Evening star., 1931-12-06

b4AC Pub4lC COllb1lluEo.
Even those in a seeming hurry
to get their 1882 licenses, who
hurry down to the Offices in the
old Ford Building, on PennSyl-
vania avenue, before the tags can
be distributed by mail, are not
aiding the authorities in any eX-
peditious manner. Many have
their application in an envelope,
unopened, the application un-
signed and the necessary checks
not made out. All these matters
delay a quick transaction and the
waiting lines continue to grow.
$4,000 Cars Titled.
A few days ago, the director OF
traffic reports, 10000 certificates
of title have been given out. At
a maximum of 1000 a day not
more than 10000 additional ones
can be had by the first of the
year. This means that about IS
600 machines will be prevented
from being driven on the streets
of the city January l. A time eX-
tension may be made, but by the
refusal to cooperate there will
be many a car owner Just out of
luck. Procrastination will not
only be the thief of time, but of
the privilege of driving.
The A. A. A. has a thought upon
the subject. The familiar line.
DO your Xmas shopping early"
might we'll be extended to in
Clude 1882 license tags, and mo-
tOriSts will save themselves con-
siderable inconvenience and an
noyance by avoiding the last
minute rush, according to the
District of Columbia division of
the American Automobile Asso-
citation.
1t was declared that in this day
Of national economy the wise
motoriSt will do well to include
the 1892 license fees in the holi-
day budget and secure the tags
at the earliest moment.
Aids Orderly Distribution.
"In addition to saving his own
time" it was pointed out, "the
mOtoriSt who secures his 1892
tags early helps to make possible
a more orderly distribution. In
almost every locality A. A. A. mo-
tor clubs assist car owners in pre-
pairing the application and aid
the License Bureau in distribut-
ing tags.
I'm connection with the pur-
chase of new tags, the car owner
would do we'll to check over his
registration card or title to de-
termine that the official record
of it is straight. 1t frequently
happens that serial or engine
numbers are registered incor-
rectly, through clerical or other
error, and then, in case a car is
stolen, recovery is made much
more difficult.
1T is wise precaution to
check over this information every
year. In doing so, the car owner
almost invariably will come across
marks and numbers which facili-
tate Identification of the car in
case the need ever arises, as. for
instance, when the most promi-
nent numbers are removed or de-
faced by thief"
Eighty thousand, one hundred
and forty-tWo was the total of
passengers cars, trucks and taxi
cabs sold by the factories during
the month of October, according
to a preliminary report of the
Bureau of Census. This brings
the total for the 10 months of
this year up to 2,199 $3.50 cars, but
about 80 per cent under last year.
w. A. T. A. Dinner Scheduled.
However, the Washington Au-
tomotive Trade Association, COM
posed of the city's leading dealers
and statesmen, is able to take
its troubles on the chin and
still smile. Accordingly, it is
to hold its annual dinner and
entertainment features December
II at the Mayhower. Being
its 18th annual affair, it is
described by officials in charge
as the "Hardluck dinner" Under
that heading invitations are be-
ing sent out. But the future
looks brighter, and here's hoping
the next banquet will be the
Success dinner"
Washington is not the only
city with traffic problems. E. L.
Cord, chairman of the Street and
Traffic Committee of the Nation
al Automobile Chamber of Com
merce, says that urban traffic is
seriously in need of firSt-a aid
treatment. He continues:
Retail trade of all kinds, Of
f1ce building owners, recreation
centers, restaurants, theaterS and
all agencies of urban tranSporta-
ton are struggling against the
Tightening meSheS Of congestion.
Lack Of cooperation between
the street paving department and
the police in closing off streets
for repair without regard to COM
penSating provision for traffic
flow is Illustrative Of what hap
pens when street traffic authority
is divided among half a dozen
different city departments. Less
than a score of 1876 cities with
more than $4,000 population have
a centralized traffic engineering
department with a trained traf-
fic engineer in charge.
This fact alone seems to me
rather a severe indictment of our
boaSted genius for organization
and cooperative work. Instead,
the traffic congestion problem
remains the foot ball of city pol
itics.