The Washington times., 1926-12-29

It may seem like a far cry
amusing in the process of plan
automobile license tags, but
work Of licensing automobiles
relieve the monotony and grin
Licensing is in full swing an
by the clerks and officials, OF
of the various States. In the
thing seems to be chaotic ano
exceptional motorist to provide
Every year it starts with the per-
sons who want specific numbers for
certain reasons and ends with the
man who complains because his
license plate is so big it acts as a
radiator cover and causes his engine
to 'oVerheat in summer. And in
between there are many episodes
worth recording.
In the State of Connecticut, for
Instance, new ruling went into
effect in licensing for 1925 reQuir-
ing all applicants to include at least
enc OF their given names when
signing up for a set of plates.
Heretofore it has been acceptable
to the department to give simply
the initials and last name, but for
purposes of more adequate identi-
ficatiOn this was not as satisfactory
as It should be.
1t seemed like q very simple re-
guest to make OF applicants and
certainly no one anticipated that
thSre would be any objections
raised.
But the department has been
amazed and amused at the compare
lively large number Of persons who
prefer their initials to their given
names.
One. applicant, when informed
that his initials and last name were
not enough. declared that he would
rather go without tags than reveal
his first name.
Considerable embarrassment has
baen noted where car owners made
out their revised application with
their full names therein. 1t also has
bnen source OF enlightenment to the
department employees. Apparently
It takes the motor vehicle licensing
DEPARTMENTS OF the country to prove
the need for reform IN human no.
nnenclature.
Name Choice Given
The problem is solved neatly for
those who absolutely refuse to give
their first name. at least in Con-
necticut. There the applicant has
the option of giving his first or mid
de name, and may hop to the latter
post haste.
One of the New England States
continues to get considerable anuse-
nent from slightly confusing cues
ton propounded in its application:
On the card the motorist is asked:
as this an application for a part
nership. firm or individual?
''State which,"
Occasionally someone who is not
90 well versed in the nuances of
ques'ionairing writes down. proudly
and with complete assurance. the
name of his State.
One Of the heart-rending problems
Of watching them acquire license
plates is the brain flag experienced
by those poor motorists who try to
figure out the cubic inch displace-
ment of their engines.
The States which license on this
basis always furnish a formula for
working out this figure from the en-
gine's bore and stroke. and some
novel ideas in mathematics result
from the actual process OF figuring.
Often the weary motorist will go
20 clerk with his figures and that
Il usually amusing too because few
Of the clerks know how to figure
displacement.
They simply run their fingers
down the columns of a special book
covering all displacements for all
models and makes of cars. 1t is the
safer way.
Many car owners who take their
good time ana exhaust their patience
working out the figures, and who
later discover that the clerk would
have been glad to give the exact
verified figure from the book, learn
anew that tact usually is head and
shoulders above blind labor.
Interesting Episode
An amusing story is told of one
applicant who, knowing the dispiace'
ment of his engine tried to worK
back to figure out the bore and
stroke.
you've made mistake" he was
Informed by the clerk.
did I?' he asked, puzzled.
''That's funny because / worked II
out very carefully"
You're about sixteen cuolc
inches too low on the d1splace'
ment," the clerk informed him,
showing him the exact figure for
such a bore and stroke as given in
the book OF tables.
1t so happened that the bore and
stroke matched that OF a larger
engine model of the make OF car ne
drove. The clerk jumped to the
conclusion that the motorist had