Evening star., 1918-03-31
EXPECTS REPORT ON
HIS AUTO BILL SOON
Senator Pittman Thinks War
Time Period Demands Rec
j iprocity Legislation;

! Senator Key. Pittman expects to OBJ
tain a report from the interstate COM
merce committee in the comparatively
near future on his automobile reci-
procity bill. which he believes is pecu-
liarly appropriate legislation in this
wartime period, when there should be
uninterrupted road travel and trans
portation 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 the propo-
sition:
''It has always been my belief that
automobile registration had for it's pur-
pose the identification of the vehicle in
order that it's operator might be ap-
pretended and brought to task if he
failed to observe traffic rules in the va
rious cities and states in which the mo-
tor car might be driven. Police au-
thority can be exercised by means of
the Identifying tag, no matter from
what source it is obtained, but, prop
erly. this should be from the home
state, territory or district of its owner.
Double Tags Unreasonable.
TT is not possible for all people to
live in the central counties of state,
and in consequence many who reside in
the border counties have occasion re-
peatedly to cross and recross state
lines. To compel citizen to go to the
expense and trouble of taking out what
are practically duplicated Identifies
tions Is unreasonable and unnecessary
and is essentially an interference with
the inherent rights of the Individual
In every European country single
registration number is sufficient, be-
sides which one can secure at slight
expense an international plate Of iden-
tity which makes it possible in peace
times to cross and recross international
boundaries with the utmost freedom.
Previous to the breaking out of the
war arrangements had been practically
completed for an international triptique
which by single maximum payment
provided for the customs necessity in
international travel.
"Since we have been taught by war
time conditions to think and act ma
tionally, 1 can't avoid a feeling that
opposition to automobile reciprocity
throughout the entire country cannot
be based on any contention that one
state Nigh possess more improved high
way mileage than another, and, in con-
sequence. the citizens of the lesser
state should be called upon to pay an
additional tax for travelling over the
roads of the adjoining and perhaps
greater commonwealth.
New England's Example.
New England has set a true example
IN this regard, for its several states
reciprocate with one another in an ex-
ceedingly liberal manner and do not
discriminate against little Rhode Island
because of its size.
II am hopeful that Congress will
agree that the time has arrived when
there should be the most complete in
tsrchange in road travel and transpor-
tation by all sections Of the country,
wiping out completely any reference to
state lines in 50 far as 1t refers to the
comings and goings of some 5000, 900
eeif-propelled vehicles. Surely it is the
duty of every state to provide its own
arteries OF communication, expecting
however, reasonable cooperation
from the federal Treasury in those big
roads which connect up the states, one
with another. until we have a complete
network Of roads, knitting together, as
President Wilson SO aptly puts it, the
thought and energies of the nation"