Evening star., 1924-02-10
COUzENS' CHARGE
AGAIN PROTESTED
Motor Producers Deny SEN
ator's Statement Regarding
War Taxes on Industry.

Renewing their demand upon Sena-
tor CouZeus for a correction of his
statement that the motor industry is
not interested in II repeal of the war
excise taxes on motor cars, trucks
and parts thirteen executives OF the
motor industry of Michigan recently
scnt him q. telegram asking nm 10
CORRECTLY set forth their opposition to
these levieS
Senator Couzens' statement was
made on thu. floor of the Senate jan
wary 81. ON January IS seven of the
Detroit manufacturers wired him
asking for Il correction. On January
20, the present wire recites. the De-
troit News quoted the senator in an
article dictated by him as in effect
renewing his earlier charges,
Subsistence of NeSsa:;c.
After brief resume Of the several
steps taken by the National Automo-
lille Chamber Of Commerce and repre-
Sentatives of motor users to obtain
relief from these leVies. which direct
lH affect the owners OF io'ooo ooo
vehicles the wire says: THE large
7tumber of people in Michigan idenu-
industry expect YOU to correctly
state their attitude.
The wire in full follows:
Senator CouZcns:
"RepreSenting as We do large
number cf Michigan's leading auto
mobile companies we again ask you
TO correctly state our attitude regard
ing the removal of war excise tax on
motor cars. motor trucks and parts
The Detroit News Of January -
quotes you in statement You dtc-
tated as saying that leading automo-
bile manufacturers YOU had talked
with two months ago were not con-
rerned about the removal of the eX-
else tax.
cite Prior Protest.
THE facts are that before your hrst
published statement we made pro-
test to the ways and means commit
tee. the proper body to receive such
protests and our protest was of pub
lie record open to you had you posted
yourself before making your public
statement which so incorrectly eX-
presses our attitude. AS Il represent
ative Of this state we feel 1t was
YOUR duty TO find more accurately the
sentiment Of Your constituency re-
garding such important questions at
fectiug the prosperity and wage
earners of Michigan
statement that the consumers ha We
not been heard from. You Will flnd
that the consumers of motor EehlcleS
were properly represented before the
ways and mans committee and made
energetic requests for the repeal of
the automobile taxes.
AI,cge Unfair Treatment.
Since the ways and means commit
tee has voted to remove or reduce al
most all of the war excise taxes ex-
rcpt those on the automobile owner
we feel that he is thereby subjected
10 AN unfair discrimination. We
know that fifteen million motor We
hicic owners are vitality Interested in
this subject.
THE large number of people in
Michigan identified in various ways
with the motor industry expect you
70 correctly state their attitude.
The message wds signed by Harry
II. Basset. :. president. Buick Motor
Company; Roy u. Chaplin, chairman
ot the board. Hudson Motor Car Com
pany; William l.. Day, president.
George y. Hannum. president. Oak,
land Motor Car Company; A. b. c.
Hardy, president, Olds Motor Works.;
Charles D. Hastings, president, Hupp
Motor Car Corporation: FREDERICK D.
Haynes, president, Dodge Brothers'
Harry NJ. Jewett, pesident. Paige De
toit Motor Car Company; W. S: hnud-
sen. general manager. Chevrolet Mo-
TOR Company; Alvan Macauley. pres
dent. Packard Motor Car Company;
Martin l.. Pulcher. president, Fed
eral Motor Truck Company; Heroert
il. Rice, president, Cadillac Motor
Car Company: Richard H. Scott; pres
dent. REQ Motor Company; Walter P.
Chrvster, chairman of the board,
MAXWELL Motor Company.