Evening star., 1933-11-05


helper, the Public Works Ad-
ministration.
One of these benefits is construction
and maintenance of various highways
throughout the District of Columbia.
Many Of these schemes now under way
or planned for would not have been
considered at this time had it not been
for these new available funds. These
funds also take care Of bridge con-
struction work, which not only enhance
the beauty Of the city, but aid traffic
in general.
A. A. A. Finds Joker"
Writing Of the N. r. A. and the
P w A one is reminded of another
set Of initials now In use today. This
is the A. A. A. but not the Agricul-
ture Adjustment Administration. 1t is an
old friend of the public, the American
Automobile Association. This motoring
organization has dug up the following:
Motor vehicle owners are warned by
the American Automobile Association
that as result of little joker in
the used car valuation set-up under the
N. R. A. dealer code. the tax assessor
may hike the taxes even on vehicles Of
ancient vintage
The books will quote a higher
figure as the in value of your old
model, Mr.. Motorist," says the A. A. A.,
but it is not worth more-except to
tax assessors. who may apply the new
figures literally and without reference
to the fact that these figures are per-
Missile maXimurns, whereas the old
figures were merely minimum base
for trading purposes"
The A. A: A points out that. while
the regional valuation books Of the
dealers have not as yet been issued,
other books based on the N. r. A. code
are already in circulation. which have
heretofore been used by tax assessors.
The A. A. A. statement further states !:
mo less than 16 States use book
values and appraisals in determining
personal property taxes on the automo-
bile. while in some States values are
used as the basis for levying registra-
ton fees. In view Of this practice, it
is highly important that tax assessors
take into consideration the difference
between the old and the new methods
of valuation.
Under the N. r. A. dealer code, max
imum allowances for trade-ins are COM
puted on the basis of average sale prices
for the previous six days. These maxi
mum figures (from which deductions
for selling and handling charges must
be made) are from 10 to IS per cent
higher than the base figures quoted in
the past. Formerly, however, dealers
could add as much as they pleased to
arpraisals.
THE fixing of maximum allowances
for old cars and trade-inS Is part Of
the effort to stabilize the used-car mar
La< ND 70 oil 70 po 1izo
that auegedly arose from the practice
of shopping around. It is not the fault
Of the dealer or Of the National Recov-
cry Administration If the tax assessors
misinterpret the new set-up to the dis
advantage of the tax-paying motorist.
mo one will seriously contend that q
1927 or 1923 model automobile is actu-
ally worth more today than it was when
taxes were paid on it year ago. In
fact, the average allowance for trade
inS will be lower. Whether this will
mean lower prices to the buyers of used
cars remains to be seen.
by no stretch of imagination can tax
authorities support the contention, al
OF used cars has advanced, along with
the price of many commodities. Per-
Sonal property taxes on used cars, II
<,
London Motor Trends.
Last week we had a story from Paris
on the automobile salon there. This
week reports come from London, where
similar exhibition has been held. The
Twenty-seventh international Motor Ex-
last month, with British automobile
manufacturers showing conservative
colors on their cars, but with slight
trend toward brighter shades. In all,
Alb models were on exhibition, pre-
sented by 80 British companies, II Con-
tinental and 6 American. All the cars
this year, with the exception OF three,
are finished in lacquer.
Black still remains popular color.
Although not as popular as last year,
the shades more in evidence at this
show being greens. ivorieS, light buff,
gray in various hues and maroons.
More open sports jobs are displayed as
standard production. There is greater
tendency toward bright colors and con-
trasting colored tenders. The standard
of the finish on CARS by British manu-
facturers is higher this year than ever
before.
Most of the British cars are shown
with wire wheels, disc wheels mostly
being shown on foreign cars. There
are few wooden wheels.
Leather and leather substitutes still
remain popular with British car manu-
facturers as upholstery, leather subSti-
sides, in addition to the seats and
backs.
The show included. besides passenger
fvai