The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-23
G. 7. Terry Strikes Note of
Coming Convention In
Washington.
TWO PATHS OPEN
TO END DESIRED
Legislation by Congress or Joint
Enactment by States Suggested
AS Remedies Of Evils.

Charles Thaddeus Terry's plea for uni
foruAity IN automobile legislation before
the convention Of the National Civic
Federation n Washington last week
struck a popular chord
As chairman OF the legislative board
Of the American Automobile Associa-
ton. Mr., Terry has devoted, perhaps
more study to the question OF Uniform
automobile legislation than any other
investigator In the country he drew
I'D a few years ago the uniform State
vehicle law. the salient provisions OF
which have been adopted by several
State legislatures. and he also drafted
the bill for q national registration law
which IS TO be reinTOduced into cong
Eress at the present session
Nj. Ter-y's speech virtually outlined
the fundamental objects OF the coming
national legislative convention 10 be
held under the auspices Of the American
Automobile Association IN W Washington
one month later, on February 10 10. ana
y. 10 which the governors or al me
states have been invited 10 send as
daIa-ates their accredited representa-
tives IN charge Of the enforcement OF
their respective automobile laws lie
Variety OF Laws
There are thirty-three States which
RESPECTS very different Inotor-vehicle
regulations When you consider this
and the further fact that even within
The borders OF q single State IN not q
few instances the separate counties,
towns. villages. and cities have passed
rnotor-vehicle ordinances peculiar 70
such localities and differing one from
another and all differing in some re-
SDects from the motOT-vehiCle law ap-
pIicabIe 10 the state IN general, You
get as a net result confusion worst
COMPOUNDED.
There are two ways in which this
particular evil may he cureG-one Is by
the enactment by Congress OF q Fed
eraI registration automobile bin, pro-
ZidinE only, in substance that upon
registration RL a national bureau after
registration has been had In tine State
Of the residence OF the owner Of the
motor vehicle his license TO operate and
use the vehicle shall be recognized by
every State IN the Union and thus free
dom in the use Of the vehicle obtained
without further license and without
payment Of further fees The other is
bE the enactment Of all the States of q
Uniform nOtOr-VehiCIe law, eXempting
uon-resldents from It's registration pro
visions. as does, for example the law
of the State o. New York
10 one VIII dissent from the pTODO-
si-Iou that uniformity in mCt0T-veHiCIs
regulation IS not only eXQedieut but In
coded that more harm AMI injustice are
often brought about by lack Of uniform
ity Of the laws OF the various States
tnan by imperfect or even bad laws IN
special instances. Nowhere IS this bet
ter illustrated than IN the case Of travel
upon the highways
Tip To Washington.
TO take example suppose that q nan
were 70 start IN lis motor vehicle AZ
New York TO Il axe a trip TO the Va
1iOusl Capitol at Washington, TO trans
act business with the Government
He VIII have no sooner left the
feTry5oat on the Jersey shore before the
viii b. stopped and notified that he
can proceed no furthr. He viii anE
that what ne had always assumed to be
his natural right 20 use the highways
Of the country so IOnE as he scrupuI0uS-
y regarded the rights of others upon the
highway has been reCted into a privi-
legs TO be purchased only by the pay
nent Of money and the expenditure Of
time and trouble in seeking out one OF
me government offlcers and paying fees
Tor 4 so-calld license"
He must md the proper officer at
the place where these fees are received.
fiji out and sign an application blank,
Pay MS money and receive 10uT tags,
each one of which IS good for two days
enjoyment OF this EranC privilege Of
using the highways and after he has
the State is not Vet satisfied He must.
before he may proceed. fili out and exc
cute q regular power OF attorney, max
ing the secretary of state mis- agent To
receive process in any proceeding which
may be brought against him while he IS
enjoying this SO-CalIed IuestiUa BILE urivi-
leEe-
when he reaches the borders OF the
State OF Maryland he viii be again held
I'D and obliged, before Ee viii 10 d.
lowed to continue his journey. 10 20
through very much the same process a.
no did when he attempted 10 cross the
borders OF New Jersey
Into the District.
Ne wiz Ss put To pretty much ne
same ennOYancs, Inconvenience, and
expense when he attempts 70 cross the
Ifne into the District OF Columbia. and
u VIII be very likely that when hs
reaches the seat Of his National Gov
eminent he viii be so inCenSed as %
have entirely forgotten the business