Evening star., 1934-05-27

garages at night are not to be d
and conditions warrant a chang
the same as it is at present.
1t is understood also that the Com
miSSioners are opposed to any such
ban at the present time. All-night
parking is bad, there can be no doubt
but a hasty action bringing hardships
to many would be equally SO. Later
the restriction may come, but prob
ably certain sections at time, per-
haps yearly, thus giving motorists
time to prepare to meet the situation
Right now it looks as if the issue was
dead or at least temporarily tabled.
Just to Make Sure.
Just to make sure, the Washington
Automotive Trade Association, COM
prising the majority of the automobile
dealers and equipment and accessory
men have prepared a brief, drawn up
as a legal document, to show how their
organization stands and why. 1t is
entitled 1.-The Washington Automotive
Trade Association Versus Elimination
OF All-Night Parking" The w. A. T.
A. calls itself the plaintiff and files
the brief in its behalf. The brief is
as follows:
The need for this brief arises due
to the question before the Washington
public at this time as to whether the
parking regulations of the District Of
Columbia shall continue as they now
exist or the changing of them where
by the present system of allowing au-
tomobiles to park all night would be
eliminated.
1t is submitted that the elimination
of all-night parking would act as a
detriment to the general welfare OF
the residents of the District of Co.
lumbia and materially curtail the dol
lar volume of all lines of business In
the District of Columbia, increase un-
employment and reduce the tax reve-
nue. of the District as well as the Fed
eral Government. and it is believed
that the following is conclusive proof
of these statements made in this para
graph.
/. The automobile contributes more
to the health, comfort and conven-
ience of a human being than any
other thing. Compare the average
American with the average individual
Of any other nation.
2. The average WaShingtonian is
of a higher type than the average
citizen of any other large city in the
United States.
More Cars Per Capita.
8. The condition outlined in the
previous paragraph is due to the fact
that the number of automobiles per
capita of population is greater in
Washington, D. c., than 1t Is In any
other large American city, i.e., Wash
ington, one automobile to every three
persons, while at the moment no ac-
tual figures are available, same being
in the process of compilation, it is felt
that from preliminary examination
it will be found that the average
number of automobiles per capita of
population in other large American
cities will be not less than one auto
mobile to eight people.
4. The main reason for the greater
number of automobiles to the per
capita population in Washington. D.
c., is because of the fact that they
were not compelled to go to the ex-
penSe of securing a garage for their
automobile.
5. If these automobile owners had
known at the time of purchase that
they would be compelled to go to the
expense of renting garage, it is be-
heved that they would have refrained
from purchasing them
6. Because aIl-night parking has
long been permitted in the District of
Columbia no provisions were made at
the time apartment houses were
erected to provide for the garaging Of
the automobiles of those residents of
them and it is known fact that in
proportion to population Washington
has greater number of apartment
house residents than any other large
American city.
$3.50 Average Value.
7. The assessors Office of the Dis
trict of Columbia advises that, based
on tax returns for the year of 1888, the
automobiles in the District of Colum-
bia had an average value of $3.50. Let
1t be assumed that an average garage
would rent for IS per month or $50
per annum, this would mean that the
average automobile owner would have
to pay annually "a per cent or 2 per
automobile for the purpose of garag-
ing same.
8. The average Washington auto
mobile owner buys his automobile on
the budget basis, assuming the aver
age cash purchase price is $3.50. he
pays S100 at the time of acquisition
and the balance of $3.50, plus financ-
ing, insurance fees, ETC., is payable
over a 12-month period, so he pays
out each month approximately $14,
and therefore to compel him to rent
a garage at a cost of SIS per month
would mean that his automobile money
outlay, exclusive of gasoline, oil,
tires and repairs, would be increased
approximately 35 per cent, and this
would tend to prevent purchasing.
9. In those cases where automobiles
purchased as previously outlined were
not paid in full the purchaser would
no doubt turn them back to the seller,
which would glut the used-car market
of the District of Columbia and cause
a lowering Of prices, destroying the
value of used automobiles to a point
where many owners intending to pur-
chase a new or a better used automo-
bile would not do so for the reason
that they did not feel that they could
get the proper price for the automo-
bile now owned by them.
10. Those automobile owners, who
decided that it was absolutely neces-
sary that they retain the best type OF
personal transportation in the world
namely, the automobile. would Of ne
cessity, to offset the additional burden
placed upon them of being forced tc
pay rent for a garage, be compelled tc
limit the use of it, and, therefore, the
purchase of gasoline, lubricating oils
and tires would be lowered consid-
erably.
IL. The National Government COL
1ects an excise tax on the sale of al
Solution to Yesterdays Puzzle.