Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-08
Washington Ticker
BY CLINTON COFFIN,
ASEnciated prexs Financial Vyrita

Announcement this week by the
Packard Motor Co.. that its Diesel type
airplane engine has been granted APP
proved certificate by the Commerce De-
partmeEt comedies with the promulga-
ton of an official report on the Gov
ernment'S engine testing activities.
There are now about Is distinct types
OF motors available for air work, the
aeronautics branch of the Commerce
Department says, while % motors of
different makes have been certified as
approved for installation in licensed air.
craft. The testing involves prolonged
operation of the motors under condi-
tions allowing the measurement of
power developed and an estimate of
deterioration sustained by the machine
in the trials.
1.-THE Importance of the work is at
tested by the fact that less than SO
per cent of engines so far tested have
successfully passed the Government re-
quirements on the first trial." the state
ment says of the system. This shows
conclusively the necessity of conducting
type tests before authorizing the use of
new types Of engines in licensed air.
craft"
American shipyardS noted an increase
or business during February as COM
pared with January of this year. Fig
ureS assembled by the Government
placed the total number of steel YES
sells under construction in the United
States February /, at 220, while on
January the number on the ways was
but 200.
The size of the vessels under con-
structlon In February was also slightly
greater than that of those under way
in January. For the latter month the
tonnage OF vessels building was re-
ported at 367,58 gross tons, while the
total Tor January was but 100000 tons.
While the French government, in
connection with its tariff and tax law
changes, has been highly annoying to
the American motor manufacturing
trade during recent months, it has also
taken action which may offset the I'M
pleaSantness a trifle. Though Ameri-
car cars shipped there will have to
bear greatly enhanced rate of i'm
port duty, as result of new laws
they will not be so highly taxed under
luxury classification after they once
get into France. This is the minor
benefit reported from Paris by American
trade observers as likely to be expert
| enced by world automobile manufac-
turers from recent French decision to
cut the luxury tax rate on automobile
sales from IL to 10 per cent.
Though Gates w. McGarrah, former
chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York, is en- route to Europe to
| accept a dictatorship and perhaps the
| post of managing head OF the new
| International Bank now in process of
organization to handle German repara-
| lions settlements, the American Gov
! eminent under the Hoover administra-
| ton is pointedly keeping clear of that
enterprise Ogden Mills. Undersecre-
| tary of the Treasury, took occasion in
an address last night to point out that
| the Americans who associate with that
vast new enterprise are acting in a
private capacity and distinctly without
| the association of this Government.
THE International Bank was created
primarily to receive and distribute
PREPARATION payments" Mr.. Mills said
I'VE did not participate in the fixing
or apportioning among creditors of the
sums to be paid by Germany; we had
no share in the attempts to collect
| those sums. Why should We, at this
| late date, reverse q ng-established
policy and make ourselves responsible
| for the receipt, mobilization and dis
| tribution of German reparation pay
ments? If We were officially repre-
scented on the bank board or upon the
so-called advisory committee we would
| find ourselves in the position of arhiter,
called upon to settle and decide q con-
| troversial and dif1cult European ques-
! ton in which we have no interest"