Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-20

good guess as to the regulations to
which he may subject himself by
crossing the imaginary line which
separates geographically one state
from the other.
Not one of the owners of the 10,
100000 motor vehicles in the United
States will disagree with the propos-
ition that uniformity in motor We
hicle regulation is not only expedient
but highly desirable and yet there is
Il strong inclination on the part of
each state to insist that uniformity
should be attained by making the
laws OF other states accord with its
own.
Traffic Freedom Essential
1t was the fundamental conception
of our forefathers who laid the foun-
dation of our government, who draft
cd the constitution and who saw the
dangers which might arise from dual
sovereignty existing within a single
country, that everywhere and at all
times and by all means, intercourse
among the various states Of the
union should be kept absolutely free
and unobstructed. Freedom of traffic
ana travel among the states is in
creaSlnSly essential as our popula-
tlon grows, our business transactions
multiply and our radius of travel in
creases.
An yet it is fact that upon the
introduction of every new form of
inter communication, the same
struggle must be had for the recog-
milton of its rights under the princi-
pies already referred to. 1t was so
with steam vessels, it was SO with
the stage coach and the railroad and
1t was so with the bicycle and it is
so now with the automobile.
Now that Congress has adopted
the policy of aiding the states to the
extent of paying 500 of the cost of
a system of stcto and interstate
roads comprising 7Ga of the total
mileage in each state and that
over half billion dollars has already
been provided by Congress for this
purpose, it would seem that the time
has come when Congress should go
step further and provide for the
free use of highways across imagin-
airy state lines.
There are now sixteen states which
permit motorists from other states
to use their roads freely for an en-
tire year or fraction thereof, or for
the period granted by the visitors
state.
These states are: Alabama, Della
ware. Florida, Idaho. Kentucky,
| Louisiana, Maine, Michigan New
York Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Virginia, Washington,
| Wisconsin.
In all Of the other thirty two
| states, the reciprocal period varies
from 10 to 80 days or more. If mo-
| torist from any one of the sixteen
states desires to travel in one or more
OF those states, he can do so
| throughout the year without having
| to purchase additional tags, but if
nc desires to motor in New Jersey
| Connecticut, Rhode Island or any of
the thirty-two states which have
| limited reciprocity. he must take out
an additional tag in those states af-
ter the reciprocal period has expired
Pity the D. c. Motorist
There is complete reciprocity be-
tween the District of Columbia and
; all other states except Maryland. but
! all motorists visiting the nations
capital are required by police ordin-
ance' to register at the police station
| within three days. What Senators
| and Congressman will do to this po-
lice ordinance when they return to
! Washington and are called upon tC
register at police headquarters can
| be imagined.
The reciprocal period in Maryland
Is ninety days with all states except
| the District of Columbia. Any d. G.
motOrist would be arrested for driv-
! ing his car 100 yards in the state OF
! Maryland if he failed to carry on his
car a set of Maryland tags and in his
pocket "a Maryland drivers license
and a Maryland certificate of title
| II his car. These Maryland per-
! quisitos cost ID. c. motorists about
Il half million dollars a year.
The constitution of the United
States provides that Congress shall
have the power to regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the
several states. Mr.. Justice Marshall
| first chief justice of the United
| states. once handed down the deci-
sion that commerce with foreign
countries and among the states
strictly considered consists of inter-