Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-06
All! A Tourist! ClinkI


The days of lush Spring are with US,
and the tourists, too. The pre-EaSter
crowds Of school boys and girls, the
cars with out-of-town license plates
and the "rubber-neck" buses bullying
with pop-eyed sightseers are the nat
ural and unexpected Accomplishments Of
bursting buds and blooming pansy beds
in Washington. But this year they
were never more welcome. Have you
ever, dear Washingtonian, stopped
when you saw a tourist and figured
out just what his presence in this Capt.
tai Of the Nation meant to you in
cash? Never mind doing it. 1t has
already been done for you and here
Is what it amounts to:
During the hearings on the District
appropriation bill Mr.. Simmons Of
Nebraska and some of the better known
officers of the municipal government
engaged in one Of those chatty, friendly
little conversations over the old issue
Of who gets the benefits of parks in
Washington matter that probably
was debated many a balmy evening
under the apple tree in the Garden of
Eden. AS usual, there was no decision
and the mystery remained unSolved.
But in the course Of the conversation
Col. Ladue suggested that while the
District may get the benefit of park
expenditures, one does see a lot of
foreign automobile tags on the streets
here. Then
the District of Columbia Is going to
make something out of every one Of
them. If you have driven an automo-
bile to any extent around here, you
will recognize the fact that if we did
not have them here it would make
quite difference.
Col. Ladue-Yes, If we did not have
them here.
Mr.. Thatcher-The whole question is
fact that it Is the National Capital
does add to the attractivenesS, but it
adds to the expense.
Mr.. Simmons-It is q fair estimate,
/, think, to say that for every foreign
automobile that spends @ day IN WASH
ington, at least $25 is brought into the
city and spent here that is among
those who stay at the hotels and among
those. who make purchases in the stores.
1t may be higher than that. but think
that IS q fair average. I think it Is
ialr TO say that for every foreign car
that Is here, Washington business men.
In some form or another are getting
$25 q day out Of each one Of those
cars.
30 there 1t is! If you are a Government
employe, Mr.. Washingtonian, owning
and paying taxes on your modest home,
what fun 1t will be to go home Of a
lazy Spring evening and laugh of the
next months bills with CHEEKY Never
mind, dear, saw $4,000 worth Of for
eign license tags on the streets today.
II this keeps up we can buy the new
car after ALP
Or, If you are one of the 400 firms"
represented in the membership Of the
Merchants & Manufacturer Associa-
ton, post q boy at the Lincoln Me-
mortal and let him count the out-of-
town automobiles. At the end Of the
days work, compute each automobile
Is being worth 61A cents to you or your
firm and add the total to the credit
side Of your ledger. In this manner
we will eventually all get rich and buy
more parks and demand other embel-
lishments in order to trap the unwary
tourist and extract his $25-a-day fee
an extracting procedure already fol-
lowed, with profit, by the guides at the
United States Capitol.
In other words. when you see tour
list, rattle the change in your pocket,
smile and say "C1inkI Clink!"
So please, kind Congress, do not
abolish the tourists. AS Mr.. Simmons
20 wisely says, ut would make quite o
difference"