Evening star., 1933-04-16
In the Motor World
BY G, ADAMS HOWARD.

STATISTICAL n1ethOdG, Aomln0CF dtIVe
practices, drivers license laws. etc, have
been produced and widely used. New
ones are developed as the need arises.
Studies License Laws.
The council carries on continuous
study of drivers license law results.
Service Is also given to States to i'm
prove administration of these laws.
Practical help is given to States at
tempting to get drivers license law leg
islation.
The first national trafiic safety con-
test was conducted in 1892 with 442
contesting cities. All but the smaller
cities were required to report activities
monthly and help was given on local
education. engineering and enforce
ment programs. This contest was one
factor in influencing a reduction IN
motor vehicle deaths of l3 per cent in
1892, compared with the previous year
Gasoline consumption and mileage de-
clined only per cent.
A. A. A. Notes Changes.
While only comparatively few OF
the 1893 State Legislatures have Ad-
journed, there is already ample evi.
dence that the current sessions will
make many changes in motor legisla-
tion particularly with reference to reg
istration fees for passenger cars.
This statement was made today by
the District of Columbia division of the
American Automobile Association on
the basis of reports Of the national
headquarters dealing with legislation
already enacted.
Among the States where the Legs
latures have already adjourned are Ar
kansas, Idaho. Indiana, Montana,
North Dakota, South Dakota ana Wyo-
ming" the statement continued ano
If the motor laws passed in these states
are indicative of what is taking place
in others where the Legislatures are IN
session, motorists may expect general
scaling down of registration and license
fees
THE objective in reducing license
fees is. of course, q desire to encourage
car ownership and use and thereby as
sure maximum returns from the gaso-
line taxes. Nevertheless, with many
thousands of cars idle due to the IN
ability of owners to purchase tags. lower
registration and license fees are certain
to have a beneficial effect on motor
transportation.
The A. A. A. listed some OF the newly
enacted legislation as follows: .
reduced so per cent for all cars which
have been in use three years and IS per
cent for all cars which have been IN
use more than three years. Refunds
are granted in connection with 1888
tage already issued.
I'm Idaho the reduction in registra-
ton fees ranges from Is to IS per cent
while the Kansas Legislature Is still
in session, automobile license fees have
been reduced approximately so per cent
In addition, several States have ex.
tended the time for securing curren'
1888 license plates"
New Battery Tests.
Forecasting the life span Of storage
batteries used in automobiles Is madt
possible by the x-ray camera, according
to a report to the American ChemicA
Society.
Predictions may be made by CORE.
lating the x-ray pictures OF the cell
with its electrical or mechanical charac.
teristics, It is revealed by Charles 8
Barrett Of the Carnegie Institute ol
Technology, who conducted the storage
battery researches at the United States
Naval Laboratories of this city.
Such a correlation" he explains
might be different for different makes
of batteries and for batteries of the
same make but of different design. A
number of interesting results were OBJ
tanned from this method of analysis
however. without pushing 1t to its limit
Of accuracy and without carrying ou,
a correlation of the sort mentioned"
The chief result, Mr.. Barrett says
was to confirm the theory that lead sui
phate forms on both the positive and
the negative plates of lead-acid stor-
age battery on discharge and reverts to
lead peroXide on the positive and lead