Evening Star Newspaper, May 26, 1929, Page 51

tor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. UT of the six traffic fatali- ties recorded so far this In the Mo O This toll of little ones far exceeds any previous month in recent years. Only four met their deaths in this manner in Janu- ary, February, March and April of this year combined. Officials of the Traffic Bureau and the director of traffic’s office are deflorlng this record. While the drivers of machines in each case were exonerated, the follow- ing admonition is given today by M. O. Eldridge, assistant director | of traffic. Warning Given. “Motorists must be more careful when driving in the presence of children. They must learn that| they are irresponsible at many times, and often their pending actions must be foreseen by the | motorists as the children do not know themsclves what they are going to do next. . “Parents and teachers must be | more _thorough in the training of | the children. They cannot be too often instructed in what to do and what not to do. If the chil- dren are not old enough to be in- structed, they should not be let out without the ccmpany of some one older who is responsible.” Mr. Eldridge’s warning is valu- able. The subject of teaching the children of Washington to protect themselves is admirable for dis- cussion at future meetings of any of the Parent-Tcacher As- sociesicns. A Sorrowful Record. A record of the fatalities of children incurred in this month’s traffic reveals the following: “Child, 3 years old, run over by automobile, while playing in the | street with a kiddie car. Motorist not to blame. “Child, 8 years old, hitching a ride on the bumper of a machine. Fell off and was run over by trailer. Motorist not to blame. “Child 3 years old, running across street and into side of a_ bus. Was run over by rear wheel. Motorist not to blame. “Child 8 years old, running across street intersection. Ran into side of automobile. Motorist unaware and not to blame. “Child, 12 years old, hanging on behind ice wagon to get ice. Slipped and fell under rear wheel and was crushed. Driver not to blame.” Instruction to the pedestrians at street intersections controlled by traffic lights or crossing police- men, has as yet not accomplished much, according to Inspector E. W. Brown, under whose command these instructions were given. Mr. Brown states that it would appear that pedestrians consider it their inalienable right to cross the street as they please. He states that he believes in pedes- trian control, but that nothing can be done.about it until the Commissioners and courts grant the Police Department authority to make arrests. Concerning Pedestrians. ‘The Washington Chapter of the American Business Men'’s Associa- tion has urged the police to give tags or tickets to offending pedes- trians and cause them to go to the precincts and post collateral as_in-the case of the motorists. Mr. Brown was in receipt of a letter the other day from an writer further stated that if the Lord had known that automobiles were going to be invented he would have given pedestrians eyes also in the backs of their heads so that they could see cars that did not stop for stop signs. A reply was sent the writer by Mr. Brown as follows: “During the past year 40,202 ar- | rests were made by the Police De- partment of drivers operating | motor vehicles for violations of | traffic laws and regulations.” = It is to be wondered if the citi- zen ever rode in an automobile, and ever wished for eyes in the back of his head to sec the pedes- trians that darted in the street from between parked cars! Adjust Brakes and Lights. Many complaints have been sent to the Traffic Bureau regard- ing drivers of machines with bad brakes and defective headlights. It is a noticeable fact that many cars need attention in these two respects. Mr. Brown wishes the public to knaw that the service station in back of the Traffic Bu- reau is still open for business. Here any one daily except holi- days, between the hours of 9 o’clock in the morning and mid- | night, can have his brakes and headlights adjusted free of charge. No repair work will be done, but the motorist will be told what is needed. A map of the city is located in the office of the director of traffic that is of interest to all those in- terested in traffic problems. Since the first of the year pins