Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1929, Page 75

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. ATEST statistics from the Census Bureau disclose that the National Capital again leads all other large cities in proportion in traffic fatality low records. This means that Wash- ington again has wrestled first place away from Boston. The Capital and the Hub have been making a see-saw game of it all year. Washington’s figure per 100,000 is 134. This is the lowest for many months. In the number of deaths Washington at the present time is reporting about eight less than this time last year. From this enviable record it would ap- pear that no drastic change is needed in the management of traffic affairs of this city. Nation Behind D. C. Unfortunately, such is not the state of affairs throughout the Nation. Traffic tolls are mounting month by month. A large factor in the case is the grade-crossing peril. Commenting upon this the . street traffic committee of the Na- tional Automobile Chamber of Commerce reports that a cure for this evil would reduce traffic deaths by 10 per cent in a very short time. This opinion is probably true, and therefore excerpts from the committee’s report, which follows, is of interest: Effective reduction of these crossings is a practical possibility by selecting first those which in- volve heavy traffic, the report of the committee states. Railway and motor transporta- tion leaders are equally interested in this problem, says the report, and will work on it jointly under the auspices of the National Con- ference on Street and Highway Safety. The last accident report of the California Railroad Commission shows that a great number of dis- asters occur at obstructed and un- protected crossings. These facts bear out the earlier findings de- veloped two years ago by the Bu- reau of Public Roads from Inter- state Commerce Commission fig- ures. Dismiss Blame. The first step in our approach to reduction of grade crossings is to forget the subject of blame, the report suggests. The railroads can prove a large number of acci- dents where motor cars have run into trains, with the trains not even in motion. On the other hand the motorist can point to the great number of unprotected crossings and cross- ings obscured from view a short distance in either direction. While such facts are indeed pertinent in the study of the sub- ject, progress can be made only by considering them, not in the spirit of censure of either party, but simply as facts to be dealt|istrations may have passed the 50,000,000 mark, it is highly prob- A program recommended for|able that no State or municipality discussion seeking the elimination | will attempt to place any arbitrary of grade-crossing accidents sug- | mileage limit on speed. “Since 1910 the average auto- Do away first with those | mobile speed allowance for the with in the situation. gests the following points: 1. grade crossings which have the heaviest traffic. 2. Place warning signs not less than 500 feet back from the rail- road tracks. 3. Take down all signs from obsolete trackage. 4. Use traffic-light signals in- stead of signs if there are fewer than five trains per day. 5. Consider the possibility of scrapping all railroad signs in fa- vor of signals for use only when train is approaching. The last two points merit con- sideration first, because, though they are new doctrines they seem the least expensive and most practical of application. Too Many Signs. One reason why the motoring public pays too little attention to Tailroad warning signs is that such signs are used with far too reat frequency. & The m%wnst knows that only on rare occasions is there any danger at a railroad track. The result is that he gets so in the habit of not fearing danger that he fails to be on the alert when the need arises. There are thousands of railroad signs throughout the country at crossings where there is not more than a train or two per day. Rather than hold up or slow down all motor traffic crossing this un- used road it would be better to have a signal light which would go on when there was a train ap- proaching, but with no sign at all when the road was clear. Possibly the worst abuse of rail- way warnings are those put at fac- tory sidings where there is little activity. The freight loading on such sidings is usually active only during special hours, and the movement of trains crossing and adjacent highways could and should be protected by a man with a flag rather than by a per- manent sign. Another abuse of the warning sign, especially in New England, is the use of it to protect trolley tracks which cross from one side of the road to the other. In these cases the trolley at all times has a clear view of the highway and should be able to traverse its course without the aid of extra signs asking the public to slow down before a rail crossing. 