Evening Star Newspaper, January 14, 1923, Page 61

OPINIONS OF ASKED ON AUTOISTS LEGISLATION Many Pending and Prospective State | and National Measures Taken Up by Motorists’ Association. Pending and prospective state and mational legislation of intcrest to motorists is being taken up by the National Motorists’ Association at its headquarters in this eity. The fol- lowing are a few of the outstanding measures. The association wishes the views of the motorists on these questions and asks that responges be made as promptly as possible. Arguments pro and con are given below solely for the guldance of the motorist. Insurance of Compensation Bonds. Favorable—The srgument is made that an indemnity or insurance bond Would serve as a protection to the individual motor car operator and would not constitute an injustice, due to the fact that practically all re- sponsible owners toduy carry insyr- ance up to a certain sum. The fact that many persons who drive motor cars Which have not been fully paid for and who are not liable in & property way represent the irresponsible class among drivers is suggested in sup- port of the contention that the mo- toring public would be benefited rather than damaged by a law of this kind. Held Loaded. Unfavorable.—It is contended legislation of this character ls “loaded”; that it s unnecessary, and discriminating as to motorists; that there is every equitable reason for ad- vancing the same argument in favor of a bond for the driver of a team of spirited horses or any horse-drawn ve- hicle; that the only interest benefited by legisiation of this kind weuld be the legisinsurance or surety companies; that thre would be u psychological tendency on the part of irresponsible operaters to become more reckless and flagrant viola- tors of the law, with the knowledge that they “have protection anyway.” Tt is generally believed that this legisla- tion is the outgrowth of activity by in- surance corporations who have already “waxed fat" at the expense of owners and operators of automobiles, and of activity on the part of professional *'sa! promoter: who can eee in & measure of this kind simply another feature of special interest to them. In some cases legislation of this charac- ter might be attributable to some one who has a perennial grouch against motor car owners. It is argued further that the overwhelming majority of motorists prefer to exercise their own discretion as to the character of in- demnity insurance carrled. Gaselinc Taxatlon. Favorable—It is contended that the gasoline tax, in theory, is the most equitable tax, based on the eon- tention that the largest user is taxed his proportionate share, very similar to the old method of charging tolls. Nineteen states have already adopted the gasoline tax. It is contended that it is most fair. providing it is adopted in lieu of all other state ex- cise taxes, and that a nominal fee of not more than one dollar is charged as a registration fee, It Is contended that the purpose of registration is primarily one of identification, and that administrative cost, the purche® cost and the distribution cost of reg- istration tags can be covered by the onc-dollar fee. The most esrnest ad- vocates of this law, however, contend that the 1 or 2 cent should be supplemented tional tax on commercial trucks. The Marviand law, stance, provides an additional fee for £olid-tire vehicles, based on an rated carrying capacity of one to five tons: the additional fea ranging from $30 per vehicle to for the five-ton capacity ‘{guck. It is further con- tended tha¥if the gasoline tax were adopted in all or a majority of the states as the only exclee tax applied to motorists for repair and mainte- mance of roads, it would be & means of opening up the possibility of federal registration and a federal certificate of title. Opposing Arguments. Unfavorable.—The opposition e pressed the view that If the gasoline tax were adopted, it is usually with the specific proviso that the funds de- rived therefrom pay the entire cost of state highway maintenance. It further provided that metor vehiel in large numbers do net use state highways, and that a considerable number, particularly in the larger cities, do not leave the incorporation line, and that a gasoline tax applied for the purpose of state highways alone (or state and county roads) s inequitable for those vehieles not ui ing state or county roads. Such veh) cles are principally light delivery v hicles, haulage vehicles, express ve hicles. etc. It is alse contended that # gasolino tax, If the statute specif- jeally provides “in lieu of all othep 1axes,” would eliminate any possibil- ity of a franchise tax or any special tax being placed on commercial vehl- «les for hire, such as trucks operating on a fixed