' THE E GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER "
t'AGE' vlT;F;VFrt
Highway,
and
Aulo
Pope
Traffic
and
Tourist
News
1 tv-.. v-
Saturday, Way 2, 1925.
PdUTOMOmLET
my R FV FN FS
I 111 IILIL.I1UL.U
FROM MOTORS'
GROW LARGER
Court Restrains Govern
ment from Fire Engine
Tax Car Registrations
of Various States Are
Given.
An Important nVcinlon to iho nn
1omohil Industry fixing eertuin
limits to the Imposition of the fed
eral motor tus, wns lnnnletl ilowo
by (be 1 ' nit rin-iiit ronrt of Ap-Iif-iiiH
1:ihI week, ft r-W:ih-1 lunriu
iii'inr'iN from tlie :i per n ot tax
collected on the cost price nf com
merclul motor vehicles ami fin1
depart mt-tit vchiebH equipped with
motor power. The suit was Instig
ated ly the American li France
I 'ire Knuioc company to test the
reversal of the Treasury I (epnrt
ment in 1U20 that automotive en
piue.H were exempt from the tnva
tion. Tho recent opinion, concurred
In unanimously, upheld the conten
tion of the company that motor-
ilrlven fin engines, used for a j?ov
t crnmeutal purpose nnd not for
transportation of passenger! or
nrattttrtv wiTft In ii cluMt liv thom-
i tii.lvfv ii ml nm In 1 1m fin US nf VP.
hides laxnhlc under the congres
sional legislation.
This decision brings tip prom
inently the system of federal mo
tor taxation levied for war revenue
purposes In 111 1 7. A largo num
ber of articles, supposedly In t ho
luxury Hum were ho taxed at that
time, hut they have since been re
moved from, practically ull with the
exception of automobiles, cameras,
lenses, films, nutniimlie vending
machines, automatic weighing ma
chines, sculptures, pnint bigs, cig
ars and cigarettes.
The nntornohile federal taxes
now In force are 5 per cent on the
manufacturer's. sales price of pafl
senjfer cars, 3 per .cent, on onm
merelal vehicles, 2i per cent on the
price list of tires nnd accessories
and an occupational tax of $10 on
motor vehicles carrying passen
gers for hlro seating from two to
seven persons and $20 for motor
buses sealing: more than seven per
sons, i 'ommercial I ruck ch asses
selling fop less than Jiooo and
truck hod leu wiling under 200 ure
ex'-mpt and so are motor buses
ns.d exclusively to carry children
to and from school.
These taxes on the cost prlc of
motor vehicles, which are invarl
nbly paid by the buyers, netted the
government for the fiscal year
ended June 30 la. hi $1 rtn.uS 1.C4S.
The. registration fees collect .1 by
the various states, fees for tf'lvlng
licenses and gasoline taxes iggre-
DODGE BROS.
MOTORCARS
Prices f. o. b. La Grande
TOURING - $1005
ROADSTER $1025
COUPE -- $1190
SEDAN -- ....$1313
COACH -....$1315'
Smith's Garage
Damage Done By Heady Traffic
Conditions on tbo Mute 1itghvnv slmilnr to Mint jiictuiiNl nhov luivo caneil ihe fttfiinilnn In op
fHKltlnn to the proposed referendum for the repeal nf tin- tax on heavy (ran -It vehicles.
County judges nnd commission
ers of Oregon have organized to
combat the proposed referendum
of the aulo bus nnd truck lines
against the bill passed by the leg
islature placing a tux upon them,
the proceeds of which would par
tially pay for the destruction of
highways rnused by their use as
trm rights-of-way for private prof
its. J'cople lire asked not to sign
the referendum petitions which
would delay operation of the law
for two years- and therefore permit
two years more of pounding high
ways to pieces without cost to the
pounders.
The people of Oregon have an In
vestment of over $fio. ooo.noo at
slake. Ninety per cent of the dam
age to these highways ts caused by
four per cent of the traffic that
of heavy busses and trucks operat
ing as common carriers for indi
vidual gain. If people sign the
referendum petitions, the private
car owners ttnd general taxpayers
will continue to pay the high cost
of maintaining nnd repnlrtr.g these
highways.
