The Washington herald., 1921-08-14
PRESIDENT DIEHL
URGES CAMPAIGN
FOR new MEMBERS
Association Needs More
Funds to Keep up Road
Information.
WILL RAISE FEES
Executive Committee Pledges
Support to Bill for High
way Commission.

Of automobiles and going on record
for more and better service to motor
car owners generally were the chief
results of the meeting Of the ex-
ecutiVe committee OF the American
Automobile Association recently
held In Washington
Considerable interest was mani
tested in this particular meeting Tor
the reason that II was expected that
a successor to the late A. @. Batch
elder would be named However,
permanent selection for the position
was not made
Morgan Acting Chairman.
D. L Morgan, OF New Haven,
Conn.,. who has been acting chair
man for several weeks, will con-
tinue in the position until q deci-
sion 10 reached
The following members Of the ex-
ecutivs board were present at the
meeting: George C. Diehl, Bunaio;
]. L. VIII, Columbus; George h
Kile, Akron. Ohio; Fred H Galley,
Cleveland; +. r. Bentley. warren
Ohio; H. G. Shirley. Towson. Nd;
Thomas G. Young. Baltimore; Will
lam Schimpf, Brooklyn, n. Y; T. A.
Croselmire, New York City; Arthur
Fifoot, Hartford; d. L. Morgan. New
Haven; s. Edward Gable, Lancaster
Pa: W. 8. Gilbreath, Detroit; Hon.
Clifford ireland. Peoria, Ill; Kane 8.
Green, PhIladslphia; N. L. Hemin-
way, New York City; l. L. Lewis
1r,. Buffalo; Richard Kennerdel'
Franklin, Pa; D. r. Reese, Scranton.
Pa: Horton Weeks, Chester, Pa;
AIb,rt 1. Tersteggs, Louisville, KY;
David Jameson. New Castle, Pa; f.
3. Bosch. Harrisburg. Pa; DR.. H NJ.
Rowe, Baltimore; William A. Jensen,
Scranton, Pa, and H. A. Bonnen'
Newark, n. J.
DiehI Gives Statement.
Pr..,dent George c. Diehl. who
presided over the netting made the
following statement after adjourn
ment:
With the evsr-growing number
Of automobiles in use has come
growing need for such an organiza-
tion as the American Automobile
Association. As a result of the in
creased demand upon the organiza-
tion for maps, road Information.
legislative activities and other
tervices such an organization should
render to motorists, II became i'm
perativs for the association to at
once increase its membership and
its membership dues to meet the
also multiplying overhead expenses.
Therefore, II was decided to, make
the necessary amendments TO the
bylaws t. obtain more revenue
with which to carry on its work.
Not only will the individual
memberships in the organization be
materially increased, but II was
voted to raise the cost of club af-
filiations- This vote was concurred
IN by members OF the board repre-
senting practically all Of the big
motor clubs Of the country which
are to be more affected by the in
crease.
Plans MembershIp Drive.
"Bsssase a widening Of the scope
OF the Organizations activities has
been urged on every hand, II was
agreed that more members and more
revenue should be forthcoming.
Plans for an intensive membership
Campaign are being formulated and
every effort will be made to solicit
every motor car owner in the United
States for either membership direct
or In one of the A. A. A. affiliated
clubs.
In addition to its increased legis-
lativs activities, II will be of special
interest to motorists to Know that
the work OF the A. A. A. touring
bureaus and map making Depart
ments will be materially broadened.
Having recently and successfully
opposed what appeared to be an un-
sound tariff on oil, the association
win for the time concentrate upon
the passage of much needed ma
tionai roads legislation, as embodied
IN tho Townsend bill. and upon the
defeating Of any plan to further
tax motor cars"
Urge Highway Commission.
Headed by President Diehl, who
acted a. spokesman, the entire COM
mittee In the afternoon called on
Senator Townsend to learn the sta
tus Of the Townsend bill and to
tender any support that the A. A. A
might be in position to give 1t hap
pened that the call was made just
after compromise was reached on
the Townsend and Dowell bills, SO
the A. A. A. oficials got the cheer
ing news first hand that q compro-
mise report was being drafted, which,
while making concessions to the
Dowel advocates, retained that fea-
ture for which Senator Townsend
and the American Automobile As
sociation has SO persistently and
consistently fouEht-a Federal high
way commission
Opposes Higher Taxes.
In reference to the recent suxges-
tion that an additional Federal tax
OF s1t be imposed upon motor car
owners. irrespective of size or power
or price. the following resolution
was 3dnpted:
whsreas. There are today some
100000 motor vehicles In the
United States. of which approxi-
mateIy' 100000 are motor trucks.
and.
whereas thesa 10000. 900 owners
are row annually paying several
separate and distinct taxes aggre-
satins s34s,7ss.s7s. or s34s7 per
car, and
whereas. on q valuation basis this
tax a1ounts to nearly per cent on
the average assessed valuation,
whichsis greater than any tax on
my other form Of property. and
Whereas, the motor vehicle han
He'd last year more than 1.ooo, ,000,-
300 tons Of freight and carried al |
most s.ooo.ooo.ooo passengers. and
Whereas. the field of motor vel
hicie taxation having been already |
pre-empfed by the States, principal |
y for the maintenance OF the more |
important roads,
Therefore. be II resolved, that this |