Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-19

The smouldering fire of dissenslon
in the New Jersey Automobile and
Motor Club has started f1ercely. 1t
eliminated Saturday when an open
quarrel arose between the secretary
of the club A. B. LeMassena, and
John A. Rhodabeck, the new deputy
commissioner of the State motor We
hicles department, who had continued
the headquarters of the license
agency in the local club established
by its secretary when he became the
executive head of the organization.
This is the only club in the State out
side of the pale of the national mo-
toring organization, the American
Automobile Association.
In Newark Motor Club.
Immediately after resolution to
withdraw from the State clubs of the
A. A. A. went through many of its
leading members withdrew their
membership. and the Newark Motor
Club was the outcome. 1t has among
its members the president of the AS
ISOLATED Automobile Clubs OF New
Jersey, its former treasurer and also
the former secretary of the New Jer-
sey Automobile and Motor Club.
Such men as Inlxlis M. Upppercu,
Dewitt C. Reynolds, George Paddock,
Leonard D. Zusi, w. H. Ellis and
other prominent local tradesmen also
withdrew, and it is now known that
the club lost many members in the
last year, but the presence OF the
license agency for Essex county
enabled the club secretary to make
drafts of new members and keep up
a fair showing, although the finances
of the club, as stated by Richard c.
Jenkinson at the recent meeting, are
not in very good shape. Mr.. Jenkin-
son also declared that there was
something else wanted in the club.
withdraws It's Support.
Now the withdrawal of the motor
vehicle department to some neutral
building. where motorists can go and
GET their licenses without being
bothered with requests to join in
surance companies and become mem
hers of the local club, will leave the
club without it's main support SO
II must now stand alone and on its
/ merits as a motoring organization
devoted to the best interests OF its
members and motorists at large. In
This connection 1t is said that the
4 club NAV decide again to join the
national motoring organization, pro-
viding II Is given credit for unpaid
s dues which is a doubtful PROPOSE
4 ton.
The final straw which caused the
E outbreak of last week came when
4 the private interests of the club sec
E retarv and deputy commissioner OF
! motor vehicles clashed in the mat
s. ter of insurance moneys which they
4 had heen receiving and which the
secretary is still receiving.
Salaries Make Trouble.
The deputy commissioner Of motor
4 vehicles was on salary basis In
the insurance deal So was the club
secretary and so was the former
4 Commissioner of motor vehicles, ]. B
r. Smith. 1t seems, however, thai
Mr. Rhodabecks salary was stopped
& hut the other two were kept on tbs
81 salary roll and this was the las
8 straw that broke the camePs back
The salary allowed the deputy com
missioner is very small In compari
8 SON with the large amount OF revenue
received by the State for licenses
and the state was also fortunate II
4 not having to pay any rent to thu
New Jersey Automobile and Motol
y club That in itself should require
an exclamation by the board of di
rectors of the organization.
II has been known for some tim
that the motorists objected vigor
ously. especially those that did no
belong to the club. to the retention o
the motor vehicle department in Parl
place. and to relieve the commissions
Of motor vehicles, Job III. Lippincott
: Of the embarrass ment, rent-free quar-
tiers were offered the department l
another building, this, after Mr.. LIP
pinoot had stated in writing that tn
reason for the retention Of the depart
ment in the local clubhouse was OF
the score of economy
1t May Pay Rent Now.
The offer was not accepted, an
now possibly the department will pa,
rent. as 1t should do. Mr.. Rhoda
beck of late has been doing riva
81 insurance business in opposition t
that of the club or Its secretary, ant
of course. that sort of thing could nc
last
John A. Rhodabeck was not know
to motorists when he received his ar
pointment but he is Wilson maj
and that landed him the job in OF
position to other good friends of Nj
Wilson who we're not identified wit
the woodrow Wilson League
1t is thought that the last row wi
further deplete the clubs member
ship. Prominent men OF Newark VIII
y are engaged in the insurance bus
ness have not viewed this sort 4