Show A TAX ON competition new and lie heavier avier tax levies on trucks and buses in alabama are based on a legislative opinion that the business 7 07 of contract cadriel carri eis s is a public interest that the welfare of the public and the pre on and maintenance of an adequate and efficient system of tion for the public and the integrity of the states regulation of such system call for foi these levies the levies consist of a milage tax on oil passenger and tre freight i alft dirkers ca briers and an additional 60 50 per cent levy on interstate ter state movement ahat that escapes the annual state motor vehicle licensee fee sponsors sors of the bill the legislators and the gov governor er n 6 r all made if ic clear that their intent was ivas to protect the railroads against agrain it truck and bus competition if the new tax I 1 fails to bring truck and bus rates up to a point where the railroads can call com compete pete with them the legislature will have failed of it its purpose if it succeeds the traveling shipping 1 and consuming public must pay the cost of whatever benefits accrue to railroad owners owner sand and workers experience will show the wisdom of the law too many i i interests int rests atre are at stake but whether acting wisely or otherwise alabama will not be alone in this now new field of state legislation the railroad interests are still powerful enough to get virtually virtual lv anything they want from any lawmaking body but if the ahe railroads cannot compete with the motor truck and bus on a basis of efficiency and service I 1 the railroads are doomed just as the canal and bovere covered d wagon were before them Altho although the public bublic wants the luxury of highways free of trucks and buses it also alo demands the cheapest facilities for transportation of persons and goods |