Evening star., 1923-04-18
1924 Auto Reciprocity Pledge
Giuen by Maryland Governor
''Gas Tax or Not" ID. C.. Motorists Will
Haze Free Use of State Highways,
Richie Tells C.. of e..

! Maryland and the District united
last night and wiped out the fgura :
tive scars and lacerations sustained
| in their fight over automobile tag
reciprocity, when Gov. Albert G.
Richie in a real, human, from-the-
| heart speech told members of the
Washington Chamber Of Commerce at
| the willard Hotel that the prob
lens OF the District were the problems
of Maryland and their interests were
| the same Gov. Ritchie dug deep into
the human side OF government and
showed that government was just a
group OF humans selected to direct it
He left with the members of the
! chamber and their guests the sim
cere impression that Maryland was
not the cold, unresponsive. inhuman
state to be feared by all those who
crossed her lines.
He told his audience frankly that the
automobile reciprocity matter was the
only rift in the clouds in the relations
beween Maryland and the District,
and said that automobile reciprocity
must come by January, gas tax or no
gas tax.
VIII become Actually.
Some day before next January. he
said you will see II brought about.
While he said there may be diner
ences as to the methods 10 be used in
getting reciprocity, il was more I'M
portant for the people OF the District
to feel that Maryland was treating
them right than is the particular
method OF bringing it about.
Gov. Ritchie was the first participant
in series Of state nights to be held
,, oh Sn Ma -
merce to bring about better social
and business good will between the
people of the District and their
neighbors. These are being arranged
cess of last nights meeting convinced
the chamber officials that II was one
of the most important steps in the
history Of the chamber in it's strides
to keep the Capital city high in the
minds OF the people OF the states.
The chamber last night passed a reso-
luton, introduced by p. J. Haltigan at
the request OF President Cans. author
iizfng the president and the conven-
tioDs committee to take such steps as
they deem best in connection with
bringing to Washington the national
political conventions in 1924.
Ask for Subscriptions.
Robert N Harper and Ross P. An
drews made g plea before the cham
Der for subscriptions to complete the
fund for the Washington Auditorium
now being erected. pointing out that
it was a sound business proposition
which should be invested in by every
person in Washington. having the
possibilities as it does OF bringing to
Washington annually more than $s5,-
000. 900 worth Of business.
The Baltimore and Ohio Glee Club
from the Monumental City entertain
ed during the evening. and when Gov.
Ritchie was introduced sang Mary
land, Ny Maryland
Frank Hogan. Washington attorney
and member OF the chamber. at the
direction OF President Cans. respond
ed to Gov. Ritchie's address, keeping
the audience in an uproar by his ap-
plicable anecdotes. and concluding
with the serious statement to the
governor that the Chamber OF Com
merce would ever preserve in its rec
ords and cherish 'the charming words
and cheering expressions Of your
high ideals"
Gov. Ritchie. after his introduction
by President Cans. quickly took the
hearts of his audience when he went
state and this city. and before he had
gone many minutes he had the as
sem mblage for his own.
After expressing his great pleasure
at being able to come here in ac-
ceptance of the invitation OF the
chamber. he said IT was such because
he had 'indulged himself in the hope
that such a meeting would in some
measure result In bringing about g.
better good will, a greater cordiality
men and women Of the District and
the men and women of Maryland.
Mutual Problems.
II am close enough to Washington"
he continued. "to be able to know that
great many OF our problems are
your problems and great many
Of your problems are our problems.
Jobs, in many respects. 1t would be
Infinitely more satisfactory and
greater results would accrue IL we
would take greater interest in each
others tasks and jobs. There is every
reason why we should do that.
I'VE in Maryland have the one best
road system In the whole country.
1t serves as avenues to get US closer
together and keeps us so: But there
is only one rift In the clouds tnat !
Of automobile tag reciprocity between
the District and Maryland.
Il am not here to make a speech. but
to talk. I have the feeling that l am
why anything should be concealed
AS far as the system goes il is all
right. except as it relates to tag
Al this remark the assemblaRe
broke into prolonged laughter. and
the governor continued:
Question Has Two Sides.
81 am glad to see that you treat
IL so humorously. have seen a great
many people when they did not con-
slider It such q humorous matter. The
question has two sides and 1t Is very
easy not to see the other fellows side
in a matter that is personal. And
when you get to the question OF the
automobile in these days You are
getting pretty close to the personal
side OF q fellow. When q thing goes
wronE in that connection the matter
is likely to assume pretty big proper.
tion, as it has In this matter Of
reciprocity.
and we have one. We all have our
opinions on the point. But I want
YOU to believe me. / am afraid that
reciprocity is at the point where we
don't believe the other fellow.
SomethfnE to he Done.
"It has gotten to the point where
something ought to be done by those
with authority to do 1t. When I went
into office I found q law on the Mary
land statute books which absolutely
prohibited reciprocity with the Dis
trict of Columbia. There was q period
when reciprocity was wanted, but Il
could not be granted because of this
law, but in 1922 authority was given
to reciprocate under the gas-tax sys-
tenn.