Is there any reason why the bus
and truck companies should bo re
lieved of paying for the. damage
they do to our highways? It these
any reason why the private nuto
owner and taxpayer should be com
pelled to dig up from their own
'pockets money to repair the darn
jage done by a traffic trust? Js
there uny reason why anyone
should have the Htfht to utilize and
destroy without recompense, a pub
lic Investment for private profit?
Itefuse to slim the referendum
petition when presented nnd there
by help put an end to an outrage,
ous graft. Halem, Oregon, Capital
Journnl,
GARAGE
GOSSIP
Salesman 111
H. I). MocDonald, Overland sales
man for Cicttings and Hanks,
Known lo his associates as "Mac.'
lias been off the job nearly till
week with R ease of the flu.
11
eicome
We now have a complete display of Star
Cars in our new showroom on Adams Ave
nue in the Roesch Building.
' Drop in at your convenience and see the
new models you'll enjoy a few minutes
looking at these wonderful values.
La Grande Delivered
Prices
4-Door Sedan
Coach -
Coupe
Sport Touring
Special Touring
Standard Touring
$1095
985
9t5
845
745
681
Four-wheel brakes on all models, balloon
tires on all except Standard Touring which
has cords. Ask us to give you a ride and
let you see the Star in action.
J. P. Morelock
Adams Avenue- Roesch Building
"Tomorrow's Car Today"
Pnint l'limps
Thn nitHolIno filling pufiips nt
th Cti'ltinmi ami Hunks rnrnKo nro
now rosplondiint in u Hhtny now
rout nf puint. Work wiih )omt on
tllflll the first of tho wiM'k. TlX'N'
wro puint'Ml rod, whlta untl tiluo.
Aecpssory Slan llcri .
-'Burnfy" .HiiriU'H, ri'prcsi'ntlnff
1h! WIkkIhh Incorporiili'il uocm's
sory Iioiiho was in l,u Grnli tills
wock. Mr. Hurnrs works out of
i orllnnd tinl Is tit Hit! pn-si'itt time
on un cjiati-rn trip.
In Xtw Qiiaj-tn-s-T-
W. V. .Morelock. Slur nml Olils
mohile dealer, lias moved to new
quarters in the Koettch Iniildlnir.
two doors from the Ohsorver. Mr.
Morelock lind expected to move
fieverul days hko but experhnred
difficulty jtctlitiK the place ready
for occupancy. The new showroom
fronts on Adams Avenue anil will
display the virtues of the Slur and
Olds lines to the licsl advantage.
Montana ....
Nehraska ..
Nevada
New llanip.
New Jersey
New Mex. .,
New York ..
N. Car
N. f lak
Ohio
tlklahoma ..
Oregon
I'ennsylv'a
Ithode Is. ..
H. far.
H. liak
Tennessee ..
Texas
riah
Vermont ....
Virginia ....
Washington
West Vtt. '..
Wisconsin ..
Wyoming ..
T9.sr.
3(18. 7U
1S.1 is
711.932
6i4.;i7
41.IISII
1.4 I 2.N7H
312. 2:!2
1 17.3415
1.241.1100
3i', '.1. 9 03
192.(115
1.22S.5S7
9S.4S2
1111.753
14 2.3911
2O4.I1.S0
HO 1.7 12
US. 311!
111.17(1
2lil.94f
29S.443
190,734,
S25.221
43.1139
1.395.1115
3.597.2'U
344.5110
2.1 10,031
9.27S.42S
1111.395
24.OK9.241
9.143. 5119
1.SSS.T.1S
11.I1S5.329
0,7 I 2.1 SO
7,4114.1148
31.19(1.917
1.1123,(104
3,338.120
3.273,592
4,410.105
14.2(lil.7iiH
1.170.330
1.554.24 2
7,104,744
7:49il,S3l
4.10(1.531
(i.7Sf,.4S5
(14S.9S3
Total 17.59I.9S1 :105, 2110,742
It will he noticed that New York
lends In tho number of motor ve
hicles registered in 1924, while
I"ennsylvaniii leads in Ihe amount
of tax collected. The flvo gtntcs
with more lhan n million renlstra
Hons are: New York, 1.412.S79,
C-allfornla. 1,319,394; Ohio. I..241,
(loo; fennsylvanln, 1.22S.5S7! llli-
nnls, 1.119,230.
