Evening star., 1935-01-27

largely that the 1000 delegates
was through his efforts that tt
such a high plane And last,
efforts that the streets and h
are in better shape today than 6
Is diversion growing despite what
intelligent persons think? Read what
the American Automobile Association
has to say.
The total amount of road money
diverted, misappropriated and misap-
piled in 1894 reached an all-time high
and would have constructed 5000
miles of highest type pavement and
given direct and indirect year-around
employment to more than 100000
people, the motoring club declares.
Sees Federal Aid Cut.
At the same time, the A. A. A
warned the motor tax diverting States
that the Federal Government is pre-
pared to "crack down" on them and
to withhold part of their regular Fed
eral aid appropriations unless they
can show a clean bill of health.
This authority" said Thomas P
Henry, president of the national mo-
toring body, was specifically con-
ferred on the Bureau of Public Roads
in the Hayden-C Cartwright Federal aid
authorization bill of last year and the
bureau is determined and obligated tc
exercise it."
The A. A. A. president pointed out
that because of devious methods, con.
cealmentS and the lack of accounting
it is almost impossible to find out ex-
actly how much money is annually
miSappropriated. He continues:
mot the least important phase OF
the declaration of policy embodied by
Congress in the Hayden-C Cartwright
act is that it will enable the Bureau of
Public Roads to demand access to and
to make its own accounting of special
motor tax revenue accruing to the
States and of the expenditure of this
revenue as a prerequisite to the grant
ing of their full share of Federal aid
to the individual States.
"On such inadequate information
as was available in 1888 the bureau
found that 100000 900 of special mo-
tor vehicle taxes were diverted to
lIldI1 1OdO pOSeS III IIldt
year, with more than 20 States in
dulging in the practice. The figure
for 1884 was closer to S200,0 100000
with half the States pilfering the
road fund in one way or another.
Four Methods Used.
AT least four different methods
are used by the diverSionists to ac-
complish their purpose. First, as in
Texas, for instance, where the State
constitution requires that a certain
proportion Of all taxes be applied to
school use; second, where, as in many
States, such as New York and Ohio
the Legislatures have authorized the
use of special motor tax revenues for
other than road purposes; third
where other departments of State
governments borrow money from the
highway departments, such loans
being seldom liquidated. Because of
the disguise, motorists in these States
are often not aware of the fact that
diversion is going on; and fourth
where money allocated in good faith
by the States to counties, cities and
municipalities, for road purposes, is
turned into other channels - some
times with legislative authority, but
often without any warrant of law
whatsoever.
"Only constitutional amendments
can prevent the spread of the disease
that threatens the motor tax and road
structures. The two States that have
adopted such amendments, namely
Missouri and Colorado, are the only
ones that are absolutely immune. l
frankly believe that such amendments
can and should be adopted in every
State in the Union. However, eX-
perience In the annual elections OF
last November demonstrated that
anti-diversion amendments should not
be linked up with other forms of tax
reduction and limitation, but should
be placed before the voters as Sepa-
rate and independent propositions"
The Disease of "Hornitis."
A reader of this column sends in
the following interesting contribution
titled "Hornitis":
"A virulent disease attacking auto
mobile drivers whose brain cells do
not function properly. 1t is mani
tested by a violent and continual
blowing of the horn on every con-
ceivable occasion. Some psychologists
believe that 1t arises from the Biblical
legend of the overthrow of the walls
of Jericho by the blowing of the horns,
and that persons suffering from this
disease are in such a moronic condi-
ton that they have not sufficient in
telligence to realize that the blowing
of a horn will not move stalled auto
mobile.
Temporary relief may be obtained
by the vigorous application of a
piece of iron pipe to the skull of the
person having the disease. Some au-
thorities hold that the best method
of effecting a permanent cure is to
lock the offender in room where a
horn is blown continuously. Other
authorities believe the disease to be
tncurable"
How can the most economical per-
formance from a motor car be OBJ
tanned? Every one who purchased a
new car at the automobile show, every
one Of the expected 100000 owners
of new cars this year, and every one
who owns a car would certainly like
to know this.
Here is a symposium by five out
standing automotive engineers oi
common sense practices that will give
more miles per dollar in car operation
First on the list of recommends
tions is driving practices. 1t will be
shock to even older motorists tc
know that when accelerating from q
standstill to 80 miles per hour in
second gear cne average gasoline con-
sumption will be at the rate of only
three and a half to four and a hall
miles per gallon. BY starting at mod
crate, gradual speed, and by slowing
down gradually instead of slamming
on brakes, the best mileage in gaso-
line. oil, tires and brake lining is OBJ