1f we remove from the highway svery railway crossing sign and use light signals when, and only when, there is a train approaching you will then find that the motorist will be actively aware of danger ahead and will be to a large degree cured of the temptation to take a chance. The fact is that under present conditions with 250,000 signs erected at crossings where in most cases there is little traffic chance-taking does actually favor the motorist. Certainly 90 per cent of the time he can get by without difficulty. Of course, he is foolish to take the chance, but with such # high percentage in favor of win- ning he is almost certain to con- tinue in that course. Issue posi- tive warnings and issue them only when danger exists. Adequate Warning Needed. Such a program, however advan- tageous, will not be adopted by all States and all railroads at one swoop. The factor of inertia en- ters into any new program and we .-lnust face the fact that signs at | relatively inactive crossings will be in effect for some time to come. Such signs, however, should be placed at least 500 feet before one comes to the tracks in order to al- low for the increased speed of the automobile as compared with the horse and buggy. The location of the majority of signs was deter- mined in horse - drawn - vehicle days. . The encouraging element in the effort to abolish grade-crossing hazards is that a thoroughgoing program can cut down the traffic| toll by approximately 10 per cent. The grade-crossing tolls are now approximately 10 per cent of the total. They will never be entirely done away with, but their danger can be substantially abated. The report of the California Railroad Commission, which is| signed by J. G. Hunter, transpor- | tation engineer, gives some very enlightening figures suggesting how traffic tolls can be reduced. The figures indicate that the railroads, as well as the motorists, have a considerable accident prob- lem aside from that at grade- crossings. . Apparently the accident problem of the motor bus is being success- fully handled, as it has a small number of motor fatalities scored against it. Another important table in this report is that showing the number of accidents at obstructed and un- obstructed points. The figures in- dicate that even where the view is clear the motorist does not take precautions. On the other hand, there can be nothing but harm. in concealed crossings. The types of protection at the crossing is another matter which warrants consideration. We see that by far the greatest number of accidents occur at crossings where the protection is a crossing- sign only. Such a sign is, in fact, not classified as protection in the records of the Interstate Com- merce Commission. It is impor- tant to know, however, that much educational effort would be needed even under 100 per cent protec- tion, since there are a considerable number of accidents under the wigwag signal, flagman and other forms of protection. Regarding Speed. Speed limits are attacked daily. The idea that fast driving is not the cause of accidents is fast be- ing adopted. Along this line the American Research Foundation has just issued a bulletin that states there will be no such thing as laws limiting the speed of auto- mobiles in the United States with- in less than 30 years. The bulletin further states: “Thirty years ago, in the pre- automobile age, there was no speed limit imposed on vehicular traffic,” says the bulletin, “and 30 years hence, when motor-car reg- THE SUNDAY winien il WYz - @y, STAR, WASHINGTON, iyl . fiided D. DECEMBER 15, DOWN THE ROAD—Actions You Instantly. Regret. Prask 0 Beck. Frode Murk. Reg U $ Ve DR 1929—PART FOUR. —BY FRANK BECK LISTS 4,335,000 Alvan Macauley Puts 1928 Value of Cars and Trucks at $3,163,000,000. The following address concerning business prospects in the automotive in- dustry was made recently by Alvan Macauley, president of the National Au- tomobile Chamber of Commerce: “The automobile and motor vehicle industry employs directly 3,800,000 workers and indirectly gives employ- ment to 535,000 others. The prosperity of the industry is therefore of vital importance to a total of 4,335,000 workers. “In 1928 the value of cars and trucks INAUTD WDLSTRY was $3,163,000,000,and with exports of vehicles, parts and tires exceeding $578,- 000,000. These figures will be exceeded this year, with the added important news that for the first time since the Civil War, cotton takes second place as the most valuable of our exports, the latest figures showing that Americaft motor products exported exceeded in country has been increased from 20 miles per hour to 38 miles per hour, and the tendency toward re- vision is constantly upward. Five States already have abolished the fixed speed limit and others are preparing similar legislation. That higher speeds are here to stay is indicated by the fact that while the average speed allowance on American highways has nearly doubled in the last 20 years, the rate of acceleration in automobiles today is more than three times as great as it was two decades ago. “With speed as the watchword, the most serious question on the! highways today is not how fast a motorist can go, but how fast he can stop. Speed itself, traffic ex- perts say, is not the peril it is pop- ularly supposed to be. But speed in combination with other factors, such as defective brakes or faulty steering apparatus, is what pro- duces accidents. A recent survey disclosed that out of 4,899 motor cars involved in accidents on which faulty equipment was re- ported, defective brakes accounted for 39 per cent of the defects. With the strain which fast driving and quick stops throw on braking mechanisms safety is dependent on rigid attention to the condition of the motorist’s brakes with tests and adjustments, if necessary, every two wéeks. In most cases experts recommend relining of the brakes and truing of the drums after every 10,000 miles of driving as the car owner’s most effective accident preventive.” e BALTIMORE TRAFFIC TOLL IS INCREASING 162 Killed in First 11 Months of 1929, as Compared to 142 | in 1928, Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, December 14.