Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-16

their labors It is a proud organiza-
ton and rightfully one. It Is an
honor to belong. District residents
should turn out in full to pay their
tribute to the marchers here next
Saturday.
Looking forward to official greetings
by Vice President Garner and Speaker
Bankhead and ready for their sixth
annual parade, in which 10000 boys
and girls from 20 States and the Ma
tional Capital will be in the line Of
march, A. A. A. school safety patrols
in all sections of the country are
ready for their annual visit to WASH
1ngton on May 81 and %
Announcing arrangements for the
annual conference and parade Of the
youngsters, who daily safeguard their
schoolmates in 5000 communities,
Thomas P. Henry, president of the
American Automobile Association,
which sponsors the patrols in CO.
operation with police and school au-
thorities, said:
From a small start five years ago.
the annual parade of school safety
patrols has become national event.
1t draws to Washington representa-
tives OF some 100000 boys and girls
who daily safeguard 100000 school
children en- route to and from school,
Thousands of lives have been saved
by these youngsters and it Is only fit
ting that a grateful Nation should pay
tribute to their splendid service on
h1 of hoiv al H.,
and conference. Last year the young
sters were greeted by President Roose-
welt on the White House lawn, and
this year official greetings will be ex-
tended at the Capitol"
Among the States that will be rep
resented by patrol delegations are
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Maine, Maryland Massa-
chusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire.
New Jersey. New York, North Caro-
lima, Ohio, Rhode Island, Pennsyl-
vania, Vermont. Virginia and West
Virginia.
The ceremonies in connection with
the countrys most spectacular safety
demonstration will get under way on
Friday, May q, when the thousands
OF boys and girls will gather in front
of the United States Capitol for OFF,
cial greetings from Vice President
Garner, Speaker Bankhead and the
members of the Senate and House of
Representatives from the States send
ing safety patrol delegates. In the
evening patrol members from the vari-
GUS States will hold their annual con-
ference in the United States Depart
ment of Labor auditorium.
The sixth annual parade, one of the
most colorful events on the national
calendar Of youth demonstrations, will
be staged at o'clock on Saturday
afternoon. May o. In the reviewing
stand will be outstanding leaders in
the official and civic life Of the Ma
tional Capital.
A demand that stronger legal bar
fiers be erected against diversion to
non-highway purposes of taxes levied
upon Washington motor car owners is
plank No. l of a 12-point platform
adopted by the membership of the
keystone Automobile Club. This plat
form, written by the clubs Advisory
Board and voted upon by the 1000
members attending Keystone's annual
meeting, brands diversion of motor
tax funds to unrelated purposes IAN
unjust. discriminatory and gross mis-
use of special tax moneys levied for
the express purpose OF constructing,
maintaining and adequately safeguard
Ing public highways"
The platform, calling for numerous
activities by the club in the interest
Of better motoring conditions in Wash
tngton and environs, follows:
l. Strengthening that section Of the
District Of Columbia Code which pro-
vides that gasoline tax funds shall
be used solely for highway and high
way safety purposes, by an amend
ment to include provision that the
use OF all motor vehicle tax funds be
restricted to the construction, i'm
provement and maintenance of high
ways and administrative expenses in
connection Herewith and for no other
purposes, as provided In section IL
OF the Hayden-Cartwright act. The
diversion of motor funds to unrelated
purposes is an unjust, discriminatory
and gross misuse of special tax moneys,
levied for the express purpose of con-
structing, maintaining and adequately
safeguarding public highways. Its au-
tomato effect Is to impose double
burden of taxation upon the motorist,
who, In common with other citizens,
has already contributed his proper
share to general governmental upkeep
Motor fund diversion, which reached
the staggering total Of approximately
$200,000000 in 1885, has already been
prohibited by constitutional amend
ment or statutory requirement in II
States
q No further increase in District
OF Columbia motor vehicle taxes.
Since careful study made by the
club reveals that the present gasoline
tax of 2 cents per gallon is more
than adequate to take care of the
proposed appropriation for highway
construction and maintenance in the
District during the fiscal year of
1888. there appears to be no justi-
f1cation whatsoever for the imposition
Of further taxation of motor vehicle
owners who are already contributing
more than their fair share of the
Districts tax revenue. The motorist
IS already the most overtaxed class
OF citizen in the United States. One
out OF every eight dollars collected
for taxes In 1885 came out Of the
en$n Sc%s ,~kI to-
crease in his already onerous tax bur-
den would undoubtedly lead to cur
tailed car operation and a shrinkage
In tax receipts.
3. Alleged bonding and towing
rackets. Continue with renewed en-
ergy the clubs relentless battle against
all forms of bonding and towing
rackets which are discovered In club
territory.