The Washington times., 1914-08-22
PLAN Profession
NEW TRAFFIC RULE
Validity of Regulation Forbid
ding Brilliant Lights to Be
Tested.
BY HARRY WARD.

Plans are being made to flood the
District Commissioners with protests
against the regulation forbidding the
use Of brilliant headlights contained in
the new traffic regulations, which went
into effect this week. A test case was
made when Robert H. Martin, an au-
tomobile dealer. was arrested for vio-
lating the regulation and fined SO by
Judge Pugh.
Martin, through his counsel, Walter
B. Guy, has noted an appeal to the
Court of Appeals, but it will be months
pected. In the meantime, motorists
whose cars are equipped with either
electric or acetylene headlights, are
liable to arrest, fact that is causing
much uneasiness in motoring circles.
Motorists point out that the regula-
ship on them. In such places as Rock
Creek Park and various suburban
roads much frequented by automo-
bile drivers the claim is made that
driving without headlights is ex-
ceedingly dangerous. IF the regula-
tion is enforced it will mean numer-
GUS accidents" said Martin.
Most of the new cars are equipped
with dimming attachments, but ac-
cording to the law these are of no
1 know of one dimming attachment
that is used on at least twenty -fiv e
makes of cars and ii has been passed
favorably by officials in many cities
throughout the country which have
adopted regulations against brilliant
headlights. However, the Washing
ton authorities say we do not conform
to the law when we use this attach
ment to dim out lights"
1t is pointed out by motorists that in
l,sv al fha 6riNv in
variably turn down their lights. This
is a courtesy every motorist should ex-
tend to feilow-drivers, and thus avoid
the Possibility Of accidents.
Regarding the present crude rubber
situation, H. S. Firestone, president Of
the Firestone Tire and Rubber Com
pany, says:
"A sharp turn of war conditions may
quickly relieve the present tie-up Of
navigation, but right now the situation
is serious. 1t needs no deep analysis or
exhaustive investigation to size up the
crude rubber situation. Everything is
on the surface, and everybody who
reads the war news knows as much as
he rubber manufacturers as to the date
when regular shipments will start
again. Here's the facts: Over so per
cent of the crude rubber used in the
United States comes from the Far East,
via the Red sea and the Mediterranean.
No merchant ships are passing through
these seas now. and we don't know
when they will start. London. of course.
has always been the transfer point. but
the high-grsde rubber in stock there
would not supply the American rubber
manufacturers more than a week. Be-
ing shut off from the East, we must
look to South America for our supply.
Here we find only few hundred tons
in stock because the Brazilian district
has steady market for all they have
during their open season. When ship
ments start to come in from the East.
crude rubber prices will probably de-
cline sharply"
R A. Spillane, district manager OF
the Hupp Motor Car Company. spent
several days here this week visiting
c. NJ. Dow, the Hupmobile agent.
The Smith-Trew Motor Company re-
ports the sale of REQ touring cars TO
the following: Mrs. Q. E. Howe. DR..
George Reinecke, Wilmot W. Trew.
Mr.. Stevens, Mr.. Matthews. DR..
Charles Hammett. and E. G. Loeffler.
James ]. Flynn and R. L. Lockwood.
factory Representatives of the Willys-
ington this week inspecting the new
salesrooms OF the Harper-Overland
Company.
c. E. Martling. of the Empire Auto
mobile Company: Indianapolis. was
smong the weeks visitors.
Three years ago R E. Olds brought
out REQ the Fifth as his climax car"
said r. c. Smith. Of the Smith-Trew
fourth model-the final result of his
twenty-five years spent in car build
ng. He announced that this car
marked his limit. That car quickly
ttained an overwhelming demand
Vow to keep pace with the times the
cries ard judging from the interest
{ has attracted from motorists every
"here ii promises to be one of the
ears sensations"
Irwin T. Donohoe returned yesterday
rom a two-weeks automobile tour
tGrough Virginia. He reported the
roads to be bad in many places.
Purchasers Of Studebaker cars this
week, as reported by the Commercial
automobile and Supply Company, in
Guided Col. Charles G. Treat, Col. C. A
r. Flager and w G. Click
An announcement by the GOODYEAR
Tire and Rubber Company to the effect
hat all advances due to doubled cost
q rubber were withdrawn August 19,
reused much interest in motoring
HCIes. Inc Coh4pdhy announced IL Had
secured sufficient rubber at former
Jrices to warrant the withdrawal of
he advances. As a result of the with
drawal of the advances the GOODYEAR
factory branch here and Goodyear
dealers throughout the city report
numerous sales of Goodyear tires.
The Hupp Motor Car Company. of De-
troit. represented here by c. w. Dow,
Tas appointed W. c. Howard assistant
sales manager, and Charles E. Buck
assistant advertising manager. The two
.ppointees have had wide experience in
heir respective lines of work. and will
tssist Sales and Advertising Manager
:. J. Mooney in building up the Hup-
nobile selling organization.