—The fa- talities from vehicular accidents in the city during the first 11 months of this year show a decided increase over the corresponding period of last year, ac- cording to records of the accident pre vention bureau of the Police Depa ment. The police records for the 11 months show a total of 162 persons killed in vehicular accidents. This equals the total for the whole of last year. Dur- ing the 11-month period of 1928 there were 142 fatalities. Up to the first day of this month, the records show that 4,815 persons received injuries in accidents in which automobiles, street cars and railroads figured. From January 1 to December 1 of last year, there were 4,525 persons treated at hospitals for injuries for which these three kinds of vehicles were responsible. Magistrate Edward M. Staylor of the Central Traffic Court stressed the in- crease in the number of persons brought before him during the past month on charges of reckless driving of automo- biles. The magistrate declared that he was going to mete out severe pen- alties to those found guilty of reckless driving. in an effort to decrease the number of fatal automobile accidents in the city. AUTOMOTIVE BRIEFS Raymond Rocca, secretary and treas- urer of the Triangle Motor Co., local Ford dealers, announces this week the completion of the three-story addition to their building at North CIM?] street and New York avenue, value that of any other item. “The figures we have just stated are of the employment In normal times. The number today, of course, is some- what reduced, partly because of sea- sonal conditions. “It is too soon after the recent stock market readjustment to enable us to say with any accuracy to what extent employment in our industry has been affected. In Healthful Condition. “We anticipate, however, that we shall find when the returns are in that our industry has been affected more or less in line with general busi- ness_throughout the United States. “One of the largest companies re- ports business as just 7 per cent from normal for this season of the year. Taken generally the industry is in a most wholesome and healthful condi- tion. Inventories are not excessive, thanks to a system of short time in- ventory control which is general throughout the industry. Wages are hi igh. “The industry has been a leader in maintaining wages and this it has been able to do through the perfection of its manufacturing equipment, which, compared with the old days, enables oue workman to accomplish the results of several. “Whether wages can be expected to continue to advance as in the past will depend upon economic conditions. There has been no suggestion that they are too high or that they should be reduced. “The leaders of the industry are watchful, but are not concerned over the outcome. “The history of the industry, going back a quarter of a century and in- cluding the panic of 1907, shows that it is among the first, if not the very first, to respond to the oncoming of more prosperous business conditions. “Time and again 1t has seemed to respond to the fluctuations of general business, but always it has been among the first to come ‘back and to begin to climb to new records of prosperity. “There are excellent reasons to be- lieve that it will continue to be true to tradition in this respect. “There are 25,000,000 of motor ve- hicles in use in the United States and the known demand for replacement out of this great back-log is 2,750,000 cars per annum. “Although production this year will be 5,600,000, we estimate that in a normal year we produce 5,000,000 motor vehicles. ‘The replacement demand therefore gives us automatically 55 per cent of a normal year’s business. “The export trade, unaffected by stock market conditions, will this year be approximately 1.000,000 vehicles, which is 200,000 greater than the year be- fore. “It seems conservative, therefore, to expect an export business of upwards of 1,000,000 units next year, :.lso, which is 20 per cent of our normal years production. New Buyers Must Be Added. “Export, added to our replacement expectation, gives us a business of 3,- 750,000 cars and trucks, which is 75 per’ cent of a normal year's business. To this must be added new buyers, twq car families, and a rapidly increasing truck and bus business, that should bring the total to 5,000,000. “The selling of automobiles on time payments has shown itselfl to be a constructive practice and a real ally to the prosperity of the industry. It can be expected to continue its work of keeping people employed and en- couraging a healthy consumption of product. Cancellations and failures to meet