schedule between centers of population, and that in some stat would legislate against any ordinance being passed controlling common car- riers, including taxicab: 1t is further contended | tion that the gasoline tax, migl . stitute another additional tax on the motoring public, and that state legis- lative bodies who are always seekin ways and means of raising additiona. revenue would systematically and ay- tomatically increase the gaseline tax from time to time. Further, that ad- ministering the gasoline tax is costly and expends money which should ge into good roads instead of & political machine, Operator's License Law. Favorable—Fourteen states now have an owner's license law; thirt: five gtates have a ehauffeur's licen; law. Both ewner's and chayfleur laws are being agitated in all btaté; Sentiment, even where favorable, does not seem to be very crystallized. It is asserted |t would result In. ontrel of Irrespe: sible drivers and a reduction. {n" the number of traffic accidents. That the right kind of operator's license law would centralize under the political administration the permits to drive an_automobile, and_would result in a greater number of cancellations of permits_for violations of the trafie Jawk. That the basis of obtaining operator’s license should be one of examination, which wouyld eliminate all applicants who are found physi- cally or mentally defgetive, or whe do not show proper abllity to drive. That the man with only one leg and the man with only one arm, that the man with defective ayes or ears, or the mentally defective woyld be re. fused permit to drive undef the'opets ator's license law, and that thers are no ways or means of curbing this kind of operation withoyt such & law, No Accident Safeguard, Unfavorable. — Opposition * claims that statistics show that the so-called operator's license law does not reduce accidents, that it simply means but a plece of printed cardhoard, which should be carried around for identification pure oses; that if this cardboard certificate J5 canceled another one can be ovtamed under another name. That the so-called examination as to_ability to drive does Radiators and Fenders installed in that mon{nz SCHOOL IN THE EAST fimr American SM3-1633 You Bt not mean anything in that the most carefyl driver of all is the beginner, who usually keeps out ef the way of traffic until he has covered his first 500 miles, and knows the feel of the wheel and the feel of the accelerator, and it is only until then, when he has the “ability to drive” that he becomes a possible flag- rant violaton That the only means of curbing recklessness 1o to put the foar, as well as the respect, of the law nto the heart of the operater. ministrative machinery for the opera- tor's ligense lgw is byt an added ex- pense to the moterist and is ysually cumbersome and In many instances used for pelitical purpeses. That existing statytes in many states already provide that the right to drive shall be taken away for such statutory offenses as in- | toxication, running-away-from-accident, third offense for speeding, and for other causes: that this state statute can be applied In the traffic coyrt of any muni- cipality throughout the state where the violation occurred instead of clearing through ene Individual or one com- missien at state headquarters. Stop, Leok and Listen! Bills. Favorable.—That this is primarily la protection for the motorist as well |85 the pedestrian; that it is in effect in New Hampshire and in Virginia. That the bill provides that each motor car shall step at a certain distance from a rallroad or trolley grade crossing and shall use caution (looks, hearing, etc.) before passing over the rade crossing. That most motorists are inclined to take grade crossings at the same rate of speed as on the open highway; that & bill making this 3 misdemeanor would result in preventing a considerable number of gccidents gt such crossings. Declared Farce. Unfavorable.~That legislation of this character would be a farce, and net werkable. That legislation re- quiring motorists to stop at every grade crossing is an attempt to throw the llability on the motorist for all accidents at such crossings, irrespec- tive of conditions. That it needs no argument to state that motorists would net be inclined to stop at grade crossings where the view s un- obscul That the attitude of most motorists, regardless of such legisla~ tion, would be to {gnore its provisions. That this would simply be another EBONIT Ebenite throws s costls .