Evening star., 1936-09-30
HIGHER TAX PLAN
FOR D. c. AUTO|STS
ASSA|LED BY CLUB
Letter Tells Commissioners
U. S. Should Pay on
Streets Program.
PER CAPITA LEVIES
IN CAPITAL CITED
Proposed Gasoline Tax Increase
Would Provide $500,000
More Than Needed.

A detailed statement Of opposition
to any increase in gasoline taxes in
the District, to imposition of any
motor vehicle weight tax and to any
diversion Of gasoline tax revenues for
purposes other than street improve
ments and repairs has been submitted
to the District Commissioners by the
District Motor Club, local division Of
the American Automobile Association.
The statement is in the form of a
letter signed by George w. Offutt.
chairman Of the clubs Advisory
Board.
The club said, In effect, that the
Federal Government should contrib.
ute to Washington's street and high.
way program. 1t said, furthermore,
that anticipated motor vehicle tax
revenues are quite sufficient.
Among arguments advanced against
the proposed tax increase was that
District motorists do not get as much
for their money as those Of many
States and that the per capita motor
vehicle levy here was higher than in
any other city of comparable size.
s500,00O Revenue Excess.
In reply to the proposal of Capt. H.
c. Whitehurst, director of highways,
for a 1-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax
increase TO cover an expected def.
cheney in funds available for the Dis
trict's highway program in the 1888
fiscal year, the club said the sug"
gested increase would provide about
s50O,000 more revenue than was
needed to meet the contemplated
expenditure.
If additional funds are needed"
the statement said, there should be
a contribution from the Federal Gov
ernment to be allocated for highway
construction and maintenance. The
Federal Government owns and oper-
ates thousands Of passenger cars and
trucks on the streets and highways OF
the District and does not contribute
to the construction and maintenance
of these streets through payment OF
gasoline taxes nor the payment OF
other motor vehicle levies because it
is exempt from registration and per
sonal property tax fees which are used
for general administrative needs"
The Federal Government Is re-
sponsible, said the motor club, for
much of the cost Of maintaining
streets here because its plan, for
development of the Capital has re-
quired broad streets and avenues
which might not otherwise be needed"
and has forced the District to widen
streets in the triangle area to ac-
commodate the added burden Of
traffic caused by the concentration
Of buildings in that area. Likewise,
the Commissioners were told, the
placing of Government activities in
the triangle area has changed the
direction of the flow Of traffic to
the extent that it has been necessary
to provide or improve other arteries.
No Allotment Benefit.
Ofutt's letter said that while Dis
trict motorists contribute $l,700,000
annually in Federal levieS, including
the l-cent Federal gasoline tax and
| the excise tax on new-car sales, they
receive no benefit in the form OF
allotments from the regular Federal
aid appropriation of $l25 100000 in
share proportionate to that allocated
to the States.
Opposition to q weight tax was
based on the conclusion that such
a levy "is not q measure Of use made
Of the highways"
Since the revenues from motor
vehicle taxes "far exceed" the costs
of operating the Department of
Vehicles and Traffic, said the motor
club, I'VE oppose any efforts to pro-
vide for the cost of operation OF
the department from the gasoline
tax fund of the District"
The club submitted figures to show
that, on the basis of a 1884 survey.
the average vehicle tax in the Dis
trict was $20.8l. compared to ma
tional average of $38ll.
"It may seem from these figures
that motorists in the District are
| much favored so far as motor vehicle
taxes are concerned" the club said.
However, we wish to point out that
very decidedly they are not"
Figures then were presented to show
that the District has only IT'S miles
of highways compared to "a much
larger total in the States. The club
also stated that the per capita motor
vehicle tax here is s584, compared to
S3.27 in New York City, s4.07 in
Boston and $1.97 in San Francisco.
Other cities Of more than 100000
population were shown to have lower
per capita taxes.
Benefits to Be Considered.
"It seems inconceivable to u.s." the
club wrote, that the Commissioners
of the District, acting In the interest
of its citizens, could offer as justi-
fication to the levying Of taxes the
illogical theory that it is sound to
increase taxes upon certain class OF
citizens on the grounds that taxes are
higher in other jurisdictions, without
taking into consideration the benefit
the taxpayer receives through the pay.
ment Of these taxes"
The club then presented excerpts
from court decisions and from acts
of Congress in support. Of It's CONT L.
ton that it was the intent Of Con-
gress that money from gas taxes be
applied only to street improvements
| and repair and not be diverted to any
| other purpose.
I'VE feel" concluded the statement,
''that the District Commissioners
would be rendering great service to
the citizens Of Washington should
they vigorously demand fair con-
tribution to the highway program Of
the District by the Federal Govern
ment on the same proportionate basis
as the Federal contribution for other
purposes and for the participation Of
the District in the regular Federal aid
appropriation on the same basis a.
other cities or q special provision In
the Federal aids&act to take care Of
| the situation peculiar to the District"