The Republican

Oil Men to Discuss
Current-Future Tax
Problems of Motorist

Current and future tax problems of the Maryland motorists will be discussed at a meeting of the oil men of Garrett county on June 21st at the William-James Hotel, Oakland, at 3:15 p.m. Ray Teets, chairman of the Garrett County Petroleum Industries Committee, announced today.

The recent proposal by the State Roads Commission to increase the gasoline tax will be fully discussed. Also, the automobile titling tax now paid only by motorists and used for general fund purposes will be considered.

Mr. Teets announced that the sales of gasoline and the consequent collection of gasoline taxes are now exceeding all expectations. Likewise, the huge surplus of motor vehicle revenue accumulated by the State Roads Commission during the war years when very little new highway construction was possible, makes a proposal at this time to increase gasoline taxes somewhat startling.

There will also be discussed a proposal to amend the Maryland Constitution so as to insure that all motor vehicle revenue will be used exclusively for highways. Eighteen states, including our neighboring states of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, have amended their constitutions in this manner, and, thus their motorists have no fear that their motor vehicle revenue will be diverted to purposes wholly unrelated to highways.

Officers for the coming year will be elected at the meeting, which will be attended by garage proprietors, gasoline retailers, automobile dealers, and others interested in highway transportation.

J. P. Lanigan, Executive Secretary of the Maryland Petroleum Industries will be the principal speaker at the meeting.