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Show FACTORS AGAINST GAS TAX BOOST. Legislators of the state : of New Yovk, before acting on the proposal to double the gasoline tax from 2 cents to 4 cents a gallon, should carefully care-fully weigh some striking evidence famished by the boosting of gas taxes to excessive rates in. other states. Experience has shown that a ga'i-cline ga'i-cline tax above 3 cents a gallon is an irresistible temptation to tax dodgers, Also, beyond a certain point, any tax Kets too high to be collectible. Ir states were the rate is 4, 5, 6 and 7 cents, evasion has become a scandle-comparable scandle-comparable to bootlegging of liquor. Investigation shows that throughout thet country the gasoline tax racket robs states of somehing like $100,-000,000 $100,-000,000 annually. It is estimated that in Pennsylvania where a 4-cent tax was in effect ir 1929 and for the first 6 months oi 1930, gasoline tax evasion cost the state $1S,000,000 in one year. It cost Illinois about the same and Governoi Emmerson- has named a commissior to find, means of preventing it. Like bodies have been created in Indiana Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa Minnesota and Wisconson. Others are bting organized in half a dozen othei states. The result of this condition is the demoralization of two industries whos; continual progress is bound up in the welfare of- the motorist. Of course, it is the motorist who is being gypei by the. bootlegger in the final analysis, analy-sis, while the fuel and motor industries indus-tries suffer with him because of the peddling .of inferior fuels, damage done to engines, and vicious price-rutting price-rutting which the bootlegger indulges in. . : A boost of the tax to 4 cents asks motorists to pay $60,000,000 that is ?30,0OO,C00 more for their gasoline than in 1931. Add to that registration registra-tion fees amounting to . $40,000X00 annually, and New York motorsts would be forced to pay over $100,000,-000 $100,000,-000 annually for the right to drive. This is excessive taxation and invites in-vites grief upon two essential industries. |