have been stuck into the map at the places in the city where any traffic accidents have occurred. It is sienificant to note that the density of the pinned sections is where there are no traffic lights. | Bicycle Regulations. Bicyclists are to be warned by the Police DePartment that they are to obey all driving regulations required by motorists. They are not to go against the signal lights or make their way the wrong way around circles or up one-way streets. They are being warned also not to give the excuse every time that their light has just been stolen when apprehended bv a policeman for not having a light on their bicycle after dark. A reg- ulation requiring bells only on their wheels and not horns, does not seem to be generally known. When speaking of the various ways to make left turns, traffic of - ficlals are wont to state that on such and such a turn the machine would be going through a line of pedestrians, and would not at other times. It would seem by this argument that the city had pedestrian control and that 1v‘mll‘ltters walked only on the green ght. ©Oh, how different it is! ‘Well, maybe there won't be any more pedestrians soon. Every- body will be “a-riding.” Automobile production in the United States last month again broke all records. Reports to the Department of Commerce show the number pro- duced was 620,656, consisting of 537,225 passenger cars, 8,977 trucks and 1454 taxicabs. This total compared with 584,907 passenger cars, trucks and taxicabs in March, the previous high record, THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MAY 26, 1929—PART 4. l CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS BUT OFFICER- DIDNT COME TO ® WELL NOW - OFFICER, LET CAN THE CH|N-MUSIC} AND FOLLOW ME TO_THE STATION | A FULL STOP AT ARTERIAL HIGHWAY SIGN. NO! 1 CANT STAND ANY MORE SAD STORIES I'VE GOT A LUMP IN MV - THRQAT NOw ! (€ DOUBLE-PARKED ON F ST. 2 MINUTES —BY J. T. BERRYMAN TUNE OFF. THE STATIC KID -AND SAVE IT FOR THE JUDEE - HE LOVES IT! DOING 32 IN A 30 MILE Pl HOUR ZONE OH SIR! A GREAT.BIG HANDSOME MAN LIKE YOU, WOULDN'T BE MEAN TO A TIMID LITTLE GIRLIE LIKE ME - WOULD You ? WELL I'LL LET YOU OFF,- THIS TIME -BUT YOURE A NAUGHTY < BABY - MUSTN'T Do AT AGAIN !~ OWNER LIABLE FOR NEGLIGENCE Motorist Is Responsible for Guests, According to Rules of Law. BY HARVEY L. COBB, (General Counsel, American Motorists’ Assoctation.) A motorist or owner of a motor ve- hicle who invites another to ride with him is liable for injuries to the in- vited guest when such injuries are the result of negligence, either of the owner or the operator, or the joint negligence of the operator and a third person, and to- which injury the neg- ligence of the guest has not con- tributed. ‘Whether the transportation service is given free or is paid for is im- material. This is the almost universal rule of law and is reflected in many cases which have been filed 4n the local and 410,104 in April, 1928. Pro- duction for the first four months of 1929 set a new record. amusing, although not helpful citizen. The writer complained about pedestrian interference and asked that the police first arrest the traffic violating motorist. The The number produced was 2,072,- 941, compared with 1,378,942 for the same 1pv:l-md last year. Reports were received from 151 manufac- turers in the Tnited States. American Auto Sales Industry’s The success with which the Ameri- can automobile industry has increased its sales abroad speaks well not only of the excellence of American motor cars, but of the industry’s aggressive- mness and ability to market its product in the face of the most adverse condi- t 3 This fact, in the opinion of G. M. ‘Williams, president in the automobile industry, is one of the outstanding fea- tures of present-day American export business. Mr. Willlams has just re- turned from a trip to Europe, during which he traveled through 14 foreign countries. “Despite tariff restrictions,” Mr. Wil- liams said, “sales of American automo- biles abroad have increased year by year, and now there are approximately as many American-made cars sold in Europe as there are cars of European manufacture. Automobiles, in fact, rank first among United States exports of manufactured products. Tariff Advances Price. “When the average person reads of record automobile shipments to Europe he rarely takes into consideration