The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-24
is MARYLAND
AUTO LAW VALID?
President Duyall's Grounds
for Proposed Fight.
CERTAIN DISTRICT WILL WIN
The Automobile Club Has Already
Done Much in Contrasting Adverse
This Case Have Already Been De-
eided by the Supreme Court.

The exclusive announcement in The
Washington Herald last week that the
constluItionality Of the Maryland auto
mobile law would be tested in the courts
naturally awakened widespread interest
1t is still subject Of general comment in
automobile circles.
AS stated at the time, the matter is in
the hands Of w S. Duvan. president and
/ legal counsel Of the Automobile Club of
I Washington; Messrs. Ralston, Siddons &
Richardson. and c. l. Boute. local attor-
ney of the National Automobile AssOcia-
ton.
We have finally determined. said Mr..
/ Duvall yesterday. that the new laws in
Maryland and Virginia are about the last
straws and in every way the limit, and
we are going after them rough shod. pro-
/ vided the automobile owners of the Dis
trict show the proper interest and lend
us their support This VIII be no limited
round fight. but fight to finish, and
viii mean a complete Knockout for either
the lawless lawmakers or the automobile
owners. we are prepared, If necessary
To take the case to the Supreme Court Of
the United States and thus have this
question settled once and for all time to
come.
Unfair Laws Contested.
The automobile club through me has
undertaken TO defeat every unreasonable
and discriminatory law passed in the
District. and we have been uniformly
successful. 1t is manifestly unfair how
ever, for this comparative handful OF
men, who are no more interested than the
thousands of other automobilists of the
District, to assume all the burden. yet
they have done SO up 10 the present time,
and intend 10 continue to do so in so
far as local legislation is concerned.
Along this line we intend fighting the So
called wheel tax this fail We also ar
rested further progress Of a law about
TO be introduced here very similar TO the
new MARYLAND law.
I'm fact, we have done a world of
good for the automobile owner and which
is not generally known OF appreciated
We feel now. however, that II would
be asking too much for US to go into
neighborfng States and contest their laws,
and that II this is TO be done Il must be
at the behest and with the support Of
all local motordom. If We succeed in
Maryland. we will have an easy time in
Virginia and other States that have en-
acted similar laws. We feel that we have
good case and We know we have a just
one The feeling against automobiles on
the highways is fast disappearing. and
some Of those most opposed to them are
now their strongest advocates It was
this anti-autOmObile feeling that went
long way toward not only molding leg
islation, but also sustaining 1t by the
courts, and / believe to-day that If the
same courts that have sustained ques-
tionable laws against the automobile had
it to do over again they would decidy
differently.
Attacked on Broad Grounds.
We intend TO attack this Maryland
law on broad grounds-grounds that the
Supreme Court has laid down and never
reversed Then. TOO. we have the inter-
state commerce laws. Upon the framing
of the American Constitution the power
and manifest future Of the new CONNER
eiaI movement caused the insertion in
that instrument of a clause intended to
unshaekle commerce from petty State IN
reference.
Commerce is term of the largest
import. II comprehends intercourse for
the purpose Of trade in any and all OF its
forms. including transportation, purchase.
sale, and exchange, between the citizens
Of different States. The courts have held
that the mere passage of persons from
State to State is commerce within the
meaning of the law. Congress is the
only body that has authority to legislate
on the question of interstate commerce,
and when any State has undertaken to