payments have been so small as to be almost negligible. +“The continued expansion of the road building program which doubtless will be increased in 1930 over the one billion six hundred million dollar ex- penditure of this year, with its posi- tive influence on employment, will af- fect the motor industry most favorably as well as many others. “The coundry at large need not worry about the mofor vehicle industry. We shall doubtless share to some extent any difficulties that may beset the country, but we will never be down seriously or for leng.” “IN MY OPINION” A Column in Which Readers May Express Their Views on Motoring and Traffic Problems. Pedestrians’ Rights At Crossings Stated. A frequent and seldom mentioned cause of accidents at uncontrolled street intersections is the failure of motorists to observe a fundamental rule of traffic control that to my knowledge has never been enforced in the District. It is that at such a place the pedestrian has the right of way, not the automobile driver. For years it has been customary in ‘Washington for a motorist approaching an intersection where he sees a person crossing merely to blow his horn and continue at unabated speed, trusting to Providence that the pedestrian in his path will hear the warning and remove himself from harm's way. The law, however, has it that in all such cases the right of way is the pedestrian’s and it is incumbent on the motorist to give it to him. Cases of failure to yield the right of way, in- volving two automobiles, are heard daily in Traffic Court, but I doubt that the court records will show many cases where a pedestrian is the complainant. The reason is that the average citizen of this city does not know that it is his right to walk unmolested from the path of an oncoming machine. Certain it is that this traffic rule is not en- forced by Washington police. W.S.T. Requests Facilities For Opera Attendance. It does seem to me that the police could aid the lovers of music in Wash- ington by making their pilgrimages to the opera a little less tedious. Move- ment of traffic is facilitated by the Po- lice Department around residences where large receptions are being held. This is notably true at the White House, Pan-American Bullding and diplomatic homes. As the opera, to a large extent, draws chiefly from these homes, it would seem only proper that the same courtesy be rendered. On several occasions while proceeding to the opera I have been held up in traffic congestion, made so to a large extent by business trucks. As any one knows the penalty of being a few mintues late at the opera results in the offender being obliged to stand until the first rendition is over. 1 might be told that leaving my house a few minutes earlier would solve my difficulties. That is undoubtedly true, but if the courtesy in directing traffic is done at other times, is there any rea- son that operas should not fall in that category? If the Police Department will instruct a few officers to prevent congestion around the entrance of the theater and along that block I am sure it would be appreciated by a large number of tax- payers. The opera is not held every day and, therefore, I believe it should be considered. . G. B. A. SUPER-HIGHWAYS URGED FOR SAFETY High Speed Road Across Continent | Is Regarded as Force for Economy. A network of super-highways across the American Continent, over which au- tomobiles could travel at high rates of speed, would provide safety in motoring unhoped for with the present types of roads, in the opinion of H. H. Franklin, a leader in the automobile industry. “Over such super-highways cars could | travel at a minimum speed of 100 miles an hour with practically none of the dangers encountered on present high- ways,” Mr. Franklin said. “No through highway today should be projected which does not permit speed over long distances.” Lack of understanding of present-day needs by road building authorities as much as lack of vision of future needs prevents the construction of such roads, Mr. Franklin declared. He points out that limitations of funds cannot be given as a reason against modernizing all new roads, since it is more economi- cal to build roads that will do service over a long period of years than to build roads that will have to be straight- ened, widened and improved within a few years after they are completed in order to cope with traffic conditions. While Mr. Franklin regards possibili- ties for traveling at high speed over long distances as a prime necessity of new roads, he contends that safety is paramount when construction of a new highway is considered, and that safety cannot be attained over narrow roads that cross railroad tracks at grade, make sharp turns and wind through congest- ed centers. Such narrow roads, he says, are ho) lessly out of date before they are fin. ished and do not begin to care for pres- ent-day traffic, much less provide for the traffic that can be expected within the next few years, when automobiles built to travel 100 miles or more an hour in safety will be in common use. o ATTENTION TO TIRES PAYS BIG DIVIDEND Reports Show Motorists Use Less Rubber Than They Did Ten Years Ago. Despite the growing number of auto- mobiles, experts report