Evening journal., 1917-03-13
AUTO DRIVERS AGAIN
BOOST Good ROADS
Former Governor Miller Be-
IieveS Highways Should
be Made Wider
ASSOCIATION AT
ANNUAL BANQUET

Members and guests of the Della
ware Automobile Association made
merry at the Hotel DUPONT last even
ing. the occasion being the annual
banquet Of the organization. The at
tendance numberer more than ll5 per-
sons. and the affair proved one of the
most successful in the associations
history.
Tne hrst speaker OF the evening
ras former Governor Charles K. Mil
Ter. He was introduced by John u.
Bird. president Of the Delaware Auto
mobile Association and chairman OF
he banquet.
Mr.. Miller's speech was mostly
.emlniscent and filled with anecdotes.
IA smoke on he great growth OF au-
.omobiling and of the automobile IN
dustry throughout the world and pre-
sicted that in the future the horse
would become a curiosity and that
ravcl and transportation kould lie
by automobile and by truck almost
exclusively.
Spcakin9 of the roads, Mr.. Miller pre-
dictcd that this spring would see them
in worse condition than ever before
owing to the heavy freezes and thaws.
lie advocated not only a change IN road
construction. but believed that all roads
should be Of such width as 70 make
Il casv Tor cars 20 pass without running
into bitches. In emphasizing the danger
of narrow roads. Mr.. Miller said that on
a recent trip OF sixteen miles he saw
Eve cars ditched and one turned over.
The address of DR.. II. w. Rowe. OF
Baltimore, Nd, president OF the Ameri-
can Automobile Association. dealt main
lv with the troubles that had confronted
the automobilists from the beginning Of
this mode OF locomotion, and emphasized
particularly the necessity Of legislating
for and against the pedestrians in the
Interest Of safety.
Mayor Price told several humorous
stories. As q layman Mayor Price said he
felt the need OF doing away with reck-
less driving and with glaring headlights.
Whenever he saw an automobile with
dazzling lights being driven through tho
citv the mayor said he felt sure the
owner Of the ear was not member OF
the Delaware Automobile Association.
A. J. Batchelder Of Washington,
d. g.. chairman OF the executive COM
mittee Of the American Automobile
Association, discussed the question
Of Federal appropriations for good
roads. He told of the ohjec(on that
had been raised IN Congress TO such
aid on the grounds that the eastern
states would be paying for the roads
OF the south and west He pointed
out that the revenue OF the govern
ment while II might be confined in
its collection TO certain restricted
areas. was borne by the consumers all
over the country so that all bore an
equal pert IN the taxation and rev
enuc
Joseph Bancroft, former president
OF the association, explained the good
roads BIN which at present IS in the
hands Of Senate committee at
Dover. The bill calls for the use
of automobile license taxes, etc. foc
the building and maintaining Of
roads. Last year Mr.. Bancroft said
the tax amounted to approximately
$50 doc. He said that since the State
needed every cent of revenue II was
now obtaining and the good roads
bill contemplated the use of revenue
accruing from automobiles for the
highways It was necessary that some
additional source OF revenue be
found
rhe guests OF honor we're: Former
Governor Charles r. Miller, Mayor
James r. Price, Dr. II. w Rowe, OF
Baltimore; A. ]. Eatchelder, Of Wash
ington. d. c.. and Joseph Bancroft
former president OF the association
Three other guests who were unable
To attend We're Governor John G
Townsend, Jr., Robert 4. Hooper, O
the p q &adelphia Automobile Club
and Josiah Marvel.
Members and other guests who at
tended were: Charles ]. Girvin. Hol