Evening Star Newspaper, March 1, 1925, Page 66

“Illegible,—(i'lwap, Ugly” Tags Arouse Ire of Auto Owners Storm of Protest Over Flimsy License Plate, Lack of Uniformity and Failure to Serve Purpose May Bring Result. BY WILLIAM ULLMA' The American car owner has taken up arms against the automobile li- cense plate on the grounds that it is fiimey, overpriced and often illegible. For the last several years ho has complained regularly, but this year ho is demanding a practical automo- hile license tag, one that will serve the purpose for which was in- tended. According to reports it trom all sec- tions of the country, the motorist is making certaln very definite demands Ho wants a more legible plate, though an increase in tl e is not de- sired. He wants an attractive plate. Ho wants a durable plate. He even vants one that can be attached to the rar without the customary fussing. Many car owners demand a perpetual cense, one that will not have to be discarded at the end.of the vear. Coupled with these definite de- mands is a nation-wide storm of erit- cism of the system now In force. Connecticut motor clubs have de- nounced the increasing flimsiness of the plates supplied by their State. New York motorists feel that with the “yellow streak™ plates for 1825 a =00d looking car means nothing. Ohio motorists are broadcasting the fact that the State sells its plates for $8 and upward, whereas the actual cost and expense of distribution is somewhers around 50 cents. Clearer Understanding Seem. Out of the chaos it is believed the will emerge with a clearer understanding of the license plate's place In the scheme of things. “Why a licenso plate, anyway?" many are asking. The answers range anywhere from “pure discrimination” to_“identification.” People who never had to license thelr horse and wagon do not see wherein there is any justice in bsing forced to license their more modern form of transpertation The auto- mobile license tag is under such a storm of disapproval that its very ex- istence is threatened. A more tolerant viewpoint holds that the automobile license helps to iden- tity owners, but those who concede this contend that there is no other possible excuse for them. With the more liberal car owners taking this attitude, it is evident that the license plate is due for an important revi- sion, That the situation has developed at @ll, many believe, emphasizes the grave danger of the average car owner's apathy toward the matter of motor vehicle registration. The aver- age owner acts as though the matter of lcensing were in the hands of some great secret power, whereas the whole thing is in his own hands. Before orders are given for the 1926 lates it is believed some of the more progressive States will consider the possibility that saveral large bodies of car owners may refuse to use them on their cars, charging misrepresen- tatfon on the part of the motor ve- hiole departments, which are supposed to supply tags that will identify. Thou- sands of car owners know that cheap plates with bad lettering do not carry out the intent of the laws regarding licensing for identification purposes, and it {e said that the motorist would have judicial support if such a drastic move were taken TU. 8. Urges Standard Plate. Sensing a revolt among car owners, the Federal Government has under- taken to urge upon the motor vehicle departments the need for a standard- 1zed plate. A review of the possibilities has just been made by Ray M. Hud- #on, ohief of the Division of Simplified Practice of the Department of Com- marce, who takes the position that the areat variation in plates is a serious hindrance to the detection of crime cars and to the development of motor safety. This step by the Government is thought to have been hastened by the Zeneral criticism in the District of Columbia arising out of the discovery that it coets only 13.14 cents to make a pair of the tags distributed this vear. The numeral eight cannot be told from a three on many of these platew, yet the city of Washington has never been in more urgent need of a simplified method of enabling wit- neeses to catch the numbers on cars oparated by “hit-and-run” drivers. The license plate manufacturers contend that they have gone the limit in keeping plates modern and usable, considering the fact that they are held down to the cheapest article they can turn out. . Some States farm the license plate work out to the prisons, which is sald to account for much of the lack of progress being made in license plate work. Patents Are Granted. Throughout the country there are many firms and individuals seeking attention far their developments along tho license plato line. Several interesting patents have been grant- ed. But the motor vehiclo depart- ments are not willing to pay for the protection. which the public ob- viously needs. he average conscientious motorist wants a llcense for his car even if he didn’t have to license Dobbin, in- vestigations show. A license, he be- lieves, is an ald to recovering his car in the event that it