Evening star., 1923-01-25
Firm FOR RIGHTS
ON CONDUIT ROAD
montgomery County Prose-
: cutor Insists Upon Enforc-
= ing Motor Vehicle Law.
~
=OTHERS BACK OPINION
OTHERS BACK OPINION
County Commissioners Attorney
: and State Attorney General Con-
. firm Jurisdiction Over Highway.

= ROCKVILLE, Nd, January 25 (Spe-
-claD.-State's Attorney Thomas L.
dawson. who sholders entire respon-
-slbility for the decision of the Mont
gomery county authorities to assume
complete criminal jurisdiction over
-ehe nine miles of the Conduit road
hat are In this county and to en-
-1orce thereon Maryland's motor We
':hicle regulations seems not in the
'ieast disturbed over the expressed
determination of United States War
department officials to fight 'em to
finish"
Whlie anxious to have the question
VI Jurlsoletlon settled in an amicabIe
.smanner. he feels, so he stated To-
sday. that he has sworn duty to
perform, and is proceeding on the
Atneory that the MONTGOMERY county
.people along those nine miles are on.
ielea TO just as much protection from
.speeu hanlacs, drunken drivers and
RECKLESS motorists as are the residents
eof any other section of the countv
-ano ne believes it is his duty to see
stnat they get it,
;, Mr Dawson has gone into the mat
ster carefully and expresses confidence
ctHaL the Conduit road is a 'public
,Shlghway'' within the meaning Of The
aryiahd statutes and that the Mary
s,.,ithoto sib tnotof laws apply thereto. not
sWltnstanding Judge Henderson;s d.
scislon to the contrary
Attorney General Concur.
John A. Garrett, attorney to +ba
board of county commissioners agraas
with Mr.. Dawson, and is ancorr
s@eihs MIN and cooperating with him.
'oihey General Alexander Arm
sstrons' in an opinion on the subject.
asked Tor by Col. E. Austin Baugh-
..inl, an, state commissioner of motor
ssuage that Maryfand's iurisdictinn
soNer the Conduit road does include
enforcement of the motor vehicle
Jaws ms letter to Col Baughman be-
eNS, IN part, as follows:
e State officers have full authority
80 execute criminal and civil pro-
scesses on the tracts Of land and road (
Acqulred py the United States in the
State or Maryland. and such Grimm naI
or other processes as shall = issue
tundeTr the authority of the state of
sharyland against any person or per-
sons charged with crimes or mis-
soemeanorS committed within or with
sout the limits of said lands may be
sexecuted therein in the same way and
lceded 'ee''
The motor cycle dupties and sne-
.clal deputies appointed by your com
mission, therefore, would have au-
-eitoiio ~ 10 arrest the drivers of motor
'Vehlcles for violations of any of the
provisions of our law, even though
said motor vehicles are operating,
over that portion of the road which
rs maintained by the federal govern
.ment and under its control"
Will Confer With Officials.
For the present, SO he stated TODAY,
Estates Attorney Dawson will not
push the case against David Tuchey
pf Cabin John, who was arrested on
Tuesday for operating his automobile
on the Conduit road at a rate of
speed in excess of the Maryland
limit. He will first get in touch with
the United States War Department
and endeavor to arrange a friendly
settlement of the controversy over
jurisdiction. Mr. Dawson will sug-
Sest a test case to be taken event
Lally to the Maryland court of ap-
peals for final decision.
1t has been suggested to States
Attorney Dawson that should he
persist in his announced purpose the
District of Columbia might retaliate
in various ways and injure not only
Montgomery county, but other sections
of the state much more than the en-
forcement of the motor vehicle laws
such a feeling exists among the
members of the board of county COM
missioners. In regard to that, Mr.
Dawson has stated that if the county
commissioners will adopt a resolu-
tion expressing their attitude and
reasons therefSr. he will give it
serious consideration.