that these cars must be sold at far higher prices than in the United States. The cost of shipment is, of course, responsi- ble for a part of this increase, but a greater factor is the duty levied by practically all foreign countries, in line with similarly heavy import tariffs levied by the United States. “Retail prices of American automo- biles in Europe range from one and one- half to two and one-half times the re- tail prices in the United States. Yet European motorists express a keen preference for American cars, and buy as many as they buy cars of their own manufacture, which certainly is a com- pliment to American automotive prod- ucts; likewise a credit to the entire in- | dustry in entering a field where, strange | to say, it has little control over the final selling price. “With a due amount of considera- tion, however, it must be said that Eu- Topean governments, in fixing high tariffs on American cars, are pursuing the same course as does the United States in establishing taxes on auto- mobiles and other goods imported to this country. And it might be said that American tariff on quite a diversi- fied assortment of foreign products has held back to a greater or lesser extent, as the case may be, sales of American automobiles abroad. “I have in mind my recent visit to Maryland Detour Road between Henderson's Corner and Frederick under construction, widening. It is advised that through trafic to Frederick use Rockville- Beallsville-Dickerson road, route No. 28 and No. 15; or Henderson's Corner- Ridgeville to Frederick, route No. 29 and No. 40. Prince Georges County—Chapel road from Central avenue to the Washing- ton, Beltimore & Annapolis Electric Railroad. Harford County—Level to Darlington. Norris Corner to Van Bibber. Cecil County—Rising Sun to Bay View. Kent County—Lynch to Butlertown. Aggressiveness, Leader Says Abroad Attest Geneva, where the International Au-|in€ tomobile Show was being held, with many American cars represented by outstanding displays. During the show prominent signs had been erected ad- vising Swiss motorists against pur- chasing American automobiles because of the American tax on Swiss cheese. In Italy there is natural strong senti- ment in favor of “homemade” mer- chandise. Nevertheless, the Italian people are broadening the scope of their activities and are bu more and more cars, not only of their own mllllte, but of American manufacture as well. “Several countries abroad—Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria, for exam- ple—permii. only a specified number of cars of each American manufacturer to be sold each year, taking this method of restricting” their own market for sales of American cars. Belgium and Holland probably are the two countries imposing the smallest tax on cars man- ufactured in the United States. Obstacles Overcome. “In spite of the various obstacles to export sales of American automobiles, however, more than half a million cars manufactured complete in the United States were exported in 1928. Motor vehicles imported into the United States last _year aggregated but 556. “The automobile industry is making every effort to increase even further its export total, which reached some $500,000,000 last year. Co-operation from the Government in gauging its tariff rates on certain products from foreign countries where the market for United States automobiles is unusu- ally fertile would be of unusually val- uable assistance in this respect.” ANCIENT AUTOMOBILES TEST SKILL OF DRIVERS Commissioner Uses Old Cars to Mark Limits of Park- ing Area. Special Dispatch to The Star. | BALTIMORE, May 25.—In the inter- ests of safety, not of historical research, the commissioner of motor vehicles | is searching diligently for a “Santa Maria.” The “Nina” and the “Pinta” ancient automobiles, relics of a for- gotten era in automobile architecture and are parked at the curb in front of the office of the commissioner to save the building from the vagaries of those being given a parking test for the right to receive operators' licenses. They are placed about a car’s leng'h ‘apart in front of the building, and already have proved their worth. Recently one inexperienced driver at- tempting to back around came to grief | against the prow of the “Nina.” The driver failed in what appeared to be an | effort to climb up the steps, but the | “Nina” was