The Washington times., 1913-05-26
commission ASKS
GREATER AUTHORITY
Sends Bill to Congress Urging
Yearly Motor Registrations
and License Fees.

Annual registration of all motor We
hicles, the payment OF an annual license
fee and the repeal of the wheel tax on
automobiles are provided for in bill
ito regulate the licensing, registration,
and operation of motor vehicles in the
District of Columbia forwarded by the
Commissioners to Congress today with a
request for its early enactment.
The object of the bill is to vest in the
Commissioners complete authority to
regulate automobile traffic in the Dis
trict. Section provides for the repeal
of all existing laws and regulations on
the subject, and authorizes the Com
missioners to make anew all the neces-
eary regulations; impose all necessary
license fees; impose penalties for viola
tions of the regulations and to prose-
cute such violations.
1t is further provided that all existing
motor licenses shall be made to expire
December 81. 1913. On and after Janu-
ary /. 1914. owners Of motor vehicles
are required to obtain new licenses.
based upon regulations to be adopted by
the Commissioners.
ton of motor vehicles in the District
are included in special acts Of Con-
grese, regulations promulgated by the
Commissioners under special authority
0clc8dteQ TO IQem DIV congress, ana
regulations made under their general
police authority.
Il Regulated.
The speed Of motor vehicles is regu-
lated by an act OF Congress approved
June %. 1906. Licensing and registra-
ton are provided for under an act Of
Congress approved February Is. 1905.
the fee being e for a perpetual IL
cense to residents Of the District. The
annual wheel tax is provided for by
$40. The Commissioners views re-
garding the proposed legislation are set
forth In the following letter addressed
to Senator John Walter Smith chair
District of Columbia:
The Commissioners believe that the
present speed limits fixed by an act
OF Congress should be amended, and the
matter of speed should be left to them
TO adjust by regulation, as the neces-
sities Of the case may require. They
believe that there should be an annual
registration or license fee for motor
vehicles. and that the existing act of
Congress which has been construed as
requiring this fee to be paid but once,
should be repealed.
They believe that the imposition of
An annual wheel tax against motor We
hicles should be repealed. There is no
necessity for such a wheel tax If the
proper annual registration or license
tax Is imposed. At present, the owner
OF q motor vehicle has to pay a regis
auon ts or license Zee. an annual wheel
motor vehicle as personal property. The
whole matter Of the proper annual II.
cense fee to be paid should, in the Com
missioners' judgment. be under their
Think It Advisable.
The Commissioners believe i; more ad.
visable for Congress to delegate to them
the authority of handling the question
Of automobile traffic than that it should
be handled directly by Congress- Con-
ter of speed and traffic regulations. ana
II conditions should arise which would
warrant changes, the Commissioners
are not free to bring about the change
without the delay incident to a modih-
cation in the law by Congress-.
II the Commissioners handled the
matter such changes could readily be
made by change in a regulation. The
matter is one coming within the general
ponce power. such as has been dele
gress, and there seems to be no reason
why motor vehicles should be excepted
from the general police power of the
Commissioners. as is now the case.
1t would be the intention of the Com
missioners in exercising the AUTHORITY
proposed to be conferred upon them by
the Dill, 70 prepare and adopt usual and
reasonable regulations such as are in
force in other jurisdictions governing
the matter of automobile registration
and traffic. Under such general author
tty they would have the power to enter
into reciprocal relations with other
Jurisdictions.
The matter is one of considerable
Importance, and the Commissioners
urge early action on the bill"