The Washington herald., 1920-07-14
GERMANS FEAR
U. S. MOTORS
Special Clause In Traffic
Regulations Virtually
Bars American Autos.
GASOLINE IS RATIoNED
Automobiles Licensed for
Business Purposes
Exclusively.
GASOLINE IS RATIoNED
by y. ii. CONGER.
twashington Hernld-Public Ledger
Service, Special Gable Dispatch.)


Iwashington HeraId-PubIic Ledger
Service, Special Gable Dispatch)
Berlin. July 13.-German automo-
bile manufacturers, who realize
that the present prohibition against
the importation of foreign-built
automobiles cannot be permanently
maintained. are seeking to protect
themselves against foreign competi-
tion. particularly the everywhere
dreaded invasion of the American
car. by an apparently harmless
paragraph in a draft law modifying
the present statute regulations on
automobile traffic. The proposed
law prescribes certain standards OF
construction to which automobiles
built in Germany must conform,
the object being to insure safety OF
traffic. but an additional paragraph
provides that only automobiles
which meet these specifications may
be used in this country.
Foreign built automobiles. par
ticularly the American cars. are
not apt to conform exactly with
they may have abundant margin OF
safety of construction and opera
ton. As the slightest deviation from
the standard types will, according
10 the measure. prevent the use OF
the car on German roads. the pro-
viso. it is believed, will operate in
practice as an absolute prohloltlon
against foreign-built cars.
he ~ which
a short time ago was very brisk ow-
ing to the low German exchange, has
now virtually ceased, high German
car prices reckoned in Scent in
stead of 1-cent marks having reach
ed or passed foreign prices. German
manufacturer. who at the low point
OF the mark were expecting to con-
quer world markets. now complain
that even their home trade is dead.
The same bar against the importa-
tion of luxuries. which has protect
ed them against foreign cOmpeti-
tion, also operates against the i'm
portation of gasoline, and as the
home supply of benzol. a gasoline
substitute manufactured from coal
tar. and the limited amounts of inn
ported gasoline which the govern
ment authorizes are strictly ration
ed, the sale of pleasure cars has
virtually ceased. The automobile
trade is therefore agitating for A
removal of the restrictions upon the
importation of gasoline and upon
the uses to which cars may be put
in order to revive home business.
At present cars are licensed only
for business purposes, and police
traps are cons family set in the vi
cinity of race tracks. suburban re-
sorts. etc. especially on Sundays.
to see that aUtoT Cbiles are being
used Only on business erranGs and
C1ly by persons to whcm the Ii
cense has bean granted. The pres
snce OF ladies in private car is
Usually inJerT reted as an ;ndiCa-
lion Of Illegal Use. Under these cir
cumstanCes tho Irivate buyer is
ccasinS to invest in cars which he
cannot use.
A. present prices a E:arket would
undoub- cLily be found for the Amer
lean motor of the cheaper grades
in Germany IL the import reStric-
tfon were rem oveC: and the free use
of gasoline authorized. German
cars have steadily risen in price
ewing TO increasing cost of ma
tcriaIs and the tieh T'ages pai
wprkmc1. and even secondhand
machines are quoted at prices well
above those prevailing in the United
States for new machines tf many
Of the popular makes. 4 German
agent recently seeking informa til n
regarding an agency for a we'll
knzwn American Gtcmohile de-
clared that even or basis Cf the
retail price in the United Stat":;
plus freight ard imp'rt duty. he
could see n profit in selling in COM
petition with German cars of the
corresponding class.
CCopyright. 1910. by Public Ledger Coz