The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-16
AUTOISTS WANT ROAD
Doubt Authority Of District
and State on Conduit.
IT IS A NATIONAL HIGHWAY
Litigation 10 Grow out of Fines As
SesSed on Auto Car Drivers ny
Court in Glen Echo-wiu Be Taken
Before District Commissioner for
an Opinion on tho subject.

The question as 10 whether or not the
authorities Of the District and those of
Montgomery County. nd. have any au-
thority over the movements OF automo-
bilcs and motor vehicles on the Conduit
road. Il highway ut present owned and
controlled exclusively by The national gov
eminent is the subject Of an interesting
controversy between the members Of the
Automobile Association OF the District
and the authorities Of Glen Echo, nd. II
The decision regarding that part OF the
Conduit road in Maryland is favorable to
the association. a similar question Will be
brought TO the attention of the District
Commissioners and referred to Corpora
ton Counsel e. II. Thomas for an opinion.
Glen Echo Gets Money.
A number OF arrests have been made
recently by the constables Of Glen Echo
Nd, Of chaufeurs charged with exceed
ing the speed limit. the revenues from
that source amounting to a considerable
item. The town Of Glen Echo. il is stated
by members of TIE association. has. with
IA the past month or SO. been enriched by
several hundred dollars in fines imposed
upon the operators Of automobiles.
To Make Test Case.
In order to make test case. Attorneys
Barnard and Johnson, of this city on Sat
urday forwarded a letter to John ". Car
rett, mayor of Glen Echo, stating that on
September and October ], last, a fine of
$ had been imposed upon their clients.
4 D. Carpenter and Clarence Barnard.
respectively. which they requested 10 be
returned. Is that part of the Conduit
road which extends through Glen Echo is
owned by the national government and
that the police regulations of Glen Echo
do not apply TO it, a letter from Mayor
Garrett Is expected IN the matter to-raor-
row
The question of police jurisdiction Of
the Maryland authorities was also brought
to the attention of Lieut.. +. J. Dent. OF
the Corps OF Engineers, L. 5. A. who
has supervision Of the Conduit road.
In reDly Barnard and Johnson were
informed that tho matter had been re
ferred to higher authorities. A decision
is awaited from that source before plac-
ing the matter before the District Com
missioneTs.
Arlington Road Decision.
In a similar question regarding the po-
lice jurisdiction Of the Virginia authori-
It's over the Arlington road, whica is also
a national highway. the Court OF APP
peals OF Virginia has decided that the
authorities OF that State have no juris-
diction over the road. it being a national
highway. and owned and controlled by
The national government
Corporation Counsel Z. II. Thomas said
yesterday tine matter had moi been
brought 20 his notice officially He was
of the opinion however. than the police
OF the District had power 10 make ur-
rests for violations OF the regulations re-
garding the operations OF tile autom0-
biles on that part of the Conduit road in
the confines Of the District of Column
bia- The fact that violation OF 3hc reg
ulauoEs occurred on national highway
did not prevent the police from making
an arrest in the case.
Under the present law. however. Ut
Thomas said. the District could not be
sued ii an accident to an automobile re-
suited owing to "a defect in the road.
Interest in Settlement.
The members of the Automobile Asso-
citation and automobiles in Washington
generally. are awaiting with great inter
est the settlement of the question. Be
cause of the beauty Of the scenery along
the Conduit road and the condition of
the thoroughfare il is a favorite highway
for Automobiles. The numerous fines,
however. which have recently been ex-
acted by the authorities OF Glen Echo
and the District for violations of the
speed law. has leSscned their enjoyment
OF rides in that vicinity and they arc
hoping for a favorable decision regard
inv the Jurisdiction pf The road