is stolen by un- experienced thieves. It helps him locate his car quickly when it is parked with many other cars of iden- tical make and model. When he sends some one to the garage to get his car the license plate is again of service. If anything happens while some one else is operating his car, and the facts are not revealed to him by the driver, he is honest enough to d sire a’ license plate that can be read by the victim. Alarmed by State Views. The motorist appears to be alarmed over the States’ failure to recognize the need for stronger plates with simpler and surer methods of attach- ing them to their brackets. In many sections of the country clamps of all varieties are covering parts of the numerals so that the plates can- not be read intelligently at a glance. Owners are finding it necessary to punch holes through the plates in order to fit them on their ca usually chipping the paint and plac ing themselves in a position where they must either purchase a new plate at a fancy figure or slip into the usual rut of carelessness by “forget- ting it.” 3 No State has made any provision for positive lighting of plates at the time when identification {s most essentlal—at night. Lighting laws have to be resorted to in order to prevent rear licenses from being practically useless at night. The front license plate becomes useless with the setting of the sun. To obviate this many practical plans have been suggested. Devices have even been manufactured. But the motor vehicle departments refuse to spend the motorist’s money whers it can do the most good. And why? Chiefly because the motorist is just now awakening to the necessity of durable, legible, distinctive lice plates. (Copyright, 1925.) FINDS MOST ACCTDENTS ON STRAIGHT STRETCHES Maryland Official Says Curves Cause Reduction in Speed and Number of Crashes. BALTIMORE, February 28.—A ma- jority of the automobile accidents on State roads occur on straight stretches instead of at curves, ac- cording to Harry D. Williar, jr., engi- neer of the Maryland State Roads Commission. Mr. Williar expressed the opinfon that long stretches of straight road encourage speeding and tend to in- crease the number of accidents. He pointed out that Maryland has never attempted to stralghten all roads, even at the expense of causing high- ways to pass several miles from towns and villages. Until recently, he said, roads in Maryland were reconstructed on old roadbeds, following winding routes on which they were first established. DOWN THE ROAD—*“It’s Funny How Foolish It Makes You Feel.” WHEN EVERYONE IN THE TROLLEY, BUT YOUR WIFE, NOTICES YOUR FRANTIC EFFORTS TO HAIL HER — ELEMENTS THAT AFFECT |PHYSICIANS PRESCRIBE DRIVING AS REMEDY FOR NERVOUSNESS Autometive Trade Association Finds This One Rea- son Why Cars Are Bought—Many Other Fac- tors Enter Into Purchases, Survey Shows. LUBRICATION IN AUTOS Topic of Addresses Scheduled for Friday Night Before Society of Automotive Engineers. How automobile lubrication is af- fected by the various forelgn ele- mente that creep into the lubricant will_be explained to members of the Washington section of the Soclety of Automotive Engineers Friday night at the Cosmos Club by T. S. Sligh and 8. W. Sparrow of the Bureau of Standards. The primary object of lubrication, so far us internal combustion en- gines is concerned, it is explained, is to prevent or reduce wear by main- taining between two working parts some substance which will prevent them from coming in contact while they are in motion. This depends upon the reluctance of this eubstance to depart from between these work- ing parts. The property upon which this reluctance depends is called vis- cosity. Dilution of the ofl by the entrance of foreign matter, such as gasoline, water or dirt, reduces this viscosity. The Bureau of Standards experts will explain_viscosity reduction by a series of charts and working mod- els of motors. SAVES LOT OF WORRY. Enowing Why Engine Has Rap- ping Sound on Cold Days. Are you troubled by that light rap- ping sound when you start up the engine on cold mornings? Have you about made up your mind that you have a loose bearing If so, here Is =ome news that will save you a lot of worry: If a piston doss not malntain what is known as constant clezrance it Is very likely to fit @ little too loosely when cold. This produces a slight lap that will be annoying in pro- portion to the amount of imagination vou add to it. When the engine warms up the noise should stop. Sales Increase, During the Month of February, 1925, our business increased 9214 per cent over the same month a year ago. MORE VALUE FOR LESS MONEY is the answer to this wonderful increase. Because 93% of every Nash car is built within the Nash plant it #s pos- sible to effect savings that are in turn passed on to the customer. ‘We wish at this time to thank Nash owners who by prais- ing their car to others have been of great assistance in broadcasting the fact of “More Value for Less Money.” 