The Washington times., 1912-03-01
MOTOR CAR OWNERS
FACE. PROSECUTION
OVER WHEEL TAXES
Delinquents Likely to Find
Warrants Served BY AS
SCISSOR Richards.
By HARRY WARD.


Automobile owners who have failed to
pay the wheel tax on their machines
are likely to find themselves served
with warrant to appear in the Police
Court within the next few days. AS
sessor w. p. Richards has outlined an
aggressive campaign to secure the coll
lection OF the tax, ard 1t will be put
into operation at once. A fine double
the amount of the tax Will likely. be
assessed when the delinuuents appear
before Judge Fugh, charged with fail
ure to pay their wheel tax
"As the Court of Appeals has upheld
the validity of this law" said Assessor
Richards, lit is up to this office to
secure the payment of the tax, and I'M
less the motorists voluntarily come TO
the office and settle, it will be necessary
for us to serve warrants on all those
who fail TO pay. Inspectors are now be-
ir.S sent cut from this office to obtain
Information as to the capacity of the
different machines, and as fast as they
report, bills for the amount of the tax
are sent to the owners. Where they fail
to pay the tax within reasonable time
we have warrants issued for them, but
so far there have been no prosecutions,
as the motorists have invariably paid
the tax as soon as the warrant was
served. TO date 235 motorists have paid
the tax, the total revenue being 81 ,00."
One of the eighteen proposed automo-
bile contests now awaiting official as
signment of dates by the contest board
of the American Automobile Association
is the Chesapeake Reliability Tour of
the automobile clubs of Washington,
Maryland, Norfolk and Richmond. June
is the tentative date suggested by the
Washington club, which is making plans
for the proposed run.
1t is expected the official sanction will
be issued as soon as all the clubs inter-
ested in the event have come to an
understanding as to the date of starting
the contest.
At the last meeting of the contest
board in New York eleven scheduled
events were given definite dates, as fol-
lows:
March to 9-Track, Montgomery,
Ala; Alabama Automobile Association
March / l1-Track, San Jose, Cal; Emile
Agraz and w. 7. Buehren.
~ May 4-santa Monica road race; A. NJ.
Young, chairman.
May IA to 17-CommerclaI Vehicle Re-
liability Run; Chicago Motor Club.
May 30-Speedway (5O0-mile race, In
May 30-Track, Salem, n. H.; Rock
ingham Park.
June 2O-Algonquin Hin Climb. Chicago
Motor Club.
Tex; Galveston Automobile Club.
August . and 24-Elgin road races,
Chicago Motor Club.
September 2-Speedway, Indianapolis
Motor Speedway.
October 7 to 11-Reliability run, Chi
cago Motor Club.
A roadster, wit hthe ingenious name
of the Bachelor Jackrabbit," is the
latest addition to the Apperson family,
according to advices received by Emer-
son & Orme. 1t is designed as a
speed car for men, although of course
there is no ban on women buyers.
Very often an automobile that is
driven on wet pavement without the
use of chains does not skid, and the
credit is likely to be given to the tires.
In large number of cases, however
the feat is due to the construction and
balance OF the automobile, which would
not skid even, with smooth tread tires.
Then, too, skillful handling by tho
chauffeur is apt to have not a little
to do with it.
Mrs. Frank L. Perrin, of Cincinnati
sister of President Taft, has just bought
siX-cylinder Alec touring car. Mss
Perrin first was attracted by the car
while visiting the automobile show in
Cincinnati, and made arrangements to
take it as soon as the exhibit closed
The machine selected by the Presi-
dents sister has long, straight lines
and is distinguished by a broad white
stripe about the body. There is an
electric bulb concealed beneath the tom
neau door which illuminates the step
at night.
Following the automobile shows which
have been held throughout the country
for the past two months, orders for
Overland cars have assumed such pro-
portions that President John N. Willys
has ordered his factory force Increased
by many hundreds. Not only will the
payroll be increased Immediately, but
new automatic machinery is being in
stalled and other improvements made
which will make for better efficiency
and a larger production. With all de-
partments in full operation, Overland
production has reached a daily average
of over 100 cars. This output will be
maintained for the next four months,
which will swell the total 1912 produc-
tiOD n OVpTlan6S n o. cars