Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
AUTO|STS WARNED
OF RADICAL LAWS
Urged to Unite to Defeat
Gouging Measures and
Back Others.

Within the next few months ~
State Legislatures will be in session
and the utmost in cooperation among
automobile owners will be needed to
assure the defeat OF the radical motor
legislation which will be proposed and
to secure the passage Of Il number of
important automobile measures. This
is the message broadcast to the mo-
florists of the nation by Maj. Roy +.
Britton, chairman of the Legislative
board of the American Automobile as
ISOLATION. in a bulletin just issued
from the A. A. A. headquarters in this
city.
According to Maj Britton, the
coming legislative activity through
out the country represents an oppor-
tunity for action that will not occur
again in two years, and he urges all
motorists to give their local automo
bile clubs active support.
Maj Britton states that while plans
have been completed by the A. A. A.
for taking care of the car owners
interests in the present session of
Congress and that while there arc
good reasons for believing that many
radical bills are in check, the sit
uation with the individual State is
not so encouraging.
Gasoline Tax Cited.
THE gasoline tax is an excellent
| instance of how quickly taxes and
laws can become universal before
the motorist realizes what is hap
pening," says Maj. Britton In a mes
sage to secretaries of affiliated. a. A.
y. clubs, The average motorist seems
to feel that if a bill is just local
matter 1t is of little consequence one
way or the other, whereas this very
attitude on the part of the car owner
is used to advantage by those who
advocate laws in their own interests.
when ~ State Legislatures are in
session almost anything is likely to
happen if the motorist does not watch
his step, and it is another two years
before he can seek IL repeal, even
assuming that he is powerful enough
TO get a hearing.
From all indications, judging from
information available at the A. A. A.
headquarters, the Legislatures will be
flooded with bills that are inherently
adverse to motoring. These must be
defeated, and defeated decisiyely. De-
Cisive defeat for unfair and illogical
Legislation is the only safeguard
against the possible passage of such
Legislation in adjoining or adjacent
States where the outcome of affairs
in other Legislatures is closely watched
Auto Clubs Prepared.
The automobile clubs affiliated
with the three AS are prepared to
support such legislation as the States
and the country need at this time,
but that is not saying that every pre-
caution has been taken against the
possibility of the passage of adverse
legislation. Such legislation is kept
In the background until the psyche
logical moment in order to surprise
the motorist before he has an oppor-
tunity to realize what Is happening.
Motorists throughout the country,
therefore, should be prepared TO give
their clubs every possible assistance
when the emergency calls go out.
There will be bills calling for vari
Gus forms of compulsory insurance.
The gas tax will be under revision in
many instances. with increased taxa
ton the general aim. There will be
bills advocating restrictions in the
use of cars and radical ideas devised
with the idea of coping with the &C
cident problem. Most of these bills
will place a heavier financial burden
upon the car owner If enacted, and
few of them would strike at the root
of present evils.
ION the constructive side there will
be many bills calling for the mo-
torists support, particularly those
that view the automobile owner as
some one to be helped, not restricted,
and relieved of further financial bur-
den rather than gouged. Progressive
motorists who are not S yet familiar
with the work along these lines
should get in touch with their local
clubs with a view to keeping posted
on the dates for hearings"
Holland is the home of 100000
bicycles, which is one for every third