2Y2% Why do you own a car? According to the Washington auto- moblle dealers there are many varieties of reasons for owning cars as thers are makos of cars, thus sug- gesting the possibility of a brand- new demand for automobiles that has never been considered in estimates of future production and consumption of vehicles. An investigation of why people huy cars has just been completed by the les committee of the Washington Automotive Trade Association. With the co-operation of car owners who were willing to state their true rea- son for owning a car, it has been possible to show that, since all cars are not owned for the same reason, any lack of interest among any par- ticular group of buyers cannot have any serious consequences. Oficials Sought Reasons. The investigation was conducted, officlals of the dealers’ organization say, because of the opinion of some motorists that their difficulties in us- ing their cars for daily transportation represent a natural decline in the popularity of the automobile and a favoring, perhaps, of something new in the personal transportation line. It was desired to show car owners that reasons for ownership are va- ried and that they change from time to time. The W. A. T. A. statement reads, in part: “Not o long ago there was the mo- torist who wanted a car solely for the speed thrills he could get out of it. He uzed to burn up the road and do it with comparatively little dan- ger to himself or others, because he could select roads where there was very little chance of meeting another car. Traffic conditions today make this sort of thing virtually impossi- ble, and =o this type of buyer has passed out of the picture. “To take his place there is the man who buys a fine car just for the sake of owning fine things. He is usually the man who has other cars for more practical purposes. The new car is selected for ite reputation, Its beauty and its genuine quality. Parking is not consldered at all in its selection, nor is gas mileage. He appears to violate all rules when he buys, but that ix just becauss he has a differ- ent reason for buying. Have Definite Ideas. “Our investigation disclosed that very few people own cars because it is the thing to do. Most of them want cars for definite reasons, but these may be varied. Transportation, of course, stands first among the rea- sons for ownership, but it, in turn, is subject to many variations. Too many people seem to have the mis- taken impression that the average person wants a car for shopping and for getting about the city, The truth (Continued on Eighth Page.) Diamond Balloons Made in two Tm t, wheels. Either > n ucts for more than Have You Seen the New Diamond Balloon? those for new small diameter type offers a wonderful riding g anything you have ever The name Diamond on a balloon tire is a - Ittel:u"fn?:cigre:udk‘yi pot ance. n thirty years—and in a balloon tire is the greatest can have for your investment. Diamond Tire Sales Company 1621-14th Sereet, N. W. ose for present wheel g md: quality you 1522 14th St. HURLEY MOTOR COMPANY Open Evenings and Sunday North 6462 AUTOMOTIVE TRADE BODY TO HEAR CLEVELAND MAN Address by Herbert Buckman To- morrow Night Leading Feature of Monthly Meeting. Herbert Buckman, general of the Manufacturers and ager man- Cloveland Automobilo Dealers’ Agsocia~ tion, will be the principai speaker at the monthly meeting of the Washing- ton Automotive Trade Association to- morrow night at subject will be the City Club. His “Tho Relation of the Trade Assoclation to Its Members and the Relati n of Association Mr. Buckman is known as a force- ful speaker and sponsible in rapid growth sociation. The entertainment features of inciude several meeting w matches, Frankie Mann 1 under large of Members to a Trade is regarded as measurs_for the Cleveland To- the Do, direction of The mecting will be the held in the ballroom. HOW TO INSURE EASY START. An easier start lowing the machine to little before letting can be had by al- roll back a in the clutch. With the car going back slowly the engine in addition ing its especially easy start. to power. gentle has to overcome momentum inertia when deliver- This acts ltke an clutch, giving an Increasing Demands clared to Have B More and more people are finding that ownership of ah automobile Is essential to their welfare. The auto- mobile came into being because there was a demand for it to meet the com- plexities of advancing civilization Examination of conditfons might have led to the belief that the sit- uation was exactly the reverse of this —that the car was developed and that by various means a demand was created for it, explains E. T. Strong, general sales manager of the Buick Motor Co., in tracing the place of the motor car in the history of trans- portation. Fac however, revealed this thought to be contrary to the | whole history of human progress. | “The automobile could not play the vital part in the world’s lifs that it does today if the demand for it had been artifictally created,” says Mr. Strong “If the demand for it had not existed it would have bheen one more addition to the