Monday, Feb. 09, 1931
Back to the Oxcart
It was almost a daily boast of pre-Depression politicians, advertisers and economists, that an enormous factor in U. S. prosperity was the widespread distribution and constant use of automobiles. So too apparently believed the late Dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera, who spent millions of pesetas improving Spanish motor roads, advertising Spain as a motorist's paradise. Not at all convinced of the necessity for automobiles are Spain's present Prime Minister, General Damasco Berenguer, and his Minister of National Economy J. Rodriguez de Viguri.
Spain manufactures a few hundred ultrasmart Hispano-Suizas; all her other cars are imported, most of them from the U. S. Last June Prime Minister Berenguer and Minister de Viguri noted that Spain had an adverse trade balance of $91,000,000. They promptly slapped a whopping tariff on all cars. Spain's motor imports promptly evaporated.
Last week a deputation of Spanish automobile dealers waited humbly on Minister of the Interior de Viguri. Since the passage of the tariff they were ruined, they protested.
"Senor de Viguri," cried the spokesman, "the automobile business is in difficulties up to its neck!"
Senor de Viguri folded his large hands over his imposing stomach and replied: "Gentlemen, I am surprised that you come here to complain about a situation the government not only foresaw but intended to bring about when it passed the new tariff. We expect within a short time not only to see you up to your necks but over your heads!
"Also, let me give you a parting tip. We are going to increase the license tax on trucks, since they cut railway earnings."
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