Evening star., 1948-11-14
Dealers 10 Head LIST
'(iB 1estifying in
New Auto Sales Probe
By Harold B. Rooers

Officials of the Kearney Oldsmo-
bile Co., 7 New York avenue NE,
will head a list of % witnesses
when House subcommittee opens
hearings at 10 am. tomorrow into
trade practices by some automobile
dealers in this area.
The subcommittee headed by
Representative Macy, Republican,
of New York has charged in a
statement that Metropolitan Area
car buyers have lost more than
$4,000,000 because of undervalued
trade-ins, and the addition of ac-
cessories the buyers did not want.
Several car buyers will be among
the witnesses, committee aides said
last night, to testify as to their
complaints.
Principal witnesses Tuesday
morning, Mr.. Macy announced, will
be representatives of the New York
Avenue Motors Co., COG New York
avenue NV
TwO-Day Hearing.
The public hearings will be held
in Room 1902, New House Office
Building. on both days. They will
be confined to problems of customers
and dealers in new cars.
Much data has been developed by
the committee staff from buyers and
dealers in used cars, but this will
not be considered by the hearings
this week. The committee may take
up practices in the used car market
later.
The Kearney Oldsmobile Co., Mr..
Macy explained in an announcement
last night, Is an authorized Olds-
mobile dealer. In view of this, he
said he had requested" a repre-
sentative of the General Motors
Corp, to attend the hearing.
In response to this invitation, it
was learned, Charles E. Wilson, pres
ident of General Motors, has wired
the committee from Detroit to say
he has designated a representative
to attend He will be Harry Banks,
Assistant General Sales Manager for
Oldsmobile.
Hudson Officials to Attend.
In the case of the New York
avenue Motors Co., an authorized
Hudson dealer. the committee had
requested the Hudson Motor Car Co.,
to have a representative at the
hearing Tuesday. The designated
official, committee aide said last
night, will be N K. Vanderzee, Of
Detroit, sales manager for the COM
pany.
The hearings are the result OF
ree-and-a-half months investi-
cation by the committee staff into
complaints from car buyers.
While the committee launched its
inquiry into "the sales and distri-
button policies of the authorized
automobile dealers in the metro
politan area of Washington" Chair
man Macy said the committee had
reason to assume that the conditions
uncovered here "are representative
of those existing generally through
out the country"
Projecting the findings so far on
national basis, Mr.. Macy estimated
that during the first seven months
of 1948 the American public may
well have lost more than $200,000,-
900 on under-valued trade-ins, and,
in addition thereto, has probably
paid over $25o,ooo,00o for extras
they did not want"
Some Dealers Fair.
Some dealers, however, Mr. Macy,
emphasized have made every effort
to deal fairly and honestly with the
public"
On the other hand, he charged,
I'VE have found other dealers who
resort to every questionable trade
practice in order to squeeze the
greatest amount of money from the
anxious purchaser"
The Macy subcommittee, which
has investigated questionable trade
practices in other fields before going
into the local automobile field, is a
unit of the House Public Works