that fewer tires are being sold in relation to the amount of driving done. This is in spite of the fact that most motorists now drive farther and tour oftener than before. Putting the story in figures, each car which ten years ago wore four tires per year now needs but two new tires. There are, of course, definite reasons for this. “One is that tires are being made better, but a more definite reason is that motorists are paying more attel tion to the tires they buy,” says Pa E. Gilbert, local tire distributor. “Mo- torists have found that the difference in price between an unknown tire and a nationally known make is only slight, while the difference in wearing qualities is generally considerable. “Now that every State has its share of good roads, so that motoring in ail sections of the country is much the same, more and more tire business is BoIng to firms wth a known reputation for dependability andgquality.” GAS TAX EXEMPTION FOR CONSUMER URGED Keneipp Says State Laws Should | Clarify Who Is to Bear Levy. The gasoline tax is deductible in fil- ing income tax returns where the lan- guage of the State law specifically lists it as a tax on the consumer, according to George E. Keneipp, manager of the District of Columbia division of the American Automobile Association, who contends it is clear the consumer always pays the tax, regardless of the wording of the law; therefore, the consumer should be allowed a deduction in all instances. “However,” he continued, “the bureau has put a strict interpretation on the State gasolire tax laws in the rulings already made. Consequently, in States where the bureau rules that the gaso- line tax applies to the dealer, the only remedy remaining for those States is to amend and clarify the State gaso- line tax laws so that the language of the act specifically levies the gas tax on the consumer. “The gasoline tax in force in the various States this year will yleld a total revenue of approximately $375,- 000,000, which if construed as a tax on the consumer in the various States would amount to a_considerable saving to_the motoring public.” Keneipp declared that the Bureau of Internal Revenue has already ruled that the gas tax is deductible under an in- terpretation of the laws of Delaware, Kentucky, Michiga: Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Virginia. On the other hand, if the tax is added to or made a part of the business expense of the owner of such motor vehicles, & cannot be deducted separately as a ! The A. A. A. club executive asserted that decisions have also been rendered by the bureau with respect to the States of Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland and Ohio, holding that under its interpre- tation of the gasoline tax laws of these States the tax is levied against the dealer, and therefore is not deductible by the consumer in filing his income tax returns. AUTO EXPORTS GAIN. October Business, However, Showed Usual Recession. Automotive exports for the first 10 months of this year were valued at $510,023,156, as against $440,177,392 during the January-October period of 1928 and $522,097,974 for the entire year of 1928, according to P. R. Matix, automotive division, Department of Commerce. The monthly average for the 10-month period of 1927, 1928 and 1929 is $34,626,068, $44,017,739 and $51,002,315, respectively. ‘The usual seasonal recession was evident in overseas automotive trade for the month of October, total business amounting to $34,660,887, the lowest figure for the year thus far recorded. Tl;e ‘Windshield Wiper. ‘You have probably noticed that your vacuum-operated windshield wiper stops working when you are climbing a long, steep grade. the glass becomes clouded under such conditions throw out the clutch a moment and the wiper will clear it. But don't keep the clutch out so long that the car lose§ headway. 1| trian to follow a hit-an COURT DEGSONS AFFEGT MOTORSTS California Gas Tax Is Upheld.: Law Relieves Driver of Guest Responsibility. Two decisions of importance to mo- torists have just been rendered by the United States Supreme Court, accord- ing to the legal department of the American Motorists’ Association. ‘The most important is the court’s decision upholding validity of the Cali- fornia 3-cent gasoline tax, the asso- ciation declares. “This is the first time that the United States Supreme Court has had an op- portunity to pass upon the validity of a State gasoline tax, which every motor- ist in the United States now must pay. The upholding of the validity of the California act insures the continuance of the tax not only in California, but in other States, without which highway construction in the United States would almost come to a standstill,” it is point- ed out by Thomas J. Keefe, general manager of the association. “The average tax paid per gallon at the present time is 3.07 cents, which means that each motorist in the United States this year will contribute ap- proximately $14.25 in the form of gaso- line taxes toward the Nation's high- way construction program.” Validity of Tax Attacked. Validity of the California tax was attacked on the ground that the tax was for the purpose of supporting pub- | lic highways, when these highways are aided