driven from her moorings, over the curb and almost into the pit urrounding the building. He didn’t get the license. are courts, where either a husband or wife sues the other for negligence in an automobile accident. Such suits arise prim: company has example of band who takes his wife for a ride and happens negligent and that as a result of his ,l:jgu‘re?w the plaintiff was seriously jus One of the leading cases which es- tablished a principle of a motorist be- responsible for his guest in case of an accident was a New York case, four men went for a deer hunt. ‘The_driver (the defendant) invited with him. En pened, _resulting in injury plaintiff. The facts showed that the plaintiff had not contributed in any way toward the accident. At the time of the crash the plaintiff was seated in the rear seat. The court’s opinion was as follows: “If one who is riding in an automo- bile as a guest is injured through the negligence of the driver in operating and if the occupant is not guilty of contributory negligence, a recovery can be had.” The courts have further held that an owner, under such circumstances, is equaily liable, whether he is operat- ing the car himself or whether he is operating it through a servant or agent. The owner’s liability to the guest is the same. TOKIO POLICE CHIEF STUDIES TRAFFIC HERE Visits Larger American Cities With View to Arriving at Workable Plan for Japan. ‘With the object of studying at first hand how America is handling motor traffic in her larger cities, N. Fugioka, head of the traffic division of the metropolitan police board, Tokio, Japan, is in New York. ‘The National Automobile Chamber of Commerce is assisting him in his study. About a year ago Walton Schmidt, field representative of the chamber, visited Tokio and lectured before the traffic police of that city, using motion pic- tures to illustrate American methods of tre . _control and accident prevention. Mr. Fugioka presided at the meeting, and his present visit, which will include most of the larger American cities, will enable him to take back to Japan & comprehensive plan for meeting traffic congestion, which is already a serious factor there. ENGINEERS TO DINE. Automotive Society to Meet Tues- day at City Club. ‘The Washington section of the So- clety of Automotive Engineers will hold a dinner Tuesday evening at 6:30 o'clock at the City Club. It will be the last meeting of the season. At 8 o'clock a business session will be held, at which time officers will be elected for the ensuing year. Addresses on tires and brakes will be given by J. W. Shields and F. W. Parks, re- spectively. Ttaly Turns to U. S. Cars. ‘The growing imports of small Ameri- can motor cars in Italy is diverting The wholesale value of motor vehicles Moterists will find this will avoid de- and parts produced by the automotive buyers from the cheaper Italian makes. A.” A. Osborne, acting commercial at- tache in Rome, repo to the Deparl- Jay in traveling hy using these detours. | industry in 1928 totaled $4,740,270,904. ment of Commerce, One to Two Cent a Mile Savings Results From Driving on Hard Surfaced Roads The motorist who drives a light six over first-class pavements rather than over low-type roads does so at a saving of 2.37 cents a mile. Travel over inter- mediate road types costs approximately 1.13 cents more a mile than over good pavement. ‘These are conclusions of Prof. T. R. Agg and other research workers at Iowa State College, just made public. All items of expenses were considered and properly balanced with the final figures based on year ‘round travel. Reports from commercial car oper- ators all over the United States were Let us furnish you a prompt estimate on your car RATED 614 H Street NW. .. Phone District 2775 TOBO U 90 co.INc 21st St. & Va. Ave. NW. WEST 2222 Quick and Expert Service Repainting :nml Touch-up Work Seat Covers, Sport Tops Upholstering & Repairing DISTRICT AUTO BODY CO. Rear 1120 18th St. N.W. North 3112 Refinish or Touch Up Your Car. Any Job on Any Car Efficient and Prompt Work Always Body, Top, Slip Covers, Fonder Work, Upholstery H. B. LEARY, Jr. & Bros. 1612 You St. NW. North 4296 compiled in making these studies. It is believed that the results of the observa- tions indicate quite accurately the greater cost of low type roads, for the reports cover cars operated under all | sorts of conditions, through