Smyrna times., 1931-02-11
BILL REDUCING CAR LICENSE
To be Presented before Legislature
by Delaware Automobile Asso.

bN DCtdH EhooOs
At the regular meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Delaware
Automobile Association, A. M. A,
11th and West Streets, it was de-
cided to present bill to the pres
ent session of legislature for a re-
duction in pleasure car license
fees of at least 25 per cent. The
following figures were presented as
a basis for asking for this reduc-
tion that would not interfere with
the present good roads progress
for Delaware. Taking the State
Auditors figures for the fiscal year
July 1924 to June 1925 showed
that S999,671.15 was collected
from operators licenses, Motor We
hicle licenses, and gas tax. From
the same source of the fiscal year
of July 1929 to June 1880 showed
an income of $2,S54 ,049.49, or
more than double the amount in
this period, approximately an an
nual increase of $4,000 over the
previous year. Should the house
/ concur with the Senate in the re-
duction of the Operators fees to
S1.50 this would make an annual
reduction of approximately $780,
| 00000 With the Association re-
quest for the additional 25 per
cent decrease in automobile licens-
es on pleasure cars, making an an
nual reduction of S187 600 or to-
tai reduction for the operators lie
enses and the automobile licenses
of S277,0OO. With the present in
crease of revenue received from
these three sources; by 1882 these
receipts will again amount to ST.
1872, 900 or $4,000 above the pres
ent yearly income. This would be
allowing a safe margin to keep the
present revenue where it is today,
which is above the expectations
when this law was made effective
The gasoline tax alone increased
from S205, 1854 so in 1928 to $685.
411.99 for 1880, and with the Gov
ernor bringing the price of gaso-
line in Delaware to level with the
surrounding states this tax would
show very material increase over
these figures. The Board of Di-
rectors suggested that as a means
of reduction that the pleasure cars
be licensed according to horsepow-
er following out the taxation plans
of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and
New Jersey.
The Delaware Automobile Asso-
citation further pointed out for a
comparison with the surrounding
states that a Buick car costing
$1,000 a year to license in Della
ware can be licensed in Maryland
for $50, plus the property tax of
i S7.75; $1,000 in Pennsylvania, and
$500 in New Jersey. A 1880
Ford sedan costing S14.00 to Ii
cense in Delaware, costs $500 to
license in Maryland, plus the prop
erty tax of s5.71; $1,000 in Penn
sylvania, and $1,000 in New Jer-
sey. The gasoline tax rate is as
follows: Delaware &c per gallon,
Maryland &c per gallon, Pennsyl-
vania &c per gallon, and New Jer-
sey &c per gallon. An acknowledg-
ment was received from the Senate
thanking the Association for furn-
ishing a copy of their magazine,
the Delaware Motorist" to each
member of the Senate, outlining
facts and figures on the present
motorist taxes collected. One hun
dred twenty-three ned members
We're added to the present mem
bership of the Association which
shows an increase for the cores
ponding period of last year. The
following members of the Board of
Directors were present: William ].
Lackey, President; Andrew Ella
son, Charles G. Guyer, William A.
Neindle, Harry r. Loose, Howard
H. Oberly, Frank w. Pierson, Al
ban P. Shaw, Herbert H. White
and Linnaeus L. Hopes, Execu-
tive Secretary.