The Washington times., 1913-04-28
MOTORISTS PROTEST
POLICE REGULATIONS
Members Of Maryland Club to
Ask Change in License Fees
for Automobiles.
By HARRY WARD.

Members Of the Automobile Club Of
Maryland have been asked BY Osborne
I. Ysllott, COUNCIL of the organization.
to protest TO the Maryland delegation
In Congress against section of article
g Of the police regulations of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, as amended January
Is. last.
Mr.. Yellott has prepared statement
on the subject in which he says the
regulation In question has been con-
other States must pay the District au-
thorities the same resistratoin charges
which their respective States charge
motorists residing In the District. The
District motorists themselves pay
registration fee Of only 81 IN the Dis
''Under the peculiar terms Of the
Maryland law residents Of the District
Using their cars In Maryland are obliged
t. secure registration and pay fees
ranging from 5to $ per annum. con-
tfnued Attorney Yeilott. The object OF
District regulation. he adds, IL admit
tedly to force Maryland to relieve Dis
trict motorists from the necessity OF
,ayinS the Maryland registration fees
For more than six years past the
motorists Of Maryland have made ev-
cry effort within their power to have
the District motorists exempted from
paying our Maryland registration fees.
but have been unsuccessful because OF
q demand on the part Of our Legisla-
ture and executives that those who use
our roads shal! help pay for their main,
Mr. Yellofts statement.
I'VE have not asked that We our
selves be relieved OF this charge. but
have asked II solely on behalf Of nom
residents Of the State; but our Efforts
have been unsuccessful. as above stated
.rhe reEult OF our failure to succeed in
this ID that we, as a class, must now
pay this unjust and discriminatory
charge In order that the State as
whole may be punished for not acced-
ine to our views and the views Of tne
motorists Of the District.
This registration fee, which Is inn
posed by the. District has not even the
merit Of being imposed to rails neces-
sary revenue for the maintenance OF
the streets and roads Of the District 1t
II ayowedly imposed AZ a penalty or
punishment upon the people OF daIy-
land
"True we would have our redress in
the courts, as this regulation Ii SO clear
ly discriminatory as to violate every
known principle of our Federal Constt-
tuition relating to the rights Of the citi-
zens Of the several States. But It would
take several years to get the question
finally determined. and meanwhile We
would have to continue paying these
chargeA
,"Our complaint is. therefore, hased
upon two main grounds:
.1fThat this regulation Is absolutely
unfair tn the motorists Of Maryland.
being designed to punish them for
something they did not do and making
them pay charges for the use of the
streets and roads Of the District in mo-
wise commensurate with their use OF
the same, and
..2. That this regulation Is in fagrant
violation Of the Federal Constitution.
and as such should not be encouraged
nor permitted by the Federal authorities
which have direct charge of the Affairs
OF the District"
As the Automobile Club of Maryland
has a large membership. II Is expected
the Maryland Congressional delegation
win be flooded with protests as srg-
sested by Mr.. Yellott.