urban and rural traffic, under diverse climatic con- ditions and by drivers of varying de- grees of skill and efficiency. Considering all items of car operation expense, such as gasoline, oil, deprecia- tion and so on, the per mile cost of a light six-cylinder car is 8.62 cents over low-type roads, 7.38 cents over inter- T smail cost, you can make your t car the pride of your neighborhood; take it to one of the Anthorized Refinishers here listed and have it recolored in Duco. The Authorized Duco Refinisher will show you the latest, most fashionable combinations. He regularly reccives information on the newest colar schemes adopted by the leading automobile manu- facturers. Perhaps the finish needs only 2 mediate types and 6.25 cents over first- class pavement. Car operation costs, of course, vary with the size of the car. For example, the cost of operating a medium four on low-type roads is 7.5 cents per mile, on intermediate types, 6.42 cents a mui,‘ and on high-type pavement, 5.44 cents. Asphalt Paving Parley Keynote. The Eighth Annual Asphalt Paving Conference, which will be held October 28 to November 1, next, at West Baden, Ind., under the auspices of The As- phalt Association, New York, will be of transcendent importance among road meetings this year, according to officials of The Asphalt Association, on account of the fact that the improvement of farm-to-market roads will be the key- note of the meeting. little re-touching to festore its original perfection. In any case, only durable du Pont products are applied at the Authorized Station. Every step of the work is pre- scribed by the famous de Pont Process, a method worked out with the great manufacturers. The Duco Refinisher will return your auto- mobile as though from the factory —smarter than cver. Talk to the Authorized Duco Re- finisher near you today. [500-MILE CLASSIC IS MAI BY CLAYTON GRAFF. The eyes of the sporting world have turned from the famous Churchill Downs track at Louisville, where the running of the Kentucky Derby has added another chapter to history, to a brick bowl where tiny motored racing cars are substituted for the equine aristocrats. This outstanding sports event of the week will be held on Deco- ration day at Indianapolis. The 500- mile_sweepstakes race is sponsored by the Indianapolis Speedway Association and sanctioned by the contest board of the American Automobile Association. The post of honor will be filled by Harvey S. Firestone, who has been offi- cially designated as referee. Should any disputes arise during or after the tled, the matter is laid before the referee. He is the final court of ap- peal at the track, and his decision is final, except it be in conflict with exist- ing rules of the contest board. The best known of previous referees for the race include Henry Ford, Arthur Bris- bane and Charles M. Schwab. Regulations Approved. The coming race will probably be the under the existing specifications. A. A. A. racing officials have approved a set of regulations designed to elimi- nate the specialized type of racing car and calculated to furnish more tangi- ble data for the designing and perfect- ing of every-day stock cars. These suggested regulations will receive full | discussion, and probably take on defi- nite form this week, when all parties interested will have the opportunity to be heard. The outstanding features of these proposed rules are the following: 1. Specifications shall embody pria- ciples adapted to “normal” cars. 2. A maximum of 366 cubic inches piston displacement will be allowed. 3. Wheelbase must be sufficient that cars can be easily handled. 4. A minimum weight of 7!2 pounds per cubic inch piston displacement, but in no case less than 1,750 pounds, less fuel and water. 5. Tread between 56 and 60 inches. 6. Body to hold the driver and a mechanic, side by side, or only slightly staggered. 7. No more than two valves per cylinder in motors of the poppet-valve type. Only Two Carburetors. 8. Superchargers prohibited. 9. No more than two carburetors. 