In stale fees, drivers' licenses nnd
gasoline taxes l-ennsylvaniii paid
till. 19(1. 917. New York J24.089.241,
California $19.(104.333, Texas $14,
2(1(1.7011 and Michigan $12,404,540.
The important feature of tills
survey Is the wide difference in
taxation between the states, and III
the same time It shows Ihe rising
curve of taxes on the motor ve
hicle. The average vehicle tax of
Ihe stale levy In 1924 was $17.35,
In 1923 II was $12.50, while in 1919
II wns $8.55. The state levy lins
Increased 100 per cent in five
years.
Industry Vays Sr,r,V000,00(l
Tho figures above do not tell Ihe
whole story of motor taxation, for
there must be added $9ti.ooo,ooo
exacted in several states as person
al property taxes, bringing (he to
tal sum collected in motor vehicle
taxes during 1924 to $555,028,548.
John A. ltltehle, former presi
dent of the l'lftli Avenue Coach
company and now president of the
This Label Protects You
Will Make Trip
K. It. I.edbetter will make a busi
ness trip to Portland the first of
next week. Mr. J-edbeltei Ih more
convinced than ever thut the Hud
son car Is the greatest buy on the
market since the $t)o price drop
which became effective this weelc
Mmlo Trip
W. C I'erklns. head of the Perk
Ins Motor company, drove to Jo
seph on a business trip early In
the week. ,
Sohl Car
Jennings nnd Shumate report the
aale of a new Iluiek coach to Krank
I.eavltt. The car Is finished In
Hrewster green and Is a very hand
some Job.
Oil Man Here
H. W. McCalhim. assistant dis
trict sales manager of the standard
Oil company was In Iji Grande
Thursduy on company business. Mr.
Mct'nllum works out of the Wal
la Wulla office.
Install Machine
Jennings and Shumnte added a
new connecting rod and piston lin
ing machine to their shop equip
ment thi.i week-
gated for the same period $;tor,
2Jtl,742. Tho proportion obtained
by the several states, with their re
spective motor registration, has
been compiled as follows by the
Research Division of the Ameri
can Autlmohile, association:
V
It' the
logical
thing to do
to buy your
Used Ford Car
from Your Nearest
Authorized Ford Dealer
ThU Label
is your
Guarantee
of Value
Stale t'nrs Motor Fees
Alabama .... 1 f 7 . 2 2 $ 3,firt3.4ft2 '
Arizona 67.SL'S I,n7,6fi0:
Arkansas .. 141,'JKS f,ltii,775
Talirornla .. 1.31 9.314 l'J,fH4,335
Colorado .... 2i:i.ii47 2,984. 12
Conn 217,227 1,(123.640
Delaware .. 3 5. 1 ;t 9nS.741
Dlst. of Co;. 7r.9.6fif
Florida 135. 1L' .077.filO
Georgia 2i7,fSS 7, 059,737
Idaho 9,27 1,852,564
Illinois 1.1 1 9.2::; 1 tT64fi.2nfi
Indiana ; r 1.7 ft ft s.aji.aaH
Iowa lil'i,12S K.9T9.170 '
Kansas 4la;t 4,J22,9S't '.
Kentmky Ji'J.A 4.H94.I1;!
fxiutsiana .. 1 "S.uun 4. 1 :.';,,
Maine , 27. 1 7S 2.4r.r.ril I !
Mun laod .. llft,39N aCl .37.1 !
Maws. . 67n.f.lS -S . 1 J J . 1 i
richiriit .... M7.r.4r u.4"4.r.4; ;
Minnesota 603.417 h , ; r . g & 3
MtHHlKsippI l 4.f0 .1.73.ft2f.
Mlshourl .... r4',5u( i.btb.'jH
Omnibus Corporation, calls atten
tlon to this rising trend In mcior
taxation in (lie current number 01'
Hub Transportation, VI o allows
that the motor Industry, through
(he various ta-s collected from it.
paid more than all the American
railroad lines in 1!24, including
both steam and electric. Steam rail
roads paid approximately n iaes
M r,(i, nun. nno u ml elect ric rouds
ji;t;,,MMi,iiini, () total of $4iti,roo.ooi),
or J 1 US, Mm, (nm less than the
amount obtained from automobiles.
