The Washington herald., 1908-03-12
AUIOISTS HOLD CONFERENCE
Will Ask Congress to Pass Federal
Registration Bill.
Would Have BureRu Here, Where
mitting Interstate Travel.

Thirty-hve delegates TO the American
Automobile Association entertained Rep
resentatives Alexander, OF Missouri: Moon,
Of PENNSYLVANIA. and Malby. and Cocks.
OF New York. at dinner last night at the
New Willard
The American Automobile Association
delegates are in Washington in the in
terest Of automobile legislation now be-
fore the House. and after the dinner held
a conference. at which delegates repre-
senting twenty-five States and members
of the Automobile Club of Washington
were present.
The bill. which is known as the Federal
registration bill. and which viii be given
a hearing before the entire Judiciary
Committee Of the House at 1890 O'Clock
this morning will make it possible for a
motOrist who has registered in the State
Of his residence to tour through any num-
Der OF surrounding States without the an
noyance. expense. and delay now neces-
STATED by the laws of the various States
which require that every car that travels
within their limits shall have a license
and number affixed to the car TO
identity i.
The bill provides that a bureau shall
be maintained IN Washington under the
jurisdiction OF the Interstate Commerce
| Commission where an auto owner can
upon filing a proper statement and de-
posting tke sum OF s., receive a number
which viii permit MIN 10 visit any State
/ In the Union with only that one number
as a means OF identification, IN that way
avoiding being held up in each State in
which he wishes TO tour for a license fee
and also doing away with the present
| ridiculous condition or affairs which make
il necessary for a man 20 plaster his
machine with numbers until IL resembles
a moving score board.
The bill has the cordial support OF All
auto owners and the great manufacturing
concerns. headed by the National Asso-
citation OF Automobile Manufacturers
The A A. a. is the national governing
body OF automobilists in America and
now includes twenty-five States in its
membership. Organization work is now
pending in a dozen other States. II has
membership OF nearly 20000 and is the
second largest body in the world. being
exceeded in point OF numbers only by the
Touring Club OF France, which has a mem
bership Of about 10000. some 50 per cent
OF which are. however. mOtOrcyclists.
Inc A A A mas cordial affiliations
With all the auto associations OF Europs
and has a touring council in Paris for
the benefit OF members visiting abroad
II is estimated that there are $4,000
automobiles in the United States which
would net the government a revenue OF
between 100000 and 100000 a year should
the bill before the House be acted upon
favorably.
Statistics show that SIG, 600 OF capital
is invested in the manufacture of auto
mobiles in the United States, employing
some 125OO0 persons.
Secretary Frederick H Elliott. OF New
York. said last night. that the association
is growing by leaps and bounds and that
things never looked brighter for the auto
men. The autoists are getting alive 10
the fact that they are being imposed upon
in this matter and the bin at present be-
fore the House is the result Of this"
The officers Of the American Automobile
Association are: William H. HOtchkiss.
OF Buffalo, president; Charles Thaddeus
Terry, OF New York, chairman OF lexis
lative board, and Frederick II. Elliott. OF
New York. secretary.