by Federal legislation, which pro- vides that no “toll” shall be charged for the use of them. Legality of the tax also. was attacked on the ground that it was in conflict of the “due process” clause of the fourteenth amendment, and also in violation of the constitution of California. “The effect of the decision will be to settle for practically all time the constitutionality of ;Lasol\ne taxes and add impetus to highway construction throughout the United States,” American Motorists’ Association legal department declares, pointing out, however, that the court’s dzcision would not Preclude a possible attack on the legality of the tax on grounds other than those decided in the present case. ‘The second decision upholds the right of a State to enact a statute relieving owners and operators of automobiles from responsibility for injuries to guests trlnfiaorud gratuitously in their auto- mobiles, unless the injuries were in- curred in accidents caused intentionally o{hby heedless or reckless disregard of others. Connecticut Law Upheld. “The trend of many recent decisions has been to hold the motorist to be an insurer of his guest’s safety. To re- lieve motorists of this responsibility in cases of injuries to gratuitous guests the State of Connecticut passed an act holding that a motorist could not be held liable in case of injury, death or loss, in case of accidents, unless such accident was intentional on the part of the owner or operator or caused by his heedlessness or his reckless disregard of the rights of others,” the American Motorists’ Association statement ex- plains. “The American Motorists’ Association holds no brief for a careless or reckless motorist. However, as long as a mo- torist operates his automobile in a care- ful and cautious manner, we believe it only fair to relieve him of being an insurer of the safety of gratuitous guest who might happen to be injured while riding with him,” the association's stateiaent concludes. OXCARTS LICENSED. San Salvador Requires “Traffic Permit” on Mud Highways. | The natives in the Central American r?ubnc of San Salvador have not yet adopted such modern transportation de- velopments as stop lights, motor cops, traffic tickets, gas tax and no parking signs, but they are making progress— they require license tags for oxcarts. Every one of the 22,000 oxcart chauf- feurs in the republic must attach the little “traffic permit” to his creaking, three-miles-per-hour vehicle before ven- turing on the mud-paved San Salvador highways. These tags are much smaller than American automobile license plates, being only two and five-eighths inches by five inches. The disadvantage is offset to a great extent, however, by the fact that it is possible for a pedes- run driver at any easy strolling pace and still “get his number.” A brisk walker could even go home first and get a pencil. — . Wiping Rags Save Time. If you want to keep your new car looking spick and span without spend- | trary, Plans fpr a campaign to police and censor ackertising and selling methods in the used automobile field are now under consideration by the Better Busi- ness Bureau of Washington, it has been announced by Louis Rothschild, direc- tor of the bureau. This announcement, it is pointed out, does not mean that the bureau regards the second-hand car business methods in Washington to be particularly reprehensible. To the con- comparatively few from members of the public claiming misrepresentation or unfair dealings in used cars have been received by the bureau and the present campaign is being formulated largely to meet the demands of used-car dealers themselves who are desirous of having ethical standards adopted for more complete accuracy in advertising and selling methods. Improved Practices Discussed. Improved practices in the second- hand car field was the subject of an afternoon discussion at the recent con- ference in San Diego, Calif., of the 46 Better Business Bureaus located throughout the country. This meeting was attended by the local director, who reports that the plan started by the Cincinnati, Ohio, Better Business Bu- reau was discussed as that organization has instituted a successful method of improving practices and eliminating misrepresentations in the used car field. In Cincinnati, young men taking eco- nomic courses at nearby universities were employed to check up on adver- tised automobiles to determine whether or not the machines were accurately and fairly represented. It was announced at the California conference that not only has the pro- gram improved used-car advertising, Dbut that the dealers themselves are de- lighted with the response of the public. Readers of advertising have responded in greater numbers to offerings when they knew that advertisements were bing checked by an impartial agency for their protection. Few “Gyps” in Business. “Of course,” Rothschild says, “some of the questionable practices of the old ‘hoss-trading game' have naturally drifted into the second-hand automo- bile field and while the vast majority of dealers are honestly trying to serve the public, there are a few who deserve no other name than ‘gyps.’ Th:se few may bring the entire trade into disre- pute if allowed to continue their nefa- rious practices, such as ‘doping’ old en- gines, or doctoring speedometers. “Even in Washington, the R-~tter Business Bureau has received a few complaints of automobiles advertised in the classified columns of newspapers as being certain year models when the purchaser ultimately found that the car was manufactured several years earlier. A recent typical example was of a light car advertised as a 1926 model when the car on sale was really a 1924 model. Not only has this hap- pened in exceptional cases, but it is believed that such advertisers are court- ing criminal action inasmuch as such a misrepresentation is a violation of the local advertising law. complaints | 5 BUREAU CONSIDERS USED-CAR ADVERTISING CENSORSHIP Campaign Is Being Formulated Largely to Meet Demands of Dealers, Says Announcement. “Several instances of tricky adver- tising have been discovered by our or- ganization in a preliminary investiga- tion. A typical example is that of the dealer who advertised a medium price car of 1927 vintage at the extraordi- narily low price of $35. Persons who answered the advertisement when the doors of the establishment opened were glibly informed that the car had been sold, but that there were a number of other good buys. Advertisement Bait. The advertisement was very evidently bait to lure people to the establishment so that salesmen would have prospects. “This advertisement is another case of what is known as trick advertising. 1929 Blank, in good condition; must be sold as private party is leaving the country. . . “And below the advertisement was a private residence address. Investigation by the Better Business Bureau indicated that this ‘address was the home of a used-car salesman employed by a down- town merchant, that nobody was leav- ing the country, and that the car was not being a forced sale, but that the whole thing was merely a trick to make the purchaser think he was buying from a private garty and not a dealer and therefore think he was getting an espe- cially good bargain. “‘Another popular though fake selling method has been to advertise cars as ‘repossessed will be sold for unpaid bal- ance’ thus indicating a bargain, when investigation will clearly show that the car was not repossessed at all, but was long since paid for by the original owner and was sold to the dealer claim- ing to have taken the car away from the person who failed to complete pay- ments. Similarly there have been in- stances of salesmen claiming used auto- mobiles were ‘demonstrators’ when they had been run for several thousand miles more than demonstrators are run and were turned in by former owners for new automobiles. Advised Investigation. “The average used automobile,” Mr. Rothschild points out, “involves an out- lay of more money than the average mercantile purchase. It is in the na- ture of an investment and despite the splendid morale of the business men en- gaged in this trade in Washington, prospective buyers should exercise nat- ural caution and should remember the slogan of the Better Business Bureau I‘A)“Before You Invest—Investigate.” “Part of this program will be public announcement and publicity of the standards “of ethical practices adopted so that the public may differentiate be- tween the reputable dealer and the few isolated questionable tradesmen. Per- sons who feel that they have been mis- led or induced by untruthful advertising to purchase second-hand automobiles will be urged to report the matter to the Better Business Bureau for impartial investigation. “The present plans call for the ap- pointment of an automobile advisory committee composed of well known reputable dealers to advise and aid the bureau in this co-operative program.” BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW. Automobile Technical Adviser New York City West Side ¥. M. C. A. Coming up the end of another cal- endar year, many motorists and many who hope to be owners of automobiles are eagerly anticipating what features are to be seen on the new models which will be available in the early part of January. Of course, not all manufac- turers of automobiles bring out new models in January. Some bring them out at other seasons of the year and some concerns which produce new models in January make few if any es- sential changes. The fact that automo- bile expositions prevail to a considerable extent in the early part of the year probably leads some manufacturers to bring out new models at this time as a matter of policy. As a result of some of these factors, it appears that a large number of mo- torists are thinking about securing a new automobile at about this time of the year. Another factor in this situ- ation may be that some people are re- ceiving a_bonus. connection with their employment, others may be re- ceiving dividends from investments. Others who have something in the na- ture of a systematic money program may be keeping budget books and clos- ing up their accounts toward the close of the year. Maybe they find an un- expected surplus. Perhaps in making out estimates for spending for the com- ing year they can see enough income to make buying a new car possible, and feel that the sooner it is secured the better. There seems to be a number of