The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-10
FEDERAL AUTOMOBILE REGIS:
TRATION.
Senator Putnam of Nevada Has Bill
Now Before Senate.


Washington, April 4.-Senator Key
'ittman expects to obtain a report
from the interstate commerce COM
mittee in the comparatively near fu-
~ure on his automobile reciprocity
Dill, which he believes is peculiarly
appropriate legislation in this war
lime period when there should be un-
interrupted road travel and transpor-
tation among the several States.
Commenting upon this measure,
which is practically a duplicate OF
the Adamson bill in the house, the
senator from Nevada thus sets forth
he propositions:
lit has always been my belief
that automobile registration had for
ts purpose the Identification of the
vehicle in order that its operator
night be apprehended and brought to
task if he failed I'd observe traffic
rules in the various cities and States
in which the motor car might be
driven. Police authority can be ex-
,rcised by means Of Identifying tag no
natter from what source it Is obtain.
ed, but. properly. this should be
from the State. territory or district
If it's owner.
1T is not possible for all people to
i've in the central counties of State,
and in consequence many who re-
side in the border counties have oc-
casion to repeatedly cross and re-
cross state lines4 To compel a citizen
to go to the expense and trouble OF
taking out what are practically du-
plicate identifications ia unreasonable
and unnecessary, and is essentially an
interference with the inherent rights
ofi the individual. In. every European
country a single registration number
is sufficient. besides which one can
secure at slight expense an Internal
onal plate of identity which makes II
possible in peace times to cross and
;ecross international boundaries with
he utmost freedom. Previous to the
breaking out of the war, arrange.
nents had been practically complet-
ed for an international trip by which
single maximum payment provid-
ed for the customs necessity in inter
national travel
Since we have been taught b.
wartime conditions to think and act
nationally, can't avoid a feeling that
opposition to automobile reciprocity
throughout the entire country cannot
oe based on any contention that one
State might POSSESS more improved
highway mileage than another, and
In consequence. the citizens of tho
'csser State should be called upon tt
pay an additional tax for travelling
over the roads Of the adjoining anG
perhaps greater commonwealth New
England has set a true example ir
this regard, for it's several States re
ciprOcate with one another In an ex
ceedingly liberal manner and do no
discriminate against little Rhode Is
land because of it's size.
II am hopeful that congress will
lgree that the time has arrived whel
here should be the most complete
interchange in road travel and trans
portation by all sections of the coun
try. wiping, out completely any ref
crence to State lines, insofar as it re
fers to the comings and goings o
some 100000 self-propelled vehicles
Surely it is the duty of every State t
provide it's own arteries of communi
cation, expecting, however, a reason
able cooperation from the Fedora
treasury in those big roads which can
meet up the States. one with another
until we have complete network O
roads. knitting together, as Presiden
Wilson so aptly puts it. 1.-The though
and energies of a nation"