Evening star., 1960-02-17

of Maryland, pushed his newly
sales through specific
Stars Buyer Beware Series"
exposing fraudulent practices
by used car dealers and finance
companies, and said he thought
there probably was unanimity
Of agreement that corrective
legislation is needed. He ar
gued that his bill would give
the Commissioners all the f1ex-
ibility. they should have to
make regulations should new
problems arise.
He pointed out that his bill
was patterned after Maryland
law which has proven success
full and would give compara-
lively equal protection in the
sister jurisdictions of Maryland
and the District He also point
ed out that his bill would take
effect Immediately on being
signed by the President, as
contrasted with a 6O-day delay
now provided in the Commis-
sioners bill.
Others Give Views
Those supporting Senator
Butler liked the restrictions it
imposes. Those opposing it
called it too inflexible. Here are
highlights from their state
ments:
Maj. Harry Ehrlich, staff
judge advocate of the l,l00th
Air Base Wing, Boiling Air
Force Base. noted that the ef-
feet of the Commissioners bill
would depend on how it was
supplemented by regulations,
whereas the Butler bill offers
protection in a form of legiSla-
ton which has proved workable
over period of years in Mary
land and has been successfully
tested.
District License Supt. C. T.
Nottingham objected to the
Butler bill, because he said he
feels 1t may result in delay in
coping with those individuals
who, through sharp practices,
have been duping the good citi-
zens of the District of Colum-
bia and nearby Maryland and
Virginia"
GaSch Backs Butler
United States Attorney Oliver
Gasch, chairman of the District
Council on Law Enforcement,
said the council had not vet
studied the Butler legislation
but indorseS it in principle as
well as the Commissioners bill.
He said his own preference is
for the Butler bill.
In the final analysis" Mr..
GaSch said, the Butler bill
accomplishes in one step what
could be accomplished by the
Commissioners bill in two
steps. In short, after the pas
sage of the Commissioners bill,
before any effective controls
under this bill would be avail
able, it would be necessary for
the Commissioners to write
regulations, hold hearings and
adopt the regulations. In this
regard, the Butler bill is def
nitely preferable"
He said the one aspect of the
Commissioners bill which seems
preferable to the Butler bill is
that it would have greater
f1eXibility.
Maurice ]. Murphy, executive
vice president of the Auto
motive Trade Association, Ma
tional Capital Area, opposed
the Butler bill on the grounds
that good number of its pro-
visions are already in effect
and it goes into areas that may
or may not require coverage in
the District.
Mr.. Murphy also pointed out
that the Commissioners bill
makes possible changes in the
regulations as new devices are
adopted by INSCRIPTIONS busi-
nessmen or as specific provi-
sions prove unWorkable or un-
necessary.
Called Too Stringent
Bernard Margolius, counsel
for the Metropolitan Automo-
bile Dealers Association, a re-
Gently organized group of used
car dealers, opposed the Butler
bill on the grounds that it i'm
posed too stringent rules and
that it was too detailed and
inf1exible.
Daniel Partridge III, repre-
senting the District Bar Asso-
citation, said the District would
be better served by the original
bill where regulations could be
amended more readily in the
light OF experience in their en-
torcement. He said this would
ease the burden on Congress
and aid the public by a more
flexible program of legislation.
John A. NeviuS, general
counsel of the Federal Services
Finance Corporation, opposed
the Butler bill on the ground
that tWo-thirdS of the Jobs of
cleaning up unscrupulous prac-
tlceS has already been done by
regulations and the commits
sionerS' bill would complete the
final third.
Regardless of the merits Of
the Butler bill" Mr.. Nevius
stated, Its enactment now
would destroy this whole pat
tern of effective work already
completed and force all parties.
interested and disinterested. to
begin the whole job all over
again. Apart from the un-
necessary work this would en-
tail, the delay alone should
rule out this alternative"