The Washington herald., 1916-02-08
By "Sr' GROGAN.

Michael Hess. southeastern represen-
tativC Of the Diamond Rubber Company.
is in the city for few days. During
his sOjurn he is hObnobbing with Bill"
Jose. manager OF the automobile sup
uly department of the National Electric
supply Company, which is the exclusive
distributors of Diamond tires in this sec
tiOn.
Increasing business has necessitated
the Guarantee Radiator and Lamp Com
pany seeking larger quarters. Their
present location at 1916 New York avenue
is not large enough and more preten-
tiOus quarters have been secured on
Fourteenth street, near Rhode Island
avenue.
Charles A. Bothell, vice president of
the Union Transfer Company. will en-
tertain the members Of the local branch
Of the Electric Vehicle Association on
Thursday evening with a description of
the electric delivery system of his COM
pany.
George Howard, who has been identi-
fed with the automobile industry since
its inception in Washington. and who is
at present connected with the Buick
Motor Company, has rendered his resig-
nation. George will go back to the rub
ber business. From Baltimore to Jack
sOnVille, which will comprise his terri
tory. he will proclaim the merits Of the
Semco tube, manufactured by the Sem
pie Rubber Company, OF Trenton, n. ].
Globe tires are the hobby OF Norman
sttnchcomb, manager of the accessory
department of the Rudolph and West
Company. As the result of his convinc-
ing arguments the number OF these tires
In use is constantly increasing in Wash
lngton.
Sentiment among the trade In Washing
ton over the proposed annual registra-
tion of motor vehicles. as proposed by
Representative Pages bill, is somewhat
divided. Under the present system, the
license taken out at the time of the pur-
chase OF the machine is good as long as
the car remains the property of the party
securing the license. However, there is
personal tax that must be paid each
year, which, in the majority of cases,
amounts to about SIS per annum.
Though the police authorizes have been
active, they are not able to apprehend
all who drive on a so-called dead
llicense"-one that was not taken out by
the purchaser of a machine. When a
new license is issued, the old one is
Cancelled. yet no record is published
giving the licenses in use and those that
have been Cancelled. Thus there is no
accurate record unless one should care
to take the trouble of examining the
records of the license clerk to determine
the exact number OF machines in Wash
ington. Nearly every one identified with
| the trade likes to know just how many
cars are in actual use. The fact that the
license money is to go for road improve
ment. instead of being turned into the
Federal treasury, is a point that many
agree is logical Today they are paying
a tax for the use of the streets of the
| city and deriving no direct benefit.
Those opposed to the idea base their
sole argument on the fact that already
We are paying enough tax and there
may be some loophole in this bill that will
| Increase this taxation.
The Page bill provides that a machine
| up to twenty-five horsepower shall be
taxed IS a year; between twenty-five and
forty horsepower, $50 a year, and over
forty horsepower, SO a year The OBJ
tect Of the horsepower tax is to provide
, special fund for the repair and main
tenance Of public highways in the Dis
trict.
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