Evening star., 1948-11-17
Continued From First Page)

dustry to clean up its own house"
The subcommittee, he explained,
had no thought of denying dealers
their fair profit" but he warned:
1T would be deplorable If the
greed and avarice Of few dealers
and the lack of an effective pro-
gram on the part of the panufac-
turers should catapult an entire
basic industry into disrepute and
even the possibility of controls.
This committee from the very
outset" he added, "has been Of the
opinion that the American business
man can, If he will, police his own
back yard, and must realize that
to survive and prosper the public
must be dealt with fairly"
Mr.. Macy indicated additional
hearings by the Public Works Sub
committee might be called within
the next week or two. The pros
pective subjects were to be de-
termined.
The two days of hearings revolved
around complaints against the
Kearney Oldsmobile Co., New York
avenue NE, and the New York
Avenue Motors Co., 606 New York
avenue NV, Hudson distributors.
These were the most prominent
cases" among many regarding the
automobile industry that the sub
committee received, Mr.. Macy said.
He told reporters there was no par
ticular reason, outside Of convent
ence and time. why Washington had
been selected for the inquiry.
But we ought not to dismiss the
District altogether he said in dis.
cussing future hearing plans. y
While urging q svoauatary house
cleaning by the automobile indus
try Chairman Macy pointed to the
cleanup he said had been made by
Big Steel following the subcommit-
tees probe of complaints Of the gray
steel market.
Industry Defends Itself.
Spokesman for both the Washin1s
ton and the national automobile
industry took the stand In the clos
ing hour to say that the instances
Of questionable practices were ex-
ceptions rather than the general
rule.
N. K. Vanderzee, sales manager
for the Hudson Motor Car Co. Of
Detroit, denounced all the gouging
instances developed here as being
contrary to manufactures policies.
He said his corporation would be
interested in any corrective steps
proposed by the subcommittee. He
voiced belief, however, that the
stories of wrong doing were mot
typical" Of the automobile industry
generally, and certainly" were not
representative of Hudson dealers.
Earle O. Baker, president of the
Washington Automotive Trade As
sociation, took the stand to defend
new car dealers Of this area against
charges that buyers were gouged by
undertaking. of trade-ins, and being
loaded with unwanted accessories.
While he said he didn't condone
the payment of tips for the privi-
lege Of buying a new car, Mr.. Baker
voiced resentment that "voteless"
District dealers were singled out to
be guinea pigs" He also protested
that the subcommittee had projected
the results of this investigation here
on a national basis much after the
same manner of the recent election
polls now in such i'll repute.'
Macy Challenges Statement.
Chairman Macy Immediately chal-
lenged Mr.. Bakers views as being
"out of order and deplorable." He
promptly won the support of Repre-
sentative Larcade, Democrat, of
Louisiana, who praised the effect of
the subcommittee auto-sales in
quiry.
The subcommittee, Mr.. Macy said,
had not picked the District because
OF its voteless condition, but be-
cause it was considered a repre-
sentative city and was readily avail
able without great expense or effort
Mr.. Baker acknowledged that deal
ers In postwar years were enjoying
good profits after a long famine" :"