The theory, which Is steadily
tiiiliiinK" ground In Ihe Vnlted
Stales," he says, "holds that the
mount of special taxes levied
utainst the individual motor user
shall always be limited to improve
ment of highways of general motor
use and shall be devoted first to
maintenance conts.
''Owing to the wide variance of
different stales In valuations, tax
burdens, population and average
wealth, number of motor vehicles
used, geographical and physical
'oruthlons. and the state of high
b'Velopment, (here can be no fixed
formula as to the proportion of the
total cost of highways In general
use which should be paid from
motor vehicle funds. Tho guid
ing principle should he; No scheme
of taxation should bo adopted
which .will place undue burdens
upon any branch of the Industry or
upon the Individual motorist."
It Is unite natural that Mr. ltlt
ehle should complain of the oner
ous burdens which many states are
placing upon the motor bus. The
rising popularity of motor bus
transportation has resulted in a
hetergencous mass of taxation
laws. Comparatively little scien
tific sludy has been given to this
important factor of molor taxation
but there are, fortunately, signs of
improvement mid more reasonable
regulations will doubtless prevail
In the nenr future. ,
Mr. ltltehle Is correct In saying
that thus far there has heen no
proper recognition In tho taxation
laws- of the country of the now dis
tinct status and function of the
motor bus. It Is frequently classi
fied In taxation legislation as a
truck. '
"If. excessive taxation is levied
upon ft public utility," suyii Mr.
ltltehle, "th public Itself, inthe
long run, pays the hill, either by
an Increase in the price of service
or In a reduction In quality or
quantity 0f finrvtce, or Its total ces
sation. The interests of the public
utilities nnd of tho public; nre one.
Ooniidgo, president admits he
onco told a Joke about u hen, but
none of us are perfect.
itADi.vrou VOItK
i r.MM.lt WORK
llODY WOHK
W. K. Corn ill
1 ftO I Jefferson Ave.
WE SPECIALIZE
ON
Generator
Starting .
Ignition
AU Electrical , Repairs,,
To Your Car
Guaranteed
Service
f Full Line of v
Service Parta
Battery Electric
Service
1311 Wash. M-753
fie Economic
Value means what you et for
, the price you pay!
With the Chevrolet you get chas
sis design typical of the highest
priced cars; an improved dry disc
clutch providing astonishing ease
of gear shifting; a rear axle con
stmction of the finest type with
one-piece pressed steel housing;
durable Duco finish in beautiful
colors; long semi-elliptic springs
providing wonderful roadability
and comfort in riding.
This combination of quality, com
fort, utility and economy provided
the greatest Automobile .VALUE
in the low-price field. . 1
Blue Mountain
Garage
T riTf " .Quality at Low Cost " ' " TV
Opposite Tostofficc. M. A. HARRISON Mgr.
MAM P4OK
3 A roc wi.u '.
a --- ! in f It
CTL. WtJajW'-fr- ill K II
Down In Price
Up In Sales
Hud.son-EsRex Artii'm Reduces Prieos
v KFFECTIVE AT ONCE
Delivered in La Grande
iiud.son' coach now $1475
WAS ?l.r)8,j
HUDSON 5-PASSENGER SEDAN NOW S19.-.0
WAS .$20.r)0
HUDSON 7-PASSENCEPv SEDAN NOW $2050
WAS ?2150
ESSEX COACH NOW $1000
WAS ?1070
The World's Greatest Uuy
NEXT: THE HUDSON-ESSEX CARAVAN
Ledbetter'8 Garage
A SERVICE STATION
"PLUS'!
The disciiminatinff car owner today wants nnd has a right
to demand something more than the ordinary service station
where he buys gas and oil. ,
If you have a flat tire or need a new tire; if you want your
oil drained or your car greased completely; if you want your
car washed and cleaned thoroughly inside and out complete
car service is available for you at this station with the excep
tion of engine repairs and repainting.
Hring your car and leave it, or call us on the phone nnd wc
will get it and return it.
TEXACO GAS AND OIL MEAN LONG "
MILEAGE AND LONG LIFE.
Playle Oil Company