Evening journal., 1915-01-20
ASK FOR UNIFORM
REGISTRATION Law
A. A. A. Wants Each State
to Recognize Licenses Of
Other States
WANT CONGRESS
TO PASS NEW LAW

Congress will be asked by mil
lion and a half motor car users 90
pass the Adamson measure. The
American Automobile Association has
taken the matter in hand and Presi-
dent John A. Wilson will confer IN
Washington with Representative Will
liam c. Adamson of Georgia. chair
man of the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce an the au-
thor of a commonsense measure. con-
cisely set forth in the following eX-
tract:
mo person who shall have quail
fed by complying with the laws and
regulations of the State, Territory OF
District of his residence to use and
operate such vehicle or vehicles shall
be required in any other State Terri
tory or District into which he may
60 for business OF pleasure to make
any additional license i'm order 10 use
and operate any such machine
For some time the Adamson meas
ure has rested in committee awaiting
a decision by the U. S. Supreme Court
on what has been known as the
Maryland Case" wherein a resident
of the District of Columbia cOntended
that he had the same right as any
other vehicle owner to the use OF
I Maryland roads as long as he had
provided himself with an identifica-
! tion number from his home district.
anG thus made it possible TO apprc-
/ hend him in case he violated any
OF the highway laws of the common
! wealth.
/ But in the decision rendered by the
I highest court in the land, written
/ by Justice McReynolds and concurred
/ in by all the justices. IL is held that
I in the absence of a National law a
I State has perfect right 10 enact
whatever laws il may see ht in rela-
tiOn to the automobile. Furthermore,
Justice McReynolds holds that "the
movement of motor vehicles over the
highways Is attended by constant ana
serious danger to the public, and is
also abnormally destructive TO the
highway itself" Further on the
Justice states. in the absence Of
National legislation covering the sub
ject, a State may rightfully prescribe
uniform regulations necessary for
public safety and order in respect ia
the operation upon its highways OF
all motor vehicles-those moving IN
interstate commerce as well as
others"
] Pesident Wilson of the A. A. A.
commenting upon the situation. says
"The inference of the highest cour
that there should be a national Law
covering the subject should promp
our immediate attention TO the mat
ter. for il is certainly a most unusua
situation when citizen of the Unitel
States is not free to travel in an.
section of the country after he ha
provided himself with an identified
ton number from his home State. TIL
European countries, with differen
languages and different customs. hav
agreed upon an international triI
tiuue relating to customs duties. FL
instance. motorist of France afte
having obtained a home number
which. incidentally. allows him L
y. operate a car in any part OF Franc
then obtains in his own country q
u International plate which is accept
] able in practically every other coun
try in Europe, and he can cross an
= recross international boundary line
L without any trouble whatever. Surel
% if European countries can agree J.
S a matter Of this sort. il does not seei
n reasonable that the several State
b of the Union and the capital distriC
r of the country should be unable
G provide for free and uninterrupte
s road travel. II is now general
n recognized that a State must provid
II siurdier road construction because
n the multiplying of faster and moi
G economical road vehicle. With
d logical plan of Federal participate
2 with the several States a large pc
3 ccntgge of highways expense of a
d intcrstate character properly woul
J. be transferred to the National Co
ernment."