Evening star., 1931-12-30
Special Committee Holds Levy
Should Be Devoted Only to
Street Construction.
WEIGHT TAX OPPOSED
ON PRIVATE AUTOS
Any Kind of Special Levy on Pas
senger Cars and Dealer
Tag Hike Hit.

vigorous COnQemnaJlOn OF CAe Dill
passed by the House to double the Dis
trict of Columbia gasoline tax is voiced
in a report submitted to the Advisory
Board of the District of Columbia di-
vision of the American Automobile
Association today by a special commit
tee on motor vehicle taxation created
by the board.
The committee brands as that most
obnoxious of all practices" the pro-
poSal to levy upon motorists taxes
which would be diverted to purposes
other than street and highway con-
struction and maintenance.
ANY plan which proposes such di-
version" it was reported, cannot be
condemned too severely"
The committee also opposed any kind
of weight tax on private passenger
carrying vehicles.
The committee voiced opposition to
any increase in the cost of automobile
dealer license plates, expressing the
belief that such cost would ultimately
be passed on to the purchaser.
The committee requested full hear
ings for the District of Columbia divis-
before the Senate committees
which are considering the proposed A.
cent gasoline tax bill and the weight
tax.
Recommends Code.
Declaring that the Mapes plan would
impose on the District motoring public
far in excess of the Just and proper
share which the motoriSt of the Dis
trict should be called upon to pay" the
commi tee recommended adoption by
the locll division of the association the
followii G principles:
a. That the District of Columbia
Division of the American Automobile
Association shall and does vigorously
oppose any measure or proposal which
would seek to divert any funds raised
from motor vehicle taxation to purpose
other than the construction, replace
ment and maintenance of streets and
20. That the motorists of the District
of Columbia should be called upon to
pay only reasonable and just share of
the cost of construction. replacement
and maintenance of highways in the
District of Columbia.
"3. That the District of Columbia
Division of the American Automobile
Association opposes any effort TO raise
through any form Of motor vehicle tax
alton any sum in excess of the require
ments as determined by a reasonable
program of highway construction.
Would Limit Levy.
"a. That we recommend that weight
tax on automobiles levied on proper
basis and not to yield in excess of the
total income from the present registra-
ton and personal property tax would
be more just and equitable basis of
taxation than the present personal
property tax on automobiles, which Is
difficult to pay and even more difficult
to collect; and further, that such
weight tax should be properly graduated
by the different types of vehicles with
respect to weight and tire equipment.
IS. That the District of Columbia
division of the American Automobile
Association record its opposition to anv
increase in the cost of automobile
dealer license plates due to the fact that
such cost must ultimately be passed on
to the consumer-the motor vehicle
owner.
IS. That the District Of Columbia
division of the American Automobile
Association shall request a hearing be-
fore the committee of the Senate of
the United States, which is to consider
the bills proposing a Accent gasoline tax
and an automobile weight tax as out
lined in the Mapes Committee report
and that hearings shall also be request
ed before any such other committees
as may consider these two bills or any
form Of motor vehicle taxation"
Signed BY Johnson.
The report is signed by Pyke John
son, chairman Of the Special Commit
tee, and the following committee mem
bers: Arthur Carr, Walter B. Guy,
Theodore P. Noyes and DR.. E. G. Sci
bert
The report is divided into two phases,
the first a presentation of facts and
figures upon which the committees S
findings are based, the second on an