good reasons why it is logical to give the matter of buying an automobile serious consideration av this time of year. Purpose of Car. ‘This brings before the prospective pur- chaser the problem of how to make the best possible selection. One of the first considerations in this connection has to do with the purpose for which a car is likely to be used. For instance, if the major need for an automobile is to drive back and forth from one’s home to one's place of employment, or to drive from some suburban home to some suburban railroad station, there are certain types of cars which are especially well adapted to such use. If on the other hand an individual’s need for an automobile in- cludes the taking of long trips where continuous work will be required of the engine going at fairly high speed and for a considerable length of time, an- other type of car will probably be wanted. If the prospective buyer of a car is one of those enthusiasts about motor camping experiences, he will want to consider, in buying a car, the type which can be most readily adjusted to such purposes. On the other hand the sport models are built to appeal to those who prefer the outdoor air In preference to riding in a warmer and more com- fortable closed model. If a person lives in a section of the country which is very flat, as, for in- stance, one finds in large sections of MOTOR DONTS ExHaust FUMEsS ARE DeADLY PolisoNous- NEVER RUN YourR ing a lot of money on washing and polishing, get one of the chemically treated wiping rags now on the mar- ket and rul the dust and stains fre- quently. It takes only a minute or two, ‘nnfl saves much Eoney and time later. ) MOTOR IN A CLOSED USE IS IMPORTANT FACTOR BUYING NEW AUTOMOBILE Long Island in New York State, one does not need an automobile specially de- signed for stiff hill climbing. On the contrary, if a person lives in a section of the country where there are many hills and mountains, the prospective buyer would need to give considerable consideration to the hill-climbing ac- c‘gn{’pnshmenu of whatever car he goes uy. Other Factors to Be Studied. ‘There are other matters to consider, including the size of one's family, which has more to do with the type of car to be selected than of the make. There is the size of one’s pocketbook, which is likely to have a definite bearing on both the size and the make. After such factors as are indicated above have been given consideration, the prospective purchaser’s past experi- ence, the recommendations of friends, seasoned by his own good judgment, will probably lead him to make a selec- tion of a new car which will' be quite satisfactory. As a matter of fact, one can hardly make a serious mistake in buying any make of automobile, since they all possess certain features which represent good values for the price on the tag. The real problem in buying a car is to select the one in which is em- bodied the greatest number of qualifica- tions desired by the purchaser. The one point at which a warning should be given has to do with the price offered for a used car which it is proposed to trade in. When one is offered a few dollars more for a used car by one sales- man, as against another, it doesn’t by any means signify that this represents a bargain. As matter of fact there is a decided tendency toward keeping :'l_‘lse b::gd t;ax, glvmsdthe family two cars of one, and there is mu be said in favor of this. ] TESTS ON PARKING HARD FOR DRIVERS 50 Per Cent of Applicants for Per- mits Refused for Failure to Understand. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, December 14.—A sum- mary of the 2,161 cases in which, dur- ing the year ending September 30, drivers’ licenses were refused shows that inability to properly park their machines was responsible R\?‘Lhe fau- ure of 50 per cent of applicants, Failure to signal left-hand and other turns, failure to give right of way anu several other types of traffic rule in- fractions while "taking the driv test also contributed to the total of al refusals. Failure to memorize traffic rules was responsible for inability of many ap- plicants to pass their original examina- tions, while bad eyesight .also was u factor. ~The inspectors, the records show, found many men color blind, but reported they found no women with that ocular deficiency. Many of those who “flunked” the parking tests, according to George W. Munford, legal examiner on the staff of Automobile Commissioner Baugh- man, tried to get their cars into the prescribed spaces nose-first, instead ot drawing ahead of and parallel to the space and then backing into it. Several licenses were issued to deat persons durlni the year, Munford said. Members of this group, once they pass their tests, are given conditional drivers" cards, which permit them to operate a machine for the first six months only when accompanied by a person with normal hearing. There are about 75 such conditional licenses now in use in Maryland, Munford said, How to Turn Curves. ‘When approaching a blind curve to the left, don't turn the steering wheel too soon. Keep to the right and in GARAGE ! a straight line as far as you can go. thus clearing the path of cars coming against you, and then swing sharply to the left. Y