-utlmy and nolselessly, Japanese Guided By Name When He Buys U. S. Car ‘When Ryozo Asano, s wealthy and ential Tokio, rned to his mative land after being graduated from Harvard Univepsity, he concluded to up the. sha and .rnre ne automoblle. He hought & FRes seven-passenger sedan. And this Is the reason, as he told Walter Myers, & prominent recently vinited him at q Yie Rought the Huul:'g- eause it was the only car whose remember called “The Man From Home,” and somewhere in that play there was a I Haynes ear being L3 that he did n actly why remembered the mame of Haynes but he did re- member Hokomo because It woun s0 much lke a Jup- anese mame. Therefore, he put in his order for the hest car that the Haymes company made. flelq for the “Kangarco” J. P. Way- side Courts. Argument Is presented that in many cases the grade cross- ings are rajsed above the alignment of the highway: that to again start the car in motion at the foot of the grade would result, in many instances, {n stalling the engine and stopping the aytomobile on the tracks. That this measure has heretofore been in- dorsed in many states and has de- feated jts own ends through its absurdity; that an enforcement of & measure of this kind would tend te congest traffic, particularly on main thoroughfares. That this problem is principally one of education and not of legislation, and that you cannot educate by legislation. That if such amendment is passed, the most likely attitude of motorists would be to urge enactment of legislation requir- ing guard rails or watchmen at all grade crossings on main highways. This would mean a needless expense in most cases to the rail lines, even considering the fact that many more grade crossings on main thorough- fares should be eliminated. —_— Keeping Him Happy. From Life. The Telephone Operator—This old | party is very fussy. Her Accomplice—Can't help it—the line he wants is busy. “Give him a wrong number.” Stop That “Gear Grumbling” When you hear the transmission gears in your car grumbling and rumbling, watch out; that is friction—and friction is the deadly enemy of & car. Friction just cannot resch yoyr gears when you use For Transmissions and Differentials around all gears and they move in-mesh flling of a tight transmission case will last 04 ] 368800, Gt the best of frletion—use Ebonite. Soldin five and twenty- B Povnd tins at garages. gusoline swations and sccessory eaters. BAYERSON OIL WORKS. Manufacturers, Erie, Pa. Peansylvania Petroleum Products, MAKERS OF AUTOCRAT MOTOR OILS AUTOLIGHT LAWS 'NEED BETTERMENT inconveniences to Tourists Cause of Inquiry Looking to Recommendations. of the Bay state over ,000 on replacement of tall lights whieh ‘e presumed to shew up the regis. tration plates with greater light dur. ing darkness. Need of Regulation. A searchlight on & fast traveling vehiele, going twenty-five miles an |hour or more on & public highway, would not enable one to read the space of time that it takes a travel. ing car to flash by. If you cannot The United States bureay of public|read the numbers on & fast moving roads Is authority for the statement that recently a motorist, in passing through four states, was compelled to buy four different sets of head- light lenses for his car. This was necespary so that he comply with the laws of four individual states. The N. M. A. is making an investigation of this entire problem for the pur- Ppoge of recommending a solution, for adopticn by the respective states, that will be uniform in all of its operat- Ing feetures. In a statement on this subject. See- retary Caley of the N. M. A. says that ‘what {s fish in one state should not be fowl in another state.” Many of the state statytes through- ———————eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee—— . the special lights In, under or aroun a reglistration plate will not show up m 1 unle; e numi stinetive gnd 'iulhlo ¢l We all know that there {s need for fo*uluton of headlights and spot- ights and that they should be so focused that they will mot present any unnecessary glare when passing other vehicles. owavar, this ls not the last solution of anti.glare, as street and highway grades change the focus or alignment of the 1 {.nna there Is not a state that does not have highway grades of one degree or another. The engineers of the country will be asked to go into & mere Inlq:ll dy of this problem, so thai light nuisance con' be regulat oolproof measur America’s preference for the Cadillac is shared by the greatautomobile crit- ics of Europe, who de- clarethe Cadillacto bethe world’_s finest motor car. CADILLAC The Washington Cadillac Company Rudolph Jone, l'reFulle-l 1138-1140 Connecticut Ave. ranklin 3900-3901-3902 T. W. Barrett, Sales and Service, 34th and M Streets has set— Summer. Summer. which will be far beyond the maximu, Dealers’ stocks all over the count demands for delivery— There is no way in which dealer reserves can be bult up, as deliveries have been made to cus tomers as fast as Cars could be manufactured sines fast April. The