Enforcing 'couch tax' helps retailers and the state's treasury
Barry Rascovar's Opinion Commentary column "Crackdown on the sofa scofflaws" (May 30), which was highly critical of state Comptroller William Donald Schaefer's initiative to collect the use tax Maryland residents owe on major purchases made out of state, avoided some of the facts.
Maryland retailers urged Mr. Schaefer to take action to curtail retail sales moving outside the state to avoid Maryland sales tax.
Last year, nearly $100 million of home furnishings entered Maryland from outside state lines. The uncollected sales tax on these purchases cost Maryland approximately $5 million dollars -- not to mention the economic impact of moving that much sales volume away from Maryland business.
All 45 states that collect a sales tax have a corresponding use tax. The reason is simple -- to keep business from going out of state simply to avoid sales tax. Most states vigorously enforce use tax collection on large items such as like furniture. The concept is not new.
Furniture stores, particularly in Delaware and North Carolina, have aggressively used promises of "no sales tax for Maryland customers" to their advantage for years. These stores would very much like to see continued indifference by Maryland tax enforcement officers to their advantage over Maryland businesses.
Comptroller Schaefer has confronted a difficult issue, instead of executing a politically convenient sidestep.
His approach to the problem is to examine commercial carrier manifests randomly at Maryland weigh stations to identify big-ticket deliveries to Maryland customers where no tax has been collected. The trucking industry is highly regulated, and such inspections are a routine practice of both state and federal officials.
I commend Mr. Schaefer for doing the right thing for Maryland, and I commend those consumers who support Maryland businesses.
Wayne R. Lauman, Baltimore
The writer is president of the Maryland Home Furnishings Association Inc.
State's 'use tax' simply levels the playing field
In response to the furor that has erupted over Comptroller William Donald Schaefer's decision to enforce use tax laws, I'd like to point out that this use tax has been law for more than 50 years. It is the equivalent of the retail sales tax Maryland merchants are required to collect.
Enforcement of this law will give merchants in Maryland a level playing field with out-of-state merchants. Since out-of-state merchants have been avoiding the use tax, Maryland's merchants have been at an automatic 5 percent price disadvantage.
Collecting this tax not only brings more revenue to the state treasury, it will create jobs, which will create spending, which will increase the tax base, which will spread the tax burden among more taxpayers. This will enhance the quality of life for all Marylanders.
I commend Mr. Schaefer for having the courage to enforce an existing law that his longtime predecessor refused to enforce.
Ray Kenney, Severna Park
Bridge accident coverage brought home human issues
The Sun's article on last week's Beltway bridge collapse "In tragedy, convergence of five lives" (June 10) explored the personal side of an otherwise scientific investigation. As a veteran of the Maryland State Police, I was deeply moved and truly hope that others in law enforcement understand how devastating these collisions are and how important our work is.
As professionals, we try to remove ourselves from the human aspect of these tragedies. We prepare our reports and submit them to a state's attorney who decides whether to prosecute. We inform family members about the case, but we try not to get emotionally involved.
The Sun's article reminded me that law enforcement officers make a difference. Our investigations help establish not only how accidents happen, but why, and thus help prevent future tragedies.
To the families of those involved in last Tuesday's collision, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to you for your loss. To my fellow emergency service providers, thank you for the outstanding efforts to prevent further loss of life or injuries.
To the Maryland Highway Administration and its contractors, thank you for your safe and expedient work.
To The Sun, thank you putting our efforts in perspective and reminding us just how important our work really is.
Lt. Michael J. Fischer, Pikesville
Bridge didn't 'collapse' -- it was knocked down
Most of the the media claimed the overhead walkway in the Beltway bridge tragedy collapsed. Every structural design engineer in the country will tell you the walkway did not collapse -- no earthquake, no 15-foot-high flood or hundreds of marathoners on the bridge caused a "collapse."
The bridge fell because it was struck by a truck's high cargo. The term "collapse" is properly reserved for bad design, flawed material or improper fabrication.
Walter Habicht, Baltimore
Warning barriers for trucks could head off accidents
If the cause of the Beltway bridge accident was a truck's load that was too high, why doesn't the state of Maryland have an overhead barrier at the exits to the marine terminal that would let truckers know that their load is too high?
Isn't it better to knock a warning barrier off its post than to knock a bridge over the Beltway off its foundation?
John B. Dixon, Cockeysville
Drug prohibition causes violence, corruption
The Sun's Perspective article "Mexicans flee to escape violence" (June 6) discussed the way drug trafficking is fueling the violence that creates fugitives who seek a safe harbor in the United States.
What many may not realize is that the plight of these unfortunate foreigners is caused by U.S. drug policy.
Our policy of drug prohibition and our insistence that other countries adopt drug prohibition have made drugs expensive. This makes it very appealing for poverty-stricken peasants to grow highly profitable drug crops. Violence, corruption and crime accompany the outlawed drugs wherever they go.
Meanwhile, governments dole out money for more policemen, prosecutors and prisons to enforce drug prohibition. And everyone becomes a drug suspect.
Obviously, drug prohibition is not working. History shouts out an alternative approach. Regulating alcohol as a legal industry has been far more effective than alcohol prohibition, which led to an era of violence and corruption.
Similarly, a carefully regulated drug market would provide a shining example for the drug-producing countries.
Kevin Fansler, Havre de Grace
In appreciation of Victor Frenkil Sr.
The Sun's article "Philanthropist Frenkil, 90, dies" (June 5) was a touching tribute to Victor Frenkil Sr., a respected contractor and friend to many in Baltimore.
Let me add to Mr. Frenkil's many accomplishments his contributions to scouting. He served on the executive board of the Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America for more than 30 years. His loyalty and dedication to Scouting earned him the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor bestowed by a local council of the Boy Scouts of America.
His leadership enabled scouting to secure numerous foundation grants and corporate gifts. Urban Scouting has grown significantly because of his efforts.
The Baltimore Area Council will sadly miss our friend, Victor Frenkil Sr.
C. Robert Myers, Baltimore
The writer is the director of finance and marketing for the Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
We all read with interest and fond remembrance of the late Victor Frenkil.
I was the first chairman of the Maryland Marathon in the early 1970s. Mr. Frenkil wanted to be involved.
He and his lovely wife, Margaret, gave race organizers a generous donation each year and held a party for organizers and the top finishers at their penthouse on top of the Marylander apartments.
Mr. Frenkil had only one request: to fire the starting pistol to send the runners east on 33rd Street over Perring Parkway down Saytr Hill to Peerce's Plantation.
What a guy.
Joe Holland, Baltimore
Pub Date: 6/15/99