Evening star., 1947-01-20
Revision Of Auto
Fees Sought
In Maryland
Two Groups to Begin
Hearings Tonight
On New System
By John +. Chandler
Assoeiutsd Press Sfoff Writer

By John F. Chandler
Assoeiotsd Press Sfaff Writer
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 2o-Owners Of
half-million pleasure
cars and trucks would pay taxes
and license registration fees under
! new system If bills now before
the State Legislature are enacted
INTO law.
The bills are to be studied by
committees which this
week will hold their heaviest sched-
ule Of hearings since the 1947 ses-
sion convened 20 days ago. Both
branches of the Assembly meet at
3 o'clock tonight, but the sessions
are expected to be brief and rou-
tine.
The House Agriculture and Nat
ural Resources Committee will hold
a hearing tomorrow on IL bills re-
lating to Maryland game laws. The
Senate Judiciary Committee will
hold at least three hearings this
week on legislation relating to
workmen's compensation, clinics for
alcoholics and new board OF
parole and probation.
More Revenue Is Aim.
Three bills, one in the Senate and
two in the House, were drawn up
by the Legislative Council to bring
in more revenue from trucks and
other commercial vehicles, to elm
mate costly bookkeeping in figuring
the present personal property tax
on automobiles, and to ease the ad-
high tax rate against inter-
city passenger buses.
The State Department Of Motor
Vehicles reported that on Decem-
ber 81, thsre were 415,935 pleasure
cars registered in Maryland and
76,997 trucks.
Only one of the proposed bills,
Senate Bill 104, would become effec-
tive this year. This measure, which
provides a fiat $40 license fee an
nually for all passenger cars, in
cluding station wagons, is labeled
an emergency measure which would
become effective as soon as 1t Is
passed by a three-f1fths vote Of
both houses.
The Senate measure must be
adopted quickly if it is to become
effective this year since new license
tags are due April l. Chairman
Bolton Of the Judiciary Commit
tee said it would be taken up for
study this week.
Under the present law, the regis.
tration fee is set on basis of 80
cents per horsepower and legislative
council leaders said the tag cost
averaged around SO.
But the main provision Of this
bill Is aimed at trucks. Light COM
rnercial vehicles are taxed on the
horsepower rate, while several legis-
IIators said that even operators Of
large trailer trucks and moving
vans admitted they were paying a
low registration fee.
Delegate Luber, Democrat, OF
Baltimore, a council member. saic
truckers were paying less than l
per cent of their gross revenue In
motor vehicle taxes, although it was
these heavy vehices which were
causing most damage to highways.
Rates Estimated.
The new gross weight truck rates
would provide an estimated $1,700.-
600 more than now collected, while
the fiat $40 fee for passenger cars
will add about 100000 more than
present collections.
Rates for passenger vehicles
operated for hire, such as taxicabs,
would be a fiat $40, and funeral
coaches, ambulances, excepting
those publicly owned and operated.
and other similar vehicles would
pay SIS annually.
One of the House bills, No. 80,
the present State prop
erty tax and provides fiat excise
tax of S. for all passenger auto
mobiles in the counties, and $40
for those in Baltimore city.
This bill may meet some opposi-
ton.
Opposition Voiced.
Senator Kimble. Republican, Of
Allegany said that he was def
nitely opposed to the principal OF
unequal taxation"
Under this BILL" he said, work.
ing man owning car valued at
say $500 would pay just as much
as a person with means who is able
to own car worth s2,500."
Mr.. Luber noted there was COM
pensating factor-when person
purchases a new car, his excise tax
will remain the same, and not go
up to $18 or $40 as in the present
case under the personal property
tax.
The excise tax, If adopted, would
be collected when motorists pay
their registration fee in the spring
of 1948.
The other House bill, also effec-
tive in 1913. is No. 81.
COuncii UetS neport.
In report to the council, the
Maryland Franchise Operators As
ISOLATION, Inc, declared:
"Intercity buses in Maryland pay
a license fee of 1/18 cent for each
seat mile. They receive
no exemption or credit against other
taxes levied against common car
riers by motor vehicle. The resulting
payment by intercity buses is ex-
cessive.
The bus operators asked that the
rate be reduced to 1885 per seat
mile, and the council finally de-
cided to make 1t 1880 cent. Fees
for intercity buses have not been
changed in Maryland since 1927.