only way you can protect your desire to obtain prompt delivery of a Ford even at this time {s to place your order immediatgly. * See any Authorized Washington Ford Dealer A Small Deposit and Easy Payments if Desired INTERESTING FACTS 105,799 Ford Cars and Trucks Retailed in December Approximately the same number scheduled fmf delivery this month What Does This Mean? This volume of deliveries to actual owners is entirely unprecedented for this time of the year-- It has taxed the manufacturing ability of the Ford plants working at fufll capacity— "It indicates a volume of business during the rapidly approaching months of “heavy demand” m production schedule which the Ford Motor Company And that means a Ford shortage even more acute than the one which existed last Spring and ry are low—there are no reserves to draw upon to meet the This emphasizes more strongly than anything we could possibly say the necessity of your making prompt arrangements with a Ford " Dealer for the listing of your order, particularly if you are contem- plating the parchase of a Ford Car or Truck for use this Spring or We believe you are entitled to know these facts as they actually exist. Detroit, Michigan numbers correctly In' such & short |Da: vehicle during the day time, then i ] IN BUSINESS RECOVERY 5] e Moter Car t Necessity in Transportstion, Declares Pre; dent of Buick Motor Co. “Much of the timidity and procras- tination that delayed business recov- ery have given way to courage and lnl}uuv both in industry and finance. This ures continuous forward strides,” according to H. H. Bassett, president of the Buick Motor Com- ny. “Improved crops, stable prices, good roads, legislative tendencies, agricul- and most other funda- e problems have taken on a mueh improved aspect. The marked vevival and liberad scope of building Ahalmers Six Coach operations is a happy symptom. “The sentiment for more Improved highways, which seems to be in evi- dence everywhere, ir a wholesome factor, not only &s it concerns the automobile Industry, but all business. “No jonger is it popular to hedge or hesitate when the e nilality of the automobile 1s questioned. Sound thinkers of all cTasses are now con- vinced that the motor car is 4 domi- nant necessity in our transportation system. Figures prove it. But it is obvious without them. " Confidence Ju E | “In surveying the market for auto- | mobiles In 1923 we find numerous elements to justify a confident feeling. “As in the case of the railroads, au- tomoblle transportation is crippled. Widespread replacement is necessary. Many have ariven thelr cars beyond reasonable or expected mileag ““The low prices for good cars now chase. Bliyers know that | teriale are’ co figure that this ished products. tion—the farmer. He Went Thyou; From Richmosd Times-Dispateh The prison visitor sighed. “How sad! colleges. out th' kitchen doors; 337 in th’ three of ‘em.” Complete in Every Wa The completeness of the a; C halmers Six marked fashion. Every detail of comfort and convenience has n given careful attention. The wide doors ; exit easy. It seats five ith an abundance of room. Both m w! ake entrance and fold forward. and quarter windows adjustable. Wide between and bottom, rattle-proof and water-tight. Vi large trumk, with water-preof cover; natural wood m:l bars. Yale locks for doors. Heater. Windshield visos wiper, rear vision mirror. Disc steel wheels and cord tires. Price $1585 F. O. B. Detroit; tevenue tax to be added H. B. LEARY, JR. 1321-23 14th Street Main 4105 CThe CHALMERS SIX Dopce BROTHERS MOTOR CAR Winter never fails to bring this car renewed praise. It is because the starting system and carburetor seem to be almost immune from cold weather troubles. The response is prompt, even on the coldest mornings. The cord tires, with their safety tread, are also particularly desirable in wintes. They not only act as a safeguard against skidding, but greatly reduce the possi- bility of having to change tires under disagreeable weather conditions, Close fitting curtains, which open with the doors, enable the owner to drive in comfort the whole year round, The price is $960 delivered SEMMES MOTOR COMPANY 1132-1134 Connecticut Ave. ppointments of the causes 1t to stand out in front seats prevailing| is hastening many a pur. raw m antly going up ust eventually cause an upward revision of prices for fin- They are convinced that right now is the time to buy. “The agricultural situation is bright- ening in ull sections, and, I appre- hend, will continue to brighten. prices for-crops will greatly assist the long-ailing backbene of the na- Fair How sad that you are in here, you who went through three What course did you take “Meé?" said the conviet. “T went in over the second story window silis an' : but only got