The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-02

The formal acquisition by the Max.
well Motor company of the Flanders
Motor company property has been
followed by the removal OF the nnan-
cial and accounting offices of the Max
well to Detroit, which now becomes
the center of operations of the con
Germ. Adding the s37,000,0O0 Max
well company TO the huge Ford.
Studebaker and General Motors con-
Germs already established with head
quarters in Detroit means Just anoth-
err point added to the leadership of
Detroit.
II was generally understood in the
trade, that the Flanders company had
been for a long time part of the
Maxwell concern, but that. was not
actually the case until the first
week in March, when the tentative
arrangement was followed by per-
manent arrangement. The original
move was made to get Walter f.
Flanders associated with the success
sor to the United States Motor COM
pany. so as to help proceed with the
reorganization.
ChaufTeurs Not All Bad.
Great injustice is done TO the av-
erage chauffeur when any one says
that chauffers as a class are unworthy
Of confidence and trust" gays william
J. Miller. of the Gordon Motor COM
pany. THE rapid growth Of the
automobile industry has attracted to
all its branches certain classes of I'M
desirables. One Of the most impor-
tant branches OF the industry is the
chauffeurs.
.'The great demand for operators
has called into this branch of the bust
ness "a large number Of men of ques-
Uonable character. These men are
the ones who have called down i'll
repute on the profession generally.
Until lately the State officials did not
realize the importance of eliminating
this bad element. Consequently. many
owners have suffered al the hands of
irresponsible chauffeurs.
Owners should not fail to investi
gate thoroughly the past OF the man
he employs. Letters of recommends
ton are easily obtained. II would
seem advisable to consult personally
the person issuing the recommended
ton. When business man employs
a cashier. bookkeeper, etc. he usually
investigates the applicants record
thoroughly. A chauffeur holds q
much more responsible position, in
that he has charge Of property which
if not properly controlled will not
only damage other property, but may
endanger the lives OF members of
the family.
Again the best chauHeurs applaud
any action on the part Of the State
or of employers which tends to
eliminate .he undesirable class and
raise the standard OF the profession.
when an employers confidence has
been abused by several men in sue
cession IT is difficult for even the high
est grade chauffeur to make good"
Taxing Motor Cars.
In the large grist of proposed motor
legislation that is being considered by
the Connecticut general assembly this
session is a bill that is being given
much attention by the motorists
though there Is some difference Of
opinion as to whether 1t is wise legis-
latiou. A bill has been introduced to
take the taxation of motor vehicles as
personal property out of the hands
Of the focal authorities and vest 1t in
the State, there being provided a
method for uniform taxation. The
plan Is to assess an annual ten-miil
tax on each machine. the valuation
the first wear to be 3 per cent of the
manufacturer list price, the second
year Sc per cent. the third year IS
years 20 per cent. The tax is 10 be
paid TO the secretary of State. who
Will distribute 10 the towns I'm which
the owners Of the cars live IS per
cent of the tax the remaining per
cent being retained To pay the ex-
pense of collection.
Such a law, ii is claimed, will equal
ize the taxation Of motor vehicles and
will tend possibly to bring about a
remedy for the double taxation
through local assessments and State
registration fees of which motorists
complain. As in Massachusetts. Con-