The Washington herald., 1916-01-05
MOTOR GOSSIP
By Isl" GR0GAN

Autoists in Washington are wondering
IL they are to be forced to meet the
preparedness of the United states IL
appears that they have either been har-
messed or are to have put upon them the
taxes for about every other thing OF I'M
portanCe.
Motorists in the Capital now pay three
license taXes-one for the District, one
for MARYLAND, one for Virginia-and this
DESPITE the fact that car-owners hVinS
in the States have to pay but one. They
also meet their personal property taxes
pay tolIgate fees in some states IN
which they travel, and in others are
forced TO aid In the raising OF funds for
the upkeep of the roads, which latter
tax they are ever glad to meet
But the District autoists are especially
angry at a proposition put before Con-
gress yesterday by Representative Cary.
Of wisconsin one OF the Republican
members of the District Committee. He
would have the motorists pay an unusual
lv high tax to create a fund for retired
policemen. He wants the tax based upon
the horsepower of their cars.
or course automobile men are in hearty
sympathy with the idea of the police
mans pension. They believe this fund
should be materially added to. but why
the expensive tax upon them alone? They
say they are now paying enough taxes
and that they should not be discriminat-
ed against in this instance. Dog taxes
and a number OF special licenses would
also be included by the Wisconsin MEM
Der to help this pension fund. but his
bill does not specify that they shall be
one penny higher than they are now.
Congress has taken up the question
of the advance in gasoline. Yesterday
came the announcement by the Texas
Oil Company, which supplies goodly
share of the gasoline used in the Dis
trict, that its price had been raised one
cent a gallon, or q IL cents a gallon to
wholesalers and garage men. similar
increase went into effect In Maryland.
Delaware and New Jersey according to
Manager G. E. Parsells, Of Washington.
The Standard Oil Company and other
concerns, which also supply gasoline,
have not made any change in their whole
sale price, which is now 70 1-2 cents a
gallon.
Motorists cannot understand why the
value of this necessity with them has
gone up so high. In fact they argue
that the war in Europe should make 1t
cheaper in this country; whereas, on the
other hand, gasoline men assert that this
is one of the chief reasons why 1t should
be so high. Oil is now selling at much
higher figures than 1t did when gasoline
could be purcha sed for IS cents a gal
lon This also is cited by the gasoline
men as a cause for the higher price.
Figures Just issued by the Department
of Commerce tend to clear the popular
suspicion that automobiles are greatly
responsible for the increa sed accidental
death rate in the United States. From
1909 to 1914, the number Of machines in
creased more than twice as rapidly as
did the deaths resulting from them.
Autos increased 775 per cent: deaths, SIS
per cent. Two of the principal causes
for this bettered condition are the reduc-
tion in average mileage OF a machine,
and the care and regard for public SAT-
ETY. practiced by drivers.
In an interview yesterday on the fu-
tue of the automobile business, Charles
T. Jeffcry, president of the Thomas B.
Jeffery Company, of Kenosha, Wis, stat
ed his belief that the era of price slash
ing, through which the industry has been
passing. is at an end
I'VE have always believed" said Mr..
Jeffery, that the demand of the Ameri-
can public, was for high grade quality
automobile at a moderate price. The
American man wants an automobile that
will run for long time. practically
without attention. He wants a car which
will be economical in its consumption of
gasoline and oil and easy on tires. At
the same time he does not want to be
skimped on size; he wants roomy car
in which his whole family can ride COM
fortably.
1--WE believe the manufacturer who
skimps quality in order to offer the pub
lie a sensational price, is making a SER
ious mistake. Competition is compelling
every manufacturer to produce the best
car possible for the least money. The
public will not pay an excessive price,
but the public does demand quality, and
! the fact that an increasing number OF
motor car manufacturers are talking
quality, is evidence of the very healthy
, condition of the industry"