Evening star., 1912-03-17

car. After toiling in the muck with
shovels we managed to pull out on our
own power.
"On numerous occasions the failure OF
part would have meant a perilous foot
journey on short rations over many
mountainous and desert miles. Never be-
| fore have | subjected a car to such
strains. road shocks and outrageous toll.
believe this test proves the stamina Of
| the vehicle from the motor through all
connections to the ground
Mr.. Joy was accompanied by NJ J.
BudlOng, president Of Packard branches,
| and H. H. Hills, sales manager at the
factory.
"That was sure some weather we had
last week." said an automobile salesman
yesterday. Here is the variety OF
weather we had for the six days:
''Monday-Clear-Sno at night.
"Tuesday-Heavy showers all day.
'Wednesday-Light showers.
'"Thursday-Warm; threatening.
"Friday-Some more rain.
"Saturday-Clear.
John r. Thomas, manager Of the United
Motor Washington Company, returned
Friday from q trip through Virginia, in
cluding visit for few days at the
Norfolk automobile show which closed
last night.
A prominent editorial writer on a met
ropolitan newspaper recently had this to
say on the automobile question:
You hear a great deal of talk about
the frightful extravaganza Of buying au-
tomobiles.
Bankers will tell you that the automo-
bile is running the country because 1t
costs so much money.
You can tell that banker that the peo-
pie Spend more money for soda water in
the United States than they do for auto
mobiles, and soda water does not ruin
the country.
THE spending of money that does good
and does no harm, the buying of auto
reasonable ornaments by those that can
afford them-these things build up the
country; they do not hurt it,
X * X
Good roads advocates will again gather
in the National Capital early in April to
| appear before the committee on rules Of
the House of Representatives. at a hear
ing, to discuss the resolution Introduced
by Representative Underwood of Ala
bama, which provides for the appointment
of a joint committee of the House and
Senate to consider the building Of ma
tiOnal highways and post roads.
President Robert p. Hooper of the
American Automobile Association has had
letters sent to all those bodies which
co-operated in the recent federal aid con-
ScilllOll III w dShiUS ludL Iu6y
at once appoint subcommittee of three to
serve on the general committee decided
upon at that gathering for the purpose
OF securing countrywide good roads ac-
ton. President Hooper, Chairman Diehl
of the good roads board and Chairman
Batchelder of the executive committee
made several visits to the capital before
advising the less complicated plan of ac-
ton.
1t is expected that the Underwood reso-
luton will be adopted at the present ses-
sion, since legislation emanating from the
rules committee has precedence on the
calendar.
Belief that the recent substantial ac-
emulation Of good roads sentiment is
now SO countrywide in it's extent that
Congress Is ready to give the subject Sc
rious thought influenced the A.. A. A.
action which substituted the Joint COM
mittee of House and Senate resolution in
stead Of furthering the proposed bill call
ing for the creation Of a national high
ways commission.
The joint resolution provides that
joint committee Of both houses of Con-
gress is hereby created, to be composed
of three members of the Senate, to be
appointed by President Taft, and three
members of the House of Representa-
tives. to be appointed by the Speaker
thereof. Any vacancies occurring on the
committee are to be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment The
committee is empowered and directed to
collect information, and to make a
thorough and complete investigation OF
the condition of the public highways in
several states of the Union, including the
cost of transportation thereon; the i'm
provement, construction and maintenance
of such public highways and the cost
thereof; the cost OF carrying the mail
over such highways and the Improvement
Of the mail service that may be obtained
by the improvement of the post roads of
the United States
The committee is authorized and direct
ed to report to the Congress all informa-
ton obtained from such investigation, to-
gether with recommendations as to the
advisability OF the Congress granting
national aid to the maintenance and
building Of post roads and national high
ways in the United States, and to make