Evening star., 1923-03-11
Each Exhibit Contains Cars
Which Approach Ideal
!. Long Sought For.
MANY TYPES IN D. c. SHOW
Crowds Will See Fine Models in
Convention Hall This
Week.
By C. HI. HITES,
Editor American MOtOrist.

Each succeeding automobile show
brings to the attention of the pros
pective purchaser an automobile more
nearly akin to perfection than any
he has ever seen before. The crowds
that throng Washington's spring
automobile show at Convention Hall
this week will, like the crowds that
have throDged other automobile shows
this year, stand entranced before the
beautiful models that will be on dis
play. and will wonder, just as other
crowds have wondered, how II will
be possible for human ingenuity to
improve on the beautiful creations
that are spread out on the floor for
their inspection.
Starting but . brief quarter CEN
tury ago with the noisy and cum
bersome contraption known as the
"horSelesS carriage" man has strlyen
ever upward toward an ideal that
appears to the casual observer 10 pc
periloCSly near attainment Tor IL
seems almost impossible that even
the vast brain power Of man VIII be
able to devise anything more perfect
than the 1923 models.
Origin OF Association.
Twenty-one years ago this month,
few far-sighted men, owners of auto
mobiles, foresaw with the manufac-
turers the immense possibilities OF
able TO vision the ever-increasing
number of cars that would eventu-
ally crowd the streets and highways;
they foreSaw the necessity for pct
ter roads to accommodate the new
type of highway transportation; they
ha
zation that would work for the in
terest Of the owner driver. and thus
vas born the American Automobile
Association.
number from few ramshackle
vehicles to over 100000 modern
cars, the American Automobile Asso-
citation has grown from mere nano-
full of men to a membership approach
ing 100000, contained in more than
600 affiliated clubs
From the first this association has
worked for the cause of good roaus.
u was an a. A. A. club that con.
tributed the first $4,000 to be spent
III furthering 2 bill to provide federal
aid for state highways, q movement
which finally eliminated In the pas,
sage of an act which has provided
several hundred millions for this
purpose, s71.500.000 Of which Will be
OF this amount s6,5o0,00O is for road
building in national forests. This
act has resulted in the construction
of 10000 miles OF federal aid roads
since the law of 1916 was adopted,
about 10000 OF this being finished
during the calendar year of 1922, and
an even greater mileage during the
coming year is expected.
The association has been active IN
various other Legislative matters;
successfully combating bills designed
to infiict further burdens Of taxation
on the automobile and furtherfng the
interests Of several measures Wn1ch
are of distinct value to the Individual
car owner.
Work of Auto Clubs.
1t is doubtful If the manufacturers
of automobiles realize the tremen-
doug benefit derived by the industry
from the cooperation OF automoplle
clubs Educational propaganda de-
signed to teach safety to both drivers
and pedestrians Is constantly dis-
rributed through the co-operatio1 OF
the leading newspapers In the Cnited
states and through club publications
The automobile club is always TO oe
found on the side of law and order
any section VIII show that very
small per capita of club membership
drivers ever get into the trarllc
court The A. \. A. prepares autnen-
tic maps and touring Information
acauainting the automobile owner
in every section with reliable infor.
nation as to road conditions IN all
narts of the country and furnishes
descriptions of trips designed 70 pro
mote touring. All these and other
interest IN the automobile have mill
tated to increase the demand rof
cars.
In corporation with the National
Automobile Chamber OF commerce
the Motor and Accessory Manufac-
turers' Association, the National Auto
mobile Dealers Association and the
Rubber Association OF America, the
American Automobile Association is
now engaged In the preparation OF
proposed uniform motor vehicle laws
which the motor vehicle conference
committee. composed of members OF
these various organizations. hopes to
see enacted in every state in the
Union. This association believes thai
when motorist has complied with
the laws Of his own state or territory
he should be permitted to drive
his automobile anywhere In the
United States without the purchase OF
an additional tag, and this assoc1a-
tion is working to that end.
The District Of Columbia division
of the A. A. A. inaugurated the move
for two-cent tax on gasoline IN
lieu OF all other taxes on, the auto.
mobile, which carried with it reciproc-
ity with Maryland and which was al.
lowed to die at the last session OF
Congress. The association has beer
assured, however. that this measure
will be introduced early in the com.
ing session and will probably be pu'
through in time to get reciprocity
with Maryland next year. Motoristl
have declared this law to be thu
fairest and most equitable methoe
of taxing the automobile that ha:
yet been devised.
Many Activities Planned.
The A. A. A. Is planning for Iarg.
activities during the coming year
Its legislative work at Washington
will be continued and the local or
ganization will continue to work fol
Washington motorists. In addition L
this the association will send speak
ers and information to states wher'
plans are under way to place addt
tional tax burdens on the shoulder
of the automobile owner in an effor
to help its local clubs defeat sucl
taxation.
Legislatures of many states are IL
session this year and every slough
man with some pet project OF his owl
70 advance turns his eyes first oi
tho automobile whenever the ques
ton Of raising additional revenu
ready pays more than double take
in proportion to It's value. than an.
other class of property, the associa.
tion proposes to help it's local club
combat any legislation designed T.
add further burdens to the automo
bile owner, lest through heavy tax
alton the automobile be placed on.
plane where 1t cannot longer b.
the recreation OF the poor man AM
the individual transportation OF tn
salesman and other business men, bu
must become toy Of the rich.