The Washington times., 1921-04-04
"A. A. ASSA|LS.
AUTO TAGLAW.
New District Rule Restricts Ma.
tionaI Reciprocal Principle,
Says Conrad H. Syme.

Because it smacks too much Of the
distasteful Prussian police system
and for the further reason that it Is
distinctly at variance with the or
ganization's present contentious in
reference to national motoring re-
ciprocity, the District of Columbia
division of the American Automobile
Association, through Conrad II.
Syme, legislative chairman. today an
nounced it's emphatic opposition to
the INSTRUMENTATION provision of
the new traffic regulations which
went into effect April 2.
RESTRICTS SACRED RIGHT.
The regulation requires every out
of-town motorist who remains in the
District three or more days to regis
ter with the Police Department.
This regulation, according to Syme,
puts the District on record as doing
the very thing it is asking forty
seven States to undo in reference to
the present situation between the Ma
tional Capital and the State of Mary
land. While no fee Is proposed for
the local registration, Syme contends
that the regulation is a violation of
sacred national principle and re-
stricts the right OF Americans to
travel freely. after having duly paid
tax and registration fees in their
home State.
Pointing out that the federation of
the States in the early days of the
Union was made possible chiefly upon
the basis that free inhabitants of
each of these States shall be entitled
to all the privileges and immunities
of free citizens of the several States,
and the people of each State shall
have free ingress and egress to and
from every other State" and that II Is
this which District motorists ask of
Maryland, Syme declared that the Dis
trict is doing an un-American thing
and immeasurably setting back its
own cause
THEORY OF THE POLICE.
The police theory in seeking the
registration provision is that II will
give the department tab on every car
in the District. This theory, Syme
points out, is not sound for the reason
that every car in operation in the
country carries license tag and that
the name and address of any man
under surveillance, suspicion or ar
rested can be ascertained quickly by
dphius thc VII thS p'o~>
to the automobile commission Of the
State named on the plate.
Requiring a touring motorist, who
is usually a substantial. well-known
and tax-paying citizen in his home
community, to register with the
Washington police during a visit to
his National Capital, he said. Is pro-
cedure not calculated to inspirt patriot
ism and love OF country.
"If there are many motorists spend
ing the greater part of the year In
the District with only a home State
tag" said Syme, "they are not doing
so solely to deprive the District OF
revenue, but for the reason that pur-
chase of a District tag also entails the
purchase of a Maryland tax, and 1t is
the latter impdkition they resent
Correction of the Maryland-D
trict situation would make unneces-
sary the real purpose of the new reg
ulation, and al the same time do much
toward preserving and promoting ma
tional unity.
"Unless the situation is adjusted
there is a possibility that with the es-
tablishment of a modern roads system
in Virginia the latter State may be
tempted to emulate Maryland's pres
ent attitude toward the District
which will net Maryland about $500,
900 during 1921"