The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-04-18
NO CHANGE IN
ROAD CARRIER
REVENUE BILL
Acceptable S c h e dule Is
Drafted With No Ma
terial Innovations
The Times-News Bureau
Sir Walter Hotel


RALEIGH, April IS. - The
fiance subcommittee recently ap-
pointed to draft a new tax sched-
ule for motor vehicle carriers has
finally completed its job, and is
ready to submit its bill to the full
finance committee. The bill, which
is acceptable both to the bus COM
panies and the revenue depart
ment, does not materially affect
the amount of revenue the state
collects from this source, but re-
suits in a more equitable distrl-
button of the tax on BUSES and
trucks. according to those who
have studied the measure.
The chief purpose for the new
act is that heretofore taxes levied
against privately operated motor
vehicles were under the motor We
hicle law and taxes levied against
all vehicles for hire were in the
revenue act. and because of the
fac that it has been held in vio-
lation of the Federal Constitution
to levy purely revenue taxes
against vehicles engaged in inter-
state commerce, it was thought
advisable to consolidate all motor
vehicle taxes under one law, MAX
ing the taxes compensatory for
the privilege of using the high
ways, and thus enabling the state
to collect revenue from vehicles
licensed in other states, which 1t
is now permitted to do. 49,,
/ The new bill represents little
change in the present law dealing
with passenger vehicles, except
that the rae on excursion passen-
ger vehicles is placed at SO per
seat, with a minimum of $50. IN
lieu of the old rate of $1.9O per
hundredweight. This reduces the
tax on this class of vehicle, in
view of the fact that they are
usually operated for only short
season, and it is believed that the
lowered tax rate will increase the
revenue to the state from this
particular source.
Heretofore trucks and trallers
have been licensed on the basis OF
chassis weight plus the rated ca,
pacity, but this has been found
unsatisfactory because 1t does not
take in the consideration the
weight of the body, and it is I'M
possible for the highway. patrol
man to check the weight of a We
hicle with, its license. 1t is point
ed out that: in the truck manu-,
featuring field, ''ton and half
truck no longer means anything
and trucks are now rated accord
ing to their axle strength. Inc
new basis. of weight provided IN
the subcommittee bill bases the
license upon the gross load ca
pacity. and does not require the
purchase of an overload license,
unless the manufacturers rateA
CAPACITY is exceeded. This per-
mits the reduction in the base
rate of small trucks from 30 cents
to 40 cents per hundred pounds,
with all other classifications re-
duced in proportion. r..
The subcommittee has ellml..
mated the dual classification OF
contract haulers heretofore IN the
law as short-haul and long-haul
operators. and has substituted a
single classification at rate
slightly higher than the short-haul
rate but considerably lower thar
the long-haul rate. These slmpili!-
fed rates, according to the est,-
mates of the revenue department.
will produce virtually the same
revenue which has been Obtained
under the old law, and have been
agreed to as satisfactory by all IN
terests.
The bill carries the same rate
of 6 per cent on the gross earn.
ings of franchise haulers without
change from the present law.
However, it is provided that only
those vehicles can be licensed as
franchise haulers which the Cor,
poration Commission has certified
as reasonably necessary to serve
franchise lines. This provision IN
the law is expected to prevent the
use of franchise lines by wild
cat" operators who have hereto
fore obtained this type of license
end made no adequate returns OF
their revenue.
Foreign vehicle carriers making
an occasional trip through this
state will be required under the
new bill to obtain a trip license
from the Corporation Commission,
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