Arizona republican., 1920-03-07
State Dealers To Be Organized For Purpose
 Of Affiliating With National Organization
FIELD MAN FUR N. 4. ,. 4. TELLS
 OF WAR RECORD
BY ROBERT E. M..GNER Field Secretary, National Automobile
 Dealers Association


 The record of the automobile in the war is paralleled only by the occom- plishments of the dealers in the same cause. No greater patriotism has been shown, no effort was greater than that of the automobile trade during the pe- riod of conflict.
 The 27,O00 dealers throughout the country were led during that period by the National Automobile Dealers as- sociation. Not only led, but saved and led during that time for the prosperous season on which we now are em- barking
 The National Automobile Dealers association obtained the elimination or the automobile from the mon essen tiaI' list during the war and the sub sequent elimination of the automobile industry's employees from the operation of the work or fight" order. Under this ruling, automobile mechanics were classed with bartenders. poolroom markers, race touts, and the like. and told to get into the army or find regular job" Due to the represen- tation of this association, the war de- partment was quickly convinced that an automobile mechanic had 'reg- ular job and that he was a vitalfy necessary factor in keeping the wheels of civilian accomplishment turning.
 The association is proud of it's pro- gram of war economies, still in effect largely throughout the country, illus trating that the program was not only sound for war time, but was even bet ter in pieace time. The association carried on a campaign to eliminate waste, to dispense with the unneces- sary expense of demonstration. recom- mended Sunday and night closing of dealer establishments, indorsed and put into operation the cash basis and effected many similar economies.
 U. s. Prison for Auto Thieves
 The greatest single feat of construc- tive legislation ever offered to the automobile trade is the "Dyer bill," technically known as the National Mo tor Vehicle Theft act. This measure was passed by the 1919 special session of congress, convened to discuss pro- hibition, the peace treaty, high cost of living labor trouble and railroad legislation. Though many of the par ticular measures for which this session was called have not yet been settled, the National Automobile Dealers, as- Sociation was able to get through it's bill. providing that whenever a person steals an automobile and drives it from one state to another, he has committed federal offense, punishable by a fine of 5000 or up to five years in the penitentiary, or both fine and impri- sornent.
 Last year in 21 cities of the United States there were stolen more than 27 900 automobiles valued at more than s2s, COG, 900. Of this number, there were about 5000 automobiles valued at more than s5,000,000 which never were re- covered.
 As a result of the Dyer sBilr' the National Automobile Dealers asso- citation believes it will be able to effect an adjustment of existing insurance rates, thus saving automobile owners hundreds and thousands of dollars a year.
 War Tax Problems
 The National Automobile Dealers association has successfully handled the war tax problems of hundreds of dealers throghout the United States There is now no point of issue between the association and the internal rev. enue department over the interpreta- tion of the tax, n condition brought about largely by the fact that this as- sociation as a body has handled all single complaints and arrived at an agreement before taking these prob ems up with the revenue department. We maintain representative in Washington exclusively for this pur- pose. Through the solicitation of the Ma -ional Automobile Dealers association | -he revenue department has finally | ie.'oAiAcA ' U uSh CiidSS4S as d unit or I sale and is allowing a per cent tax 1 on truck chassis instead of it's orig l nal classification of per cent. A ruck chassis is TOW classified as the 1 init of sale. not a part This onS classification alone has | saved dealers hundreds and perhaps | thousands of dollars in the collection l ,f the tax
 Prohibition and the Automobile
 (Continued on Page Two)