Evening star., 1937-06-12
AUTO INSPECTION
BILL IS ENDORSED
Senate Subcommittee May
Decide Next Week on
the Proposal.

n ucCSIOu pIODdOly WILL DC IcNCIlCu
next week by the special Senate sub
committee which held hearing yes
terday afternoon on proposed legis-
lation to require mechanical inspec-
ton Of all motor vehicles in the Dis
trict at regular intervals Most OF
the witnesses favored the proposition.
Among those who testified in sup
port Of the legislation were NJ. o.
Eldridge. assistant traffic director;
Washington I. Cleveland, for the Dis
trict Motor Club Of the American
Automobile Association; Harry 8. Wen
der, for the Federation Of Citizens
Associations; Col. Lawrence c. Craw-
ford, for the Trafic Committee Of the
Board Of Trade, and Richard ]. Muir
ply, manager Of the Washington Au-
tomotive Trade Association.
The Keystone Automobile Club OF
Washington, through its manager,
George E. Keneipp, appeared in op-
position, contending that the results
obtained from compulsory semi-an-
nual inspection would not be COM
mensurate with the cost and incon-
venience to motor vehicle owners.
Capper Favors Plan.
Without attempting to predict what
the subcommittee will decide Senator
Capper Of Kansas, chairman, said
following the hearing his individual
view Is there should be some form
OF inspection legislation.
The two bills before the subcom-
mittee have the same general scope.
One, by Chairman King OF the Sem
ate District Committee. calls for
semi-annual inspection, with q 81 in
spection fee for the year 1898 and so
cents a year thereafter. It confers
authority on the Commissioners to
work out the detailed procedure.
The other, by Senator Lonergan Of
Connecticut, calls for inspection an
nually or whenever q car changes
ownership or whenever it is in an
accident involving personal injury or
substantial damage. Under this bill
the inspection fee could not exceed
30 cents and would be reduced when-
ever the annual cost OF the inspec-
ton bureau made 1t possible The
Lonergan bill also provides that when
cars are dilapidated beyond repair
the owners would be required to sell
them as junk or demolish them within
specified time.
Lonergan Urges Bill.
Senator Lonergan opened the hear
ing with 4 statement in support Of
inspection legislation. Assistant
Tranic Director Eldridge told of plans
for establishment Of three municipal
inspection stations If the legislation
passes. He said the cost would be
approximately $l47.oo0 the FIRST year
including establishment OF the sta
tions. He estimated that in the sec
ond year the cost would be $4,000.
Cleveland urged inspection at least
once a year in municipality operated
stations. declaring periodic inspection
Is step toward q better safety rec
ord He also declared "the streets
OF Washington are infested with num-
bers OF cars that fall far below any
reasonable safety standard"
Keneipp. in opposition, stated that
IN the calendar year 1896 out of
l1.058 vehicles involved in fatal and
non-fatal accidents. only 1856, or is
per cent, were found to be defective.
Estimating that compulsory inspec-
ton would cost motorists 5000 900
annually, he contended sufficient au-
thority for inspection already exists
under local traf1lc laws. He also
declared the most important factor
In safe operation "is not the car but
the driver himself"
Brake Tests Cited.
Eldridge testified that last year there
were 1886 personal injuries and 63
persons killed in accidents involving
automobiles. Brake tests on 1858
cars involved in accidents, EldridQe
said, showed 234, or per cent, had
defective foot brakes.
Speaking for the Board Of Trade,
Col. Crawford favored compulsory In.
spection, but suggested there would
be need for more than three In
spection stations.
Wender said the Citizens Fedora
ton has indorsed mechanical in
spection legislation four times. He
also replied to arguments made in
opposition to the proposal.
Murphy said his organization ap-
proved seni-annual inspection by sta
tions operated by the District gov
ernment