Evening star., 1923-12-05
GOVERNOR R|TCH|E
ISSUES ORDER FOR
AUTO RECIPROCITY
Maryland Executive Wires
Representative Here to
Prepare Proclamation.
ZIHLM MAN GETS PLEDGES
OF CONGRESS SUPPORT
House Member Told Legislative
Action Assured Within
Next Sixty Days.

Gov. Albert C.. Ritchie of Maryland
this afternoon wired Automobile
Commissioner Baughman of Mary
land to draw up a proclamation en-
tering into an agreement with the
District of Columbia for automobile
reciprocity. extending from January
1 to February 2S, 1924.
The governors message followed
conference here yesterday between
the District Commissioners and Mary
land automobile authorities, during
which the latter We're assured thai
Congress was favorable TO the
measure.
The governors telegram today was
sent from French Lick Springs, and
Indiana directed that the proclama
tion should be sent to the attorney
general of Maryland for approval and
be held in readiness for his sigma
ture upon his return to Baltimore.
The proclamation will state that
reciprocity between the District and
Maryland shall last until February
2S. and if Congress has not acted by
that time shall expire automaticall!.
ZihIman Gets Pledges.
Legislative action on auto-tag reci-
procity between Maryland and the
District of Columbia within sixty days
was assured today by Representative
Fred y. Zihlman of Maryland. an
active member of the House District
committee, who said that he has heard
no opposition voiced to the gasoline
tax bill upon which reciprocity de-
pends.
Confirming his pledge to Col +.
Austin Baughman, automobile COM
missioner of Maryland, made at a
conference in the District building
yesterday, Representative Zihlman
sent these assurances to the Mary
| land authorities today.
No Opposition Seen.
Representative Zihlman notified
them that he has received assurances
from House Leader Longworth and
| Speaker Gillett that there will be no
| delay in getting this matter up for
| Legislative consideration Ii. the House.
! He also received assurances from the
progressive leaders, Representative
John NJ. Nelson. chairman; Represen-
tative Roy o. Woodruff, secretary, and
Representative Florian Lampert.
| spok esman on District affairs, that
"
| Representative Stuart F. Reed of
West Virginia. prospective chairman
of the House District committee. gave
| Representative Zihlman every assur-
| ance that the bill will be promptly
| reported from the House committee.
| of the individual members of the
House committee has confirmed this
prediction. -
Democrats Favorable.
! Representative ]. Charles Linthicum
/ of Maryland, conferred with Repre-
nessee, the democratic leader of the
! House, and received assuranc" that
! the democrats will not max any at
! tempt to delay action.
! Senator Weller of MARYLAND, a mem
Der of the Senate District committee.
had a conference today with Senator
| l.. Heisler Ball of Delawara. chair
man of the committee. who stated
positively that he has no doubt but
| the committee will act favorablv. and
/ that the reciprocity measure will BE-
| one of the first considered in tic
| Senate.
| Senator Weller also conferred with
! Senators Lodge and Curtis who told
| him that the reciprocity measure
would be allowed to come up for
vote in the Senate at the earliest
possible date.
Il have every reason to believe
| that prompt and favorable consid-
4 Grafton will be given to this very
/ desirable legislation" said Represen-
| tative Zihlman after comforting with
all of the Legislative leaders who can
expedite the passage of this measure
| IF we cannot get this reciprocity
bill through in sixty days we never WILL
he said. laughing. He pointed out
| that 1t failed in the last Congress
only on account of the Legislative
! jam in the closing days
Seek Federal Reciprocity.
Reciprocity for automobile license
| tags everywhere throughout the
| country is the purpose of a bill in
| troduced by Representative j. b. As
| well of Louisiana. 1t would require
| the authorities of each state to recog-
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