The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-09
PLAN TO give
AUTO fees TO
LEGION POSTS
Ora ]. Davies, Former
State Treasurer, Suggests
Law on Proposal.
COUNTY WOULD BE UNIT
Benefit to Ex-ServiCe Men
Emphasized by
Advocate.
Times Special

NJ 4 ANNEN 80
KOKOMO, Ind, Oct. 9.-Ora J.
Davies, former state treasurer Of In
diana proposes that the next state
legislature enact a statute empower
ing American Legion posts in all
counties to take over the notarizing
of automobile drivers license appli-
cations and issuance of license
plates.
Discussing the license and plate
situation and the remedy he pro-
poses. Davies says:
THE laws regarding automobile
license plates and drivers licenses
have created a demand for a lot of
notary work entailing a small fee.
This work has become so large that
IT is necessary for the secretary of
state TO farm it out TO other agen-
cies and naturally the choice of the
agent has created some dissension.
For instance, in Howard county
we have had two agencies, both
regular and lawful, issuing licenses
both for cars and drivers and nat
urally both competing for this bust
ness. This situation exists in many
places in the state and naturally
1t does not look very good for the
state of Indiana to be in the posi-
ton Of forcing business through the
Golfers Of any certain group of
persons.
Non-POlitical Service
However, there is one organiza-
ton that is entitled to every possible
favor that the state of Indiana can
give. 1t IS non-political, it is honest
and 1t certainly has proven that it
is efficient. 1t has the love and re-
spect Of all the people and that is
the American Legion.
Nov 1 propose that at the next
session, the state assembly enact a
law placing the state license bureau
in each county in charge of the
American Legion in that community
and to make it responsible to the
secretary of state.
"In that way all accusation of
political preferment will be elimin-
ated, the bureau will be placed in
the hands of a responsible home or
ganization and such income as may
be derived from issuance of the Ii
censes will go to a patriotic organi-
zation composed Of men in each
town.
Under our present laws there is
a Is cent notary fee that goes with
the issuing of every automobile
license and each drivers license.
This is a notary fee and is retained
by the person or organization max
ing out the application Of the per-
son owning the car or seeking the
permit to drive. Although the in
dividual fee is small, yet the aggre-
gate runs into thousands of dollars.
I am told that this year it will total
more than a quarter of a million
dollars in Indiana.
This money should go to the
American Legion as the representa-
tive organization of ex-service men
and the organization to which
every e~x-service man, regardless of
race, creed, religion or politics, may
belong.
Would Keep Money at Home
~I am told that the largest agent
Of the secretary of state at the pre-
sent time is the Hoosier State Auto
mobile Association. Now I have no
criticism Of the way this organiza-
ton is functioning, but I am told
that the organization is controlled
by a group Of Chicago men to whom
one would naturally expect the
profits would go. Is it necessary to
send that money out of Indiana?
LET us suppose that the bureaus
we're placed in the hands Of the
legion. The legion in each county
then would establish an Office al
place one of their men in charge.
Naturally I presume that some vet
eran unable to do hard labor would
be selected to do the actual notary
work and he would be paid the usual
salary by the legion. Then the
profits from the work would go to
that post or to the state organiza-
ton as the legion might elect.
in Howard county I believe the
net profit to the local post would be
at least $4,000 a year.
THAT would be money left here
instead Of going out of the county.
It would be placed in the local posts
treasury or would go toward a club
house or something worth while for
ROkomoo