10. Four-wheel service brakes and an independent secondary braking system. contest_that cannot otherwise be set-| i last ohe on the Indianapolis Speedway | Miller The | Siller 11. Transmission shall contain a re- verse as well as forward speeds, and incorporate a declutching device. Naturally enough, there are heavy: rumblings being heard from the dif- ferent camps regarding these pi changes for 1930. Practically all of the present type of cars will have to be | discarded, as they are unsuited for any other purpose—approximately a half | million dollars’ worth suddenly headed | for the junk pile or of little value. The | factories and special machinery for| building them will necessitate radical' THIS SIGN IS YOUR PROTECTION Only at these shops can you be sure of having your refinish work Call Carl, Inc. 614 H St. NW. Main 2775 Central Auto Works & Garage 449 Eye St. N\W. Franklin 6805 District Auto Body Co. done by the du Pont Frocess. nal Auto Top Co. 14 14th St. N.W. Dec. 2348 Natio 21 1701 Rear 1120 18th St. N.W. North 3112 Haley Auto Body Co., Inc. 21st St. & Va. Ave. NW. West 2222 W. T. Lawton & 2708 M St. N.W. Pot. 4130 H. B. Leary, Jr. & Bros. Sons 14 1612 You St. NW. North 4296 Dick Murphy, Inc. 728 Kalorama Rd. Adams 9700 N.W Packard Washington Motor Car Co. Kalorama Rd. N.W. Adams 6130 Rowe Auto Body Co. 57 N St. N.W. Decatur 4438 Service Auto Body Co., Inc. 600 Newton PL. N.W. Col. 667 R. L. Taylor Motor Co., Inc. th & T Sts. N.W. North 9600 The Washington-Cadillac Co. 1222 22nd St. N.W. Decatur 3900 Alexandria, Va. H. W. Stone .27 South Payne £ Alex. 103 Authorized puco Refinishers SPORTING EVENT OF THIS WEEK Race Probably Will Be Last on Indi- anapolis Speedway Under Exist- ing Specifications. List of Entries and Drivers car. DRIVER. Miller Boyle Vaive Speciai . Boyle Valve Special Boyle Valve Special Boyle Valve Special rnold, Billy _ Gardner. Chester eech, Ray Packard Cable Sp'l kard Cable S * Comotti, Glan reis. Pete ame, Fred Snowberger. Russell Seymour, John I, Bergere, CIifT Moore, Lou Shafer, Phil Duesenbers Sp Spindler-Mill White Special Duesenberg ... Rusco-Durac Spe Duesenberg 5 son. Jimmy Albertson, William Meyer. Zeke Turgeon, Henry il Karnatz, Albert Decker. Rickcliffe Cunard, C. H. ardner, William Brisco, Frank 3 Not determined. Miller-Armacost Sp'l.Not determined. changes. The manufacturers of super- charges and other special racing devices realize they have a battle on for their right to exist. Some have taken a stand against the two-seaters, as it will jeopardize another life in case of serious accident. On the other hand, the officials mak- ing the new rules are just as firm in declaring that they are made in the interest of the public who pay to see the racing, and in the interest of the manufacturers who want the best for their products. Both sides probably realize they will have to make some concessions before the week is over, |that a satisfactory arrangement can be reached. This year's motors, having a piston displacement of 91!, cubic inches, are actually about 40 per cent smaller than the smallest American-built pleasure car motor on the market, whereas with 366 inches allowable there are only three cars manufactured that would not be eligible. De Palma’s Comment. In discussing the changes, Ralph de Palma was heard to say: “I'm glad the two-seaters are coming back next year. I have seven more nephews that wish to learn to drive racing cars, and d | with the two-seaters I can give them & little help and show how it is done.” Most of the cars have been tuned to do better than 100 miles per hour in their eagerness to qualify. Last year Leon Duray in one of the trials turned the trick in 1 minute 12.57 seconds, or slightly better than 124 miles per hour. \UR authorized Duco refin- ishing department can re- place a varnish finish on an automobile at a price lower than that charged for mediocre paint work. If your automobile is now finished in Duco and has become dull, damaged or worn in places we can touch up the spots and at the same time re- store the original finish on the entire automobile in a short time and at a remarkably low price. Get our quotations. Dick Murphy, Inc. Authorized Buick Dealer 1728 Kalorama Road, N.W. 0 0.INc (=f Refinishing, Masters in the Art of Uph y. tal oty Banidine & Blacksmithing St. & Va. Ave. N.W. WEST 2222 NATIONAL AUTO TOP COMPANY 2114 14th St. NW. Dec. 2348 Beautiful Duco Refinish- ing and Retouching Body and Fender Work Upholstery Tops SERVICE AUTO BODY CO., Inc. Highest quality refinishing, and all phases of motor car coach work—including Uphol- stering, Tops, Slip Covers, Metal and Wood Work. 600 Newton PL. N.W. (Just East of Georgia Ave.)