Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-17
|AU70REC|PROC|TY
5 FIGHT IS KEPT UP
Suggestion for D. c. Fee to
Match Maryland's Made
Is as Condition.

That there is to he no let-up IN the
fSht between the District of Columbia
and Maryland in regard to reciprocity
In automobile licenses is shown by
- statement today by c. Austin Baugh-
man. commissioner of motor vehicles
of the neighboring state.
Commissioner Baughman believes
that he is prepared to meet the de-
mands of Washington motorists that
District Of Columbia licenses be recog-
mixed In Maryland with counter pro-
posals which he believes will effective
1yslessen the ardor of Westinghouse
for reciprocity.
In discussing the matter. the COM
missioner said that there were about
$4,000 motorists in the District Of CO.
lumbia, of whom only 10000 apply for
Mary land licenses.
'That leaves some 10000 motorists
<who, rather than pay the price Of
Maryland license. confine their driving
to the territory within the District line.
They now pay IS for license with a
car OF less than twenty-four horsepow-
er, IS for cars of horsepower between
twenty-four. and thirty. and $40 for
those rated above. thirty horsepower.
In Maryland the license Zee IS so cents
per horsepower.
Insists ON Requirements.
If Washingtonians want to have
recognized, we will insist that the
license fee for the District be made
as high as that in Maryland. We
will demand that the District have
will insist that all other restrictions
and requirements obtaining here
shall be made effective in Washing
ton as well.
when the 10000 motorists in Wash
ington. who are now enjoying a cheap
nd xrI hox
Maryland roads are faced with tho
possibility of a higher license fee. I
have an idea there will be no en-
thusiasm about reciprocity with Mary
land"
ME-. BatcheldeFs Comment.
n G. Batchelder, executive chair
man OF the American Automobile
Association, when questioned on the
statement of the Maryland commits
sioner, remarked:
Maryland must indeed be a power
full state that she can demand that
the District of Columbia amend 3
laws so as to be identical with those
of Maryland, Does she make the
same demands of other states with
which she has reciprocity?
And while we are on the subject, I
wonder II IL would be possible for the
commissioner to submit some exact
figures He must have some sort of
Arecords. II he would give US some ac-
curate figures to go on, then we could
get down to = working basis.
Now, let's take Maryland's figures
on her state roads and their upkeep.
She claims to have 1900 miles OF state
roads, AID the cost of maintenance is
$500 per mile per year. That makes
$96o,000 for the maintenance OF her
1880 miles Of roads.
Commissioner Baughman says that
there are only 10000 District motor
lists who apply for Maryland licenses.
The total registration In Maryland, &C.
cording to Maryland figures, is loo. 900
cars She claims that District motor
lists will furnish her with 100000 in
revenue Tor the coming year. So that
means. according to Maryland figures,
total registration Will pay for ap-
proximately one-half Of the total
maintenance OF Maryland roads. It's
very simple. Is 1t fair for the 10000
upkeep Of the roads when there are
$4,000 Maryland cars registered that
also use the roads?
'Far From Correct.o
But. Of course. the commissioners |
hgufe-that Of only 10000 Washington |
motorists-is far from correct There
are: Tar more than that, or else Mary
land would never be able to collect
100000 or even 100000 from only
10000 motorists.
For the first six months in 1920"
continued Mr.: Batcheider. Maryland
figures show that there was Q total reg
istration Of S9,56l cars, making q rev
enue for six months Of $1,712.773.o4.
It claims that its road maintenance 10
$3.50, 900 per year. What happens to tbs
difference between that figure and the
Ryenue collected In six months? And
III Maryland continues to plead that
she needs tho money OF the District
for her road maintenance"