Evening star., 1937-03-21


travelling public and use this fund for
other than street and highway build
ing and maintenance. Diversion is the
word so often heard nowadays and
protests over it are multitudinous.
1t is something to think about, espe-
eially when such great amounts are in
volved. Diversion is by far the worst
aspect.
State sales taxes on gasoline are be-
coming so expensive that in 1886 they
accounted for more than one-third of
all the money paid in taxes by resi-
dents of the 48 States, or two and one
half times as much as in 1926, accord
ing to a study made by the American
Petroleum Industries.
The costs of these sales taxes to the
taxpayers increased 269 per cent during
the decade. 1866, it was found,
whereas the cost of other State taxes
increased only Il per cent. Between
1925 and 1881 the cost of gasoline sales
taxes increased 1856 per cent, as COM
pared with an increase of Is per cent
in the cost of other State levies.
During the depression period, 1881
1888, receipts from State gasoline
taxes declined 81 per cent, as COM
pared with 20 per cent drop in other
State levies. The upward trend was
resumed, however, gasoline sales tax
costs increasing 1872 per cent between
1888 and 1886 as compared with an
increase of pit per cent in the cost of
other State taxes.
While motorists ostensibly pay gos-
oline taxes to finance roads, the rec
ords show that as costs have increased
a growing large proportion of the
revenue has been diverted to general
purposes. In 1886 it is estimated that
more than one-seventh of the road
money went to pay the cost of other
services.
Gasoline tax revenues of Maryland
were $l15,000 larger in January, 1887,
than in January, 1886, largely as re-
suit of the postponement until April
/ Of the final date for registering mo-
tor vehicles January collections to-
tailed S705,837, the State controllers
Office has reported, as against $500, ,488
for January, 1886 1t is expected that
February and March income also will
increase, with the total gain estimated
at more than a quarter Of a million
dollars
Motorists have expressed approval
of the deferred registration plan,
which they call free wheeling" and
which has relieved them of the neces-
sity of paying registration fees from
purses debated by Christmas-NeW
Year spending. 1t is believed that
retail merchants also benefited by a
big gain in holiday trade.
Uncle Sam has given the automobile
owners a champion. A David" has
been created by act of Congress to
lead the payers of the gasoline tax 10
their fight against the giant Diver
sion" and the missile for his sling is
Section u of the Hayden Cartwright
road act of 1884.
Section IL is a penalty clause-a
penalty that may be increased at this
session-and is aimed directly at those
States that persist in diverting high
moved from the construction of good
roads and their maintenance.
Representative Wilburn Cartwright,
one of the authors of the road act and
chairman of the House Committee on
Roads, has been flooded with COM
municationS seeking definite informa-
ton concerning what the Federal Gov
eminent intends to do about enforcing
penalties on those States that have
Haunted the provisions of Section IL.
Section IL OF the Hayden-C Cart
wright act of 1884" said Representa-
tive Cartwright in an interview today,
provides that States diverting high
way funds shall be penalized not to
exceed one-third of the Federal-aid
Rllotments for highways. 1t appears
certain that the Secretary of Agricul-
ture will announce and take action i'm
mediately on penalties through the
loss of Federal aid to several States
for diversions heretofore made. There
is strong sentiment in the Roads Com
mittee and in Congress for increasing
the penalty at this session to two
thirds OF the apportionmentS or deny
ing Federal aid altogether to States
that persist in the indefensible prac-
tice of diverting their own gasoline
and other motor vehicle tax revenues
to non-highWay purposes. In fact,
some consideration is being given to
discontinuing the policy of Federal aid
for highways, if States, by their diver
sions, defeat the purpose of Congress
to hasten the completion of the State
highway system"
According to Charles M. Upham, en-
gineer director, American Road Build
ers' Association, Washington, D. c.,
figures compiled by the United States
Bureau of Public Roads show that
S147,142,209 was diverted by the 40
States in 1885 to non-highway pur-
poses, with no indication of decrease
In the yet unpublished tabulations for
1885.
Frederick c. Russell, noted motoring
authority believes it is not too soon
to give some thoughts to Spring over
hauling of the car. According to him,
unusual weather conditions which
have served to keep the automobile in
more extensive use than for any Win
ter in motoring history has brought
pressing need for the earliest possible
Spring servicing. Many cars have al
ready gone much too far on their cold
weather service.
The attention that millions of cars
need at this point should not be con-
fused with what these same cars will
require by way of service when Spring
time arrives in earnest. Just now it
Is question of erasing the effects
OF Winter damage.
Extremely mild and clear weather
throughout December and January
has tempted many owners to neglect
their cars. This means that an un-
usually high percentage of cars went
into February without adequate pro-
lection. Due to partially frozen radia-
tore oyI ,aro1 yop1ao+ of ho oool;,,rr