list of useless inventlons that clutter the patent of- fices of the Nation. Its brief appear- ences would have made hardly a rip- ple in the stream of advancing hu- manity. Inventions Come With Needs. | *“The progress of man has hF'n‘v marked by his inventions. Never has | he created anything until he needed it. The caveman was content to ford | or swim small streams he encountered | in his wanderings. But when the need for food and the fear of his| enemies made it necessary for him to | cross broad rivers, he took a log, hol- | lowed it and invented the dugo canoe. Soon he had to launch out into the deep waters ¢ the ocean and even his sturdy muscies proved insufficient for long vovages over stormy waters, he invented the sall and harnessed the wind “With sailing vessels Columbus discovered a New Woerld and salling vessels brought to it the first con- quering armies and the first adven- turous settlers. But there was need | for a still better link with the Old World from which had to be drawn S0 much of the material necessary to the development of new countries Accordingly the steamboat was in-| vented. , Other Steps Listed. | “On land, history followed much | | the same ‘cou Inland peoples | found that they could not carry all their possessions on the backs of| animals. Théy invented crude wagons, and these, with numerous improve- ments, were man's only form of land transportation for centuries, “While inventfons such as the steamboat and steam engine meant much to the progrees of nations, they did not have such a direct bearing on the individual. He still found himself behind the march of cv He needed better means of communi- cation, and the telegraph was in-| vented for him. Still remained the need for a more personal means of commu ion, and the telephone | came into being. Wireless met another need by flashing its messages across the oceans and adding to the safety of travel on the sea. Better methods of lighting were nesded for huge, modern buildings and for busy, modern thoroughfares, and the clec- trio light met the need. owhere was Dprogress more es- sential than in the field of personal transportation. Horse-drawn vehicles proved {nadequate to the demands of modern life. Railroads could not turn from their appointed courses. Something more flexible and vet fully as dependable and speedy was re- ‘Necessity Held Prima:y Reason For Development of Auto of Mankind, to Meet Needs of Advancing Civilization De- oomed Industry. quired. The automobile came » existence as the answer to that de mand. Auto’s Contributien Great. “The contribution of the automobile to modern progress is incalculabia. It meats f the individual as the needs nothing before has ever done. furnishes speedy, dependable, safe economical transportation to its owner at any time that he wishes and to any point that he desires to go. “The automobile is not bought be cause it is a beautiful plece of crafts manship or because it represents so much value metal and appoint ments, but because it macts the neec of the modern for dependable personal transportation. “Every owner will welcome every improvement that can be made in his car, but at the same time he will de mand that it possess the stability and ability to gerve that are the basis for every successful motor car.” SIX-WHEEL TRUCKS CUT ROAD DAMAGE Carrying Capacity and Efficiency Increased, Declares Con- sulting Engineer. Distribution of truck and tead the welg its load over of four, rying capacity of a motor six reduces the destruction, of the ; t of opera elbert wheels, likelihood creases the ca of r n vehicle and lowers the co tion, in the opin of Favary, consulting engineer Road destruction, Mr. Favary point out, is caused by excessive loads or tires, impacts of the tires on the road traction effects of the wheels and braking effects. As a remedy for the irst ho advocates reducing the load or correcting improper weight dis tribution. Impacts probably cause the moet destruction, tests made by the United States Bureau of Public Roads show. Recent California laws lmit the weight. of & four-wheel truck to 22,000 pounds and that of a six-wheel truck to 34,000 p Distribution of a given load over wheels. Mr. ¥ the load on ear With a type of six-wheel construction, the wheels can go over larger obstructions than possible with a four-wheel construc reduces tion without raising the chassis to more than one-half the distance, pro vided both wheels on the same side are not raiscd at the same time. Whils the load on each rear whee the ordinary four-wheel truck of of 22,000 pounds al load s 8,500 ds, the load on cach rear whee! of the six-wheel with a total loading of 24,00 1s less thar 7,000 pounds uck pounds Before You Buy—See STUDEBAKER for your pocketbook’s sake e Sedan R s e i -d:nucdnnum is poesible only with prices ities { ety ERERTE ERTSEEE, o = i H. B. LEARY, JR. AND BROS. Distributors MAXWELL—CHRYSLER Chrysler Showroom North 4296 General Offices and Service Department 1612-22 You St. N.W. Maxwell Showroom 132123 14th Street N.W. Qe New Good