The Washington herald., 1918-05-05
AUTO DEALERS
WILL FURNISH
U.S.MECHANICS
Plan Many Economies to
Free Men for Govern
ment Service.

The war service committee represent
ing the National Automobile Dealers
Association at a meeting held in Chi
cago recently made the following rec-
concentrations to A. w. Shaw, chair
man of the commercial economy board.
After investigating the situation it
was the opinion of the committee that
their best service to the government
would be in assisting in raising me
chanics and automobile drivers and to
accomplish this that it was necessary
to rearrange some of the practices
now prevalent in the conducting OF
the retail automobile business.
National Dealers to Help
r. W. A. Vesper. president of the
National Automobile Dealers Associa-
ton and chairman of the war service
committee, conferred with Mr.. Shaw
on Tuesday of this week and arranged
that the National Association should
further this work and steps will be
taken to this end Immediately. Rec
concentrations niade will receive wide
circulation and will be sent to all of
the affiliated associations in all of the
cities where dealer organizations now
exist and in those places where no as
sociations are already organized such
will be formed to take over the work.
In discussing the matter Mr.. Vesper
said that automobile dealers generally
were extremely interested in this
movement and already declared their
willingness to cooperate with the
committee to the fullest extent
Meetings will be held in all of the
principal cities and the proposition
will be presented to the bodies before
any immediate action will be taken.
War Service Committee Report.
1. Unnecessary Service-CarefuI in
Vestigation has disclosed the fact that
unnecessary service, requiring the use
of mechanics. whose services might be
dispensed with and released for the
use of the government or for work in
other channels. due to the practice of
issuing free service coupon books,
service cards. and other unnecessary
work done because of custom-for a
great majority of the work is of minor
character, such as adjustments, etc,
which the owner should make himself
can be eliminated and a very ma
tcIiaI saving of man power be made.
ton of the mechanical work
done on Sundays is occasioned
by the use of cars almost en-
tirely for pleasure purposes and
is usually emergency service on
the road 1t is suggested that proper
curtailment of this Sunday service
will bring about a material saving of
labor and release mechanics.
5. Night Service-A substantial saw
ing of mechanics time can be made by
the elimination of all-night service eX-
cspt where absolutely necessary for
cars used in actual essential pursuits,
including work OH commercial vehicles
in use for commercial purposes and on
trucks which may require attention.
1t is suggested that it is entirely prac-
ticable that the work be handled at
some one designated shop or in larger
places divided up among a few, thus
releasing n large amount of labor now
necessary to keep open a number of
establishments.
Mechanical Education.
l. Education of Mechanics-It is en-
tirely practical for dealers associa-
tions in larger cities to establish
classes for the purpose of educating
mechanics, drivers, etc, and for
shops generally to encourage appren-
tices In smaller cities, where no
association exists, classes may be
formed by the cooperation of deal
eTs and could be held in garages in
the evening and at odd times.
j. Establishing cash basis-It has
been demonstrated that the cash
basis for labor. parts and supplies
is of great economical value, as it
eliminates a lot of unnecessary work,
reduces clerical help and office MAIN
tenance and reduces losses. Also,
much unnecessary work is saved when
cash payment is required because it
has been demonstrated, in towns
working on cash basis, users do
large amount of the ordinary small
adjustment work themselves and only
call upon the mechanic when actual
necessity requires it.
s. Education Of Csers-It is clearly
evident that users are not properly
informed regarding the handling of
the cars, thus making demands for
service and unnecessary work ex-
tremely great. If a user is properly
instructed in the handling of his car
and urged to keep his car properly
equipped. to see that his tools are
in order and all there. that his jack
is in working condition, that his
extra inner tube and other extra
equipment is in proper repair, a large
amount Of unnecessary mechanics
time will be saved, as it has been
demonstrated by investigation that a
large proportion of the emergency
work is occasioned because the users
equipment Is not in proper condition
80 that he can take care of his emer-
gency or road repairs himself.
stoppage of Waste.
:. Elimination Of waste-Inquiry de-
velops the fact that a greas deal
of material, such as gasoline, oil,
grease. etc, can be saved by proper
shop methods, and immediate steps
have been taken to canyass this i'm
portant matter in systematic manner
s. Reduction in Demonstrating Ex-
pense-While- not a general practice.
yet in some localities a large reduc-
tiOn in the number of demonstrating
cars and cars used by statesmen will
for the dealer as well as time re-
, quired in keeping these demonstrat-
ing cars in order.
Melvin T. COPELAND. secretary of the
board. m acknowledging report of
the committee, said: I'VE are glad
to learn that your committee has
gone into. the subject so thoroughly
In working out measures of conserv-
ing materials and labor in your trade.
Under present conditions it is highly
important that every practical means
Il conservation be put into effect in