any
action on the gas tax by the
Legislatures will be toward re-
auctions. So far the tax is like
unto the gold-egg-laying goose.
Don't kill it.
Fatality Increase Shown.
Traffic fatalities throughout
the Nation are still showing a
slight increase, although this rise
is not as high as in some previous
periods. Through figures released
by the Department of Commerce
the National Capital ranks third
among the cities of similar size,
with death rate of 17.3 per
100000 population during the So
weeks ending February 81, 1881.
This rate compares with 1874 for
81 weeks ending February %, 1880.
Boston and Baltimore are dead
locked for first and second places,
with 142 during the period just
ended. For the So weeks ending
February %, 1880, Boston led with
153, while Baltimore had 1853.
The Department of Commerce
announces that during the four
weeks ending February 81, 1881,
81 large cities in the United States
mobile accidents. This number
(614) compares with STA deaths
during the four weeks ending Feb
ruary %, 1880. Most of these
deaths were the result of accidents
which occurred within the cor
porate limits of the city, although
some accidents occurred outside
Of the city limits.
For comparison, the number of
deaths due to automobile accidents
within city limits is desirable.
Such figures are available for the
four-week period ending February
81, 1881, and for the correspond
ing four-week period of 1880 for
all of the 81 cities, the four-week
figure in 1881 being SIS, as con-
u doJC0 Will 104 4Ol LllC NOLIC-
spending four weeks in 1880.
Considering by four week
periods since January, 1929, total
deaths from automobile accidents
for 81 cities, regardless Of place
of accident, the lowest total (47D
appears for the four-week period
ending February %, 1929, and the
highest $500 for the four-week
period ending November 2, 1929.
For the 52-week periods ending
February 81, 1881, and February
%, 1880, the totals for the 81 cities
were, respectively, 1887 and 1868,
which indicate a recent rate of
256 per 100000 population, as
against an earlier rate Of 25.3, or
an increase Of / per cent in the
rate during the year.
Eight cities reported no deaths
from automobile accidents for the
last four weeks, while five cities
reported no deaths from auto
mobile accidents for the CORE
spending period of 1880.
For the last four-week period
reports as to whether deaths oc-
CURED from automobile accidents
within city limits or outside we're
received from all Of the 81 cities