Evening star., 1925-03-01
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

The American car owner has taken
up arms against the automobile IL
cense plate on the grounds that IL Is
f1imsy, overpriced and often ilegible.
For the last several years he has
complained regularly. but this year
he is demanding practical automo-
bile license tag, one that will serve
the purpose for which it was in
tended.
According TO reports from all sec
tions of the country, the motorist is
making certain very definite demands.
He wants a more legible plate, though
an increase in the size is not de-
sired. He wants an attractive plate.
He wants a durable plate. He even
wants one that can be attached to the
car without the customary fuSsing.
Many car owners demand d perpetual
license, one that will not have to be
discarded at the end of the year.
Coupled with these definite de-
rnands is a nation wide storm of crit
tcism of the system now in force.
Connecticut motor clubs have de-
nounced the increasing f1imsiness of
the plates supplied by their State.
New York motorists feel that with
the yellow streak plates for 1925 a
Sood looking car means nothing. Ohio
motorists are broadcasting the fact
that the State sells its plates for
sS and upward, whereas the actual
cost and expense of distribution is
somewhere around so cents.
Clearer Understanding Seen
Out OF the chaos. it is believed the
country will emerge with a clearer
understanding of the license plates
place in the scheme of things.
why a license plate, anyway ?'
many are asking. The answers range
anywhere from pure discrimination
TO Identification
People who never had to license
their horse and wagon do not see
wherein there is any justice In being
forced to license their more modern
form of transportation. The auto
mobile license tag is under such a
storm of disapproval that its very e1-
istence is threatened.
A more tolerant viewpoint holds that
the automobile license helps to iden-
tify owners, but those who concede
this contend that there is no other
possible excuse for them. With the
more liberal car owners taking this
attitude, 1t is evident that the license
plate is due for an important revi-
sion.
That the situation has developed at
ell, many believe, emphasizes the
grave danger of the average car
owners apathy toward the matter of
motor vehicle registration. The aver
age owner acts as though the matter
of licensing were in the hands of
some great secret power, whereas the
whole thing is in his own hands,
Before orders are given for the 1926
plates it is believed some of the more
progressive States will consider the
possibility that several large bodies
Of cur owners may refuse to use them
on their cars, charging misrepresen
tatton on the part of the motor We
hiole departme entS, which are supposed
TO supply tags that will identify. Thou
sands Of car owners know that cheap
plates with bad lettering do not carry
out the intent of the laws regarding
licensing for Identification purposes
and 1t is said that the motorist would
have judicial support if such d drastic
move were taken.
Q. 8. Urges Standard Plate.
Sen sing a revolt among car owners
the Federal Government has under
taken to urge upon the motor vehicle
departments the need for q standard
ICED plate. A review of the possibilities
has Just been made by Ray NJ Hud-
son, chief OF the Division of Simplified
Practice Of the Department of Com
merce who takes the position that the
great variation in plates is a serious
hindrance to the detection of crime
cars and to the development of motor
safety.
This step by the Government Is
thought to have been hastened by the
general criticism in the District OF
Columbia arising out of the discovery
that 1t costs only 1914 cents to make
a pair OF the tags distributed this
veaF. The numeral eight cannot be
told from q three on many of these
platess, yet the city of Washington has
never been in more urgent need of q
airnnliffed method of enabling wit.