The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-07-03
Declare Motor
Vehicle Bureau
Is Biggest Unit
The Times-Sews Bureau
Sir Walter Hotel

RALEIGH, July 3.-ln order
to reduce the cost of government
and to abolish duplication of nee
cssary government functions. the
1888 general assembly created the
motor vehicle bureau in the state
department of revenue and then
greatly enlarged its functions so
that it is now the largest single
governmental unit or division with
regard to the collection of state
revenue. 1t is also one of the
largest in the number of en-
ployes, with almost 200 persons
employed in this one division.
1t is expected that this enlarged
motor vehicle bureau will collect
between $2O,O0O,000 and $685.
100000 year for the next two
years, now that the collection OF
all revenues for the state high
way fund has been centered in
this division. For in addition to
selling all the motor vehicle license
plates and titles each year, this
bureau will now collect all taxes
on motor vehices for hire, fran
chise motor bus and freight lines,
the 6 cents gallon tax on gaso-
line for highways, the oil and gas
oline inspection tax and the new
8 per cent consumers or sales
80 ,N,nhYlnS
All of this work will be under
the direction of the deputy COM
missioner of motor vehicles, a
post now being held by L. S. Har-
ris, who since September 1881 has
been director of the old motor
vehicle bureau before it was en-
larged. Mr.. Harris has not yet
been officially appointed as head
of the new and enlarged bureau,
but is acting in that capacity and
indications are that he is in line
for reappointment. He has been
with the bureau since 1924 and
before being appointed director
was head of the theft bureau and
automobile license inspection work
over the state. Since he became
director of the bureau it has BIN
operated on less money and with
fewer employees than at any time
since 1928, the records of the
bureau show.
In addition to the collection OF
all the taxes that go into the high
way fund, the bureau IS charged
with the enforcement Of all tie
laws and regulations with regard
both to the highways, motor We.
hicles and gas and oil. In order
to give it more facilities for the
enforcement of these rules and
regulations and consolidate all re-
lated agencies within the one 5u-
reau, the state highway patrol was
transferred to it. The patroimen
will now assume the added duties
of gasoline and oil inspect n,
check up on the quality of gas
oiine and oil sold at all filling sta
tions and also test out all gasoline
and oil pumps to see that they
give correct measure. This work
was formerly done by a separate
division in the department of ag-
riculture. The collection of the
taxes on "for hire vehicles and
the 6 per cent tax on franchise
motor bus and freight lines was
formerly carried on in separate
division of the department of
revenue. But this work has now
been taken over by the enlarged
motor vehicle bureau, with no ad-
ditional appropriation or any new
employees.
The bureau will continue its
usual duties. of course, such as
the sale of automobile license
plates and titles; the registration
of these; the operation of the
theft bureau; the collection, an
alvzing and publishing of motor
vehicle accident statistics and the
operation of 20 branch offices
over the state in conjunction with
the Carolina Motor Club for the
sale of motor vehicle license
plates.
Commissioner of Revenue A. J.