Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-09-21
Facts Which will Not Down.


'SNoiS vi the AutOm0Dlle Club OF Maryland
as saying over the telephone that the Au.
tomobile Club of Maryland and the three
AS of which the Maryland association is
member were backing the Adamson bill
and that Mr.. Yellott, as chairman of the
legislative board of the Three AS, had
prepared the bill that was introduced. Mr.,
Zouck now states that Mr.. Yellott has never
replied to this letter, although written him
month ago therefore, according to Mr..
Zouck, no denial has been forthcoming,
until last night. of the statement alleged
TO have been made by Mr.. Luzius to the
elect that the Automobile Club of Mary
land was behind the Adamson bill.
In letter to the State Treasurer dated
August 27 Mr.. Zouck states that his books
show that the Weller commission expended
for maintenance of the road system in
Maryland 100000 more than was re-
ceived for the purpose. He states farther,
that in the calendar year 1916 the main
tenance deficit was 100000. and that this
year it will be even greater.
For all these denials, the facts disclose
a grave crisis in the good roads situation
in Maryland. We have expended millions
upon millions to get good roads, and we
have them-the very best in the country,
with the possible exception of the Califor-
MIA system. But good roads do not stay
put. You cannot build them and then
neglect them; eternal watchfulness, eter-
nal vigilance and eternal care are the price
a State must pay if 1t would have the
best of highways.
Last night indeed, President Rowe and
Attorney Ysllott did furnish very fiery
denial of sorts. The question, however,
is not entirely whether the Adamson bill
was introduced at the instieation of the
American Automobile Association, or
whether the officers of the Maryland Auto
mobile Club had hand in framing it, 1t
is whether the Maryland organization in
dorses the bill. Mr.. Yellott is reported as
saying when Zouck says we helped to
introduce or support the Adamson bill he
states liza deliberate lie." If this is
warranted. how did the controversy arise
Certainly the natural interest of motorists
in good roads would have led Mr.. Zouck to
look instantly to the Club for help, rather
than antagonsm. Whatever its inspira-
ton, if the Adamson bill is not being sup
ported by Mr.. Yellott in his role as the
Clubs counsel, then the public is as much
in error as Mr.. Zouck. The best proof of
the Clubs attitude in favor of good roads
will be afforded when the Clubs officers
openly argue against the bill at Washing
ton. We cannot reconcile Mr.. Yellotts
statement as an expression Of his Clubs
policy with the circularization by the Club
of literature to prove the State does not
need the Washington license receipts for
road maintenance.
The matter is too vital one to be lightly
brushed aside. This State was practically
out of debt when it began to build good
roads. 1t has expended so vast an amount
that it would be the height of economic
folly to fail in continuing expenditures
with a view of maintaining that which she
has bought so dearly. This is a challenge
to the Automobile Club to come out in the
open and state just where it stands and
we do not want any officers of the Auto
mobile Club to elect themselves spokes-
men, but an open expression from the
great membership Of this Club on the very
broad question of whether they wish good
roads in Maryland maintained in the best
manner possible. or whether, through par
simony and selfishness, they are willing to
have our roads 60 to the demnition bow
vows.
There can be no small wonder that the
Automobile Club has come to be regarded
as behind the Adamson bill and prepared
to impose a heavy charge upon the tax
payers of the State for road maintenance
in order to escape having themselves to
pay their District license. What else could
be expected if Mr.. Yellott, the Clubs coun-
sci, is urging the bills passage. whether
in this particular Clubs interest or in that
of the Association of which the Club is a
Messrs. Rowe, Luzius and Yellott are
not the Automobile Club of Maryland. The
News has already taken occasion to point
out the Clubs great opportunity for good
work, for the promotion Of road building.
for increasing salty Of traffic. for bringing
here a great amount Of tourist business
and for wise direction of legislation in
which motorists are concerned. 1t can as
easily kill that opportunity for itself and
it will kill il as dead as doornails if it once
suffers the impression to get abroad. with
reasonable proof, that il is aligned. with
or through its officers. against the public
interests Of the State.
Not all motorists, by any means. are
of the Automobile Club. Those
who are not certainly do not propose to
see the Club or the officers Of the Club call
down on them the States wrath and tax
ing power. II is not enough that Messrs.
Luzius, Rowe and Yellott should now seek
cover or that the controversy should be
allowed to drop unsettled. The Club must
clear its skirts Of all suspicion. and il can
do so only by formal avowal that it is for
Maryland and not for Washington. If it
will not do this, then, for their own pro-
lection, it is time for the great mass OF
motorists to band together and
teach the Automobile Club what's what.
Osborne |. Yelott has resigned as assist
ant general counsel to the Public Service
Commission Of Maryland to take effect
October I. His successor has not yet been
chosen. The appointment is to be made
by General Counsel William Cabell Bruce
The resignation Of Mr.. Yellott is a re-
anil of hia activity in the hdht Of the An