Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-02
1881 AUTO TAG SALE
TO PUBLIC IS BEGUN
WITH EARLY RUSH
Licenses Must Be Bought
by January II to Avoid
Penalty.
MAN WAITS ALL NIGHT
TO BUY FIRST PLATES
New System Insures Only Short
Wait in Line in Order
to Pay Fees.

The sale of 1881 automobile tags tt
Washington motorists started off witt
a rush this morning and by IL o'clock
approximately 5000 pairs of pilates hao
been distributed. In addition to these
about 10000 had previously been sole
in large groups to Government depart
ments and other agencies so that by the
end of the day it is expected that
quarter of the entire sale, estimated at
10000 tags, will be completed.
Spends Night to Get Tag.
The early bird who got Ell this year
was Francis Mcdaniel, 81 Q sTeet
northeast. Mr.. Mcdaniel took nc
chance He said he planted himself in
front IF the cashiers cage at $50
o'clock yesterday afternoon. In order
to while away the intervening hours
he had with him portable radio set
His unexpected tactics robbed William
p. Story, 2113 M street, chauffeur 1or
Mrs. Anna La Fontaine, OF the honor
of being first in line, which ne mao neio
for the two previous years. He hao 10
be content with E-2.
Applicants said today the arrange
ments this year were considerably bet
approximately two and half hours to
get a tag. Today the task required 5O
minutes at the rush peak, but those
who came early said they obtained their
tags in is minutes. Officials explained
this was accomplished by the extensive
sale of tags previous to the opening OF
public sale and by stationing four
cashiers along the line to take the price
Of the tags and the personal tax.
DeadIine Set for January IL.
The District Binding sale proceeded
at a reported speed of approximately
$50 per hour, or about one every flve
seconds.
Tags may be obtained at the Dis
trict Building until O'Clock each after
noon. Car owners have until Janu-
airy II in which to buy their tags. After
that date their cars must display 1881
tags IN order to avoid the penalty OF
arrest for driving with dead tags"
In each case, those who come to buy
tags should be prepared to pay not only
the 81 for the plates. but the personal
tax on the car, which must be paid
for a year in advance. This tax Is
calculated at the rate OF $i.7O per 500
valuation as listed in the automobile
dealers blue book.
Auto Association Helps.
James l.. Meredith, $685. Georgia ave-
nue., who arose early in order to secure
a 1881 license tag with low number,
drew XII when the sale Of plates opened
at the Offices of the District of Columbia
division of the American Automobile
Association this morning at 8 O'Clock.
Mr. Meredith was in line about $50
Mary A. Mangan, 1887 l. street, was
next in line and obtained K-2, While
William P. Brown, l748 Church street,
who got KS, completed the trio secur-
ing the coveted low numbers.
Sale of license tags to the general
public at A. A. A. headquarters is part
of the program of the District Commits
sioners to facilitate the distribution of
1881 tags, and for the first time in the
annual rush they may be secured latter
hours" This is made possible by the
fact that the A. A. A. offices will remain
open from 8 o'clock in the morning I'M
til in the evening.