The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-15
NEWS OF AUTO WORLD
OWNERS URGED
TO MAKE ISSUE
OF AUTO TAXES
A. A. A. Head Calls for
Fight Against Diversion
in Fall Elections.

Times Special
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Motor
vehicle owners and operators 40
100000 strong were urged by the
American Automobile Association
today to make discriminatory motor
taxes and misuse of motor tax rev.
enueS a distinct issue in the Novem-
Der national elections.
1T is high time motorists OF the
country should use the ballot box
to convince the motor tax grabbers
and spenders that the day Of reck-
oning has come, that the gasoline
pump is not an eternal golconda,
and that motor vehicle ownership
is not a measure of taXability for
general revenue" Thos. P. Henry
of Detroit, Mich, president of the
A. A. A, declared.
Mr.. Henry pointed out that the
300 A. A. A. motor clubs and state
associations in the country could
be used as mobilization centers to
clarity motor tax issues and to Sc
cure pledges from candidates in the
interest of fair motor taxes and the
ending of diversion of motor funds.
Cites New York Actions
The A. A. A. president said in
part:
In the election of last Novem-
Der, some of our New York State
clubs gave a convincing demonstra-
ton of what motorists can do if
they act as united group to pro-
tect their interests. Seven candi-
dates for the State Assembly IA
vored by the clubs were elected, and
out of seven opposed by the clubs,
six went down to defeat.
1T is to be understood that the
approach of the American Auto
mobile Association to the problem is
entirely nonpartisan, but I strongly
hope that the issue we have raised
will be applied to all candidates for
political office, from the aspirants TO
the highest national and state Of
fees down to the lowly office Of
town dog catcher.
motorists generally would have
resorted to political action long, long
ago if they had stopped to consider
the facts of motor taxation. They
would find that special motor taxes
today account for $13 out of every
500 collected by Federal, state, and
local governments; that special
levy on motor transport of all trans
port agencies accounts for $14 out
of every 500 collected by the Fed
ersl government; that the Federal
government has continued for years
special motor transport tax
originally put into effect for So
called emergency purposes for one
year.
Points to Increase
They would find that in the last
five years the average motor tax
has increased $40 per vehicle in a
period which largely was one of de-
clining registrations.
They would find that 20 cents
out of every dollar that they pay
for road purposes is diverted and
squandered and that in one recent
year no less than $150,000,000 of
road money was sidetracked to gen.
eral uses, causing deferred mantle
nance of our road plants and greatly
adding to the hazards of the high
way.
They would find that all govern
mental agencies - Federal, state,
county and municipal-are engaged
in a frenXed scramble for the
motorists dollar, and are Guplicat-
ing ard pyramiding motor levies
without regard for ability to pay
and with little regard for use. Fair
taxes for necessary roads and safe
roads? BY all means, yes! But this
other grab-bag stuff must stop, and
the motorists can stop it! Now is
the time!"