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Description: Tax Fight Page 10
Date: April 2 1912Newspaper published in: Washington, D. C.
Page/Column: 10
Washington Post April 2,1912 Tax Fight Page 10
WHEEL TAX FIGHT ON
Le Roy Mark Asks Congressmen to Defeat the Rider.
GETS PROMISE OF SUPPORT
Money to Defend Cases in Police Court, and to Carry the Battle to the U. S. Supreme Court Is Coming In, but More Is Needed to Pay Lawyers' Fees and Costs - Mr. Eno’s Opinion.
The campaign for the annulling of the wheel-tax law, which has been started by Le Roy MARK and several Washington motorists, is daily gaining greater importance. In answer to the 6,000 letters which were sent out last week to local automobile owners, asking for a contribution to help the cause along, liberal donations have been received. Many letters have reached headquarters, in the Colorado building, containing checks ranging in size from $1 to $50, and the best wishes for the success of the movement.
Five of Washington's leading attorneys are now identified with the movement, and success is assured providing the amount subscribed be sufficient. The District of Columbia, which will be the defendant in the proposed test case, has its own counsel, while the autoists are compelled to retain their own and pay most of the costs; hence the necessity of a sufficient working fund.
Every Owner Called On.
"In many instances of a similar character," said Mr. MARK to a Post representative yesterday, "the majority will stand back and leave the fight to the few, but in this case it is up to every man in the city of Washington who owns a motor car to hand in something, even if a small amount. This fight is for him as well as for the other man. It is to save him from unjust taxation. We have received $25 from one owner who states that he has paid his wheel tax in full, but wishes to help the motorists of this city from being unjustly taxed in the future.”
Several of the owners who have had warrants served on them and have contributed to the fund have notified Mr. MARK, and their cases are being taken care of by the attorneys who are to handle the test case.
A senator and several representatives were called upon by Mr. MARK yesterday. They said that they were unaware that the wheel tax had been tacked on to the District appropriation bill, but if it came up again they would look out for it and try to have it defeated.
Mr. Eno's Opinion.
William Phelps ENO, the well-known authority on traffic regulations and municipal laws regarding the taxing of vehicles, made the following statement last night regarding the wheel tax in Washington.
"I do not object to any reasonable tax necessary to support the government nor to maintain the roads nor for any other praiseworthy purpose, but I do object to the principle of several taxes on the same thing. First of all, automobiles pay a personal tax, then they pay a tax for their number, and now a wheel tax is imposed. All of this adds to the expense of collection and takes away from the net sum to be devoted to the purpose for which these taxes are laid. I am decidedly in favor of having one tax covering the whole matter."