Evening star., 1924-02-18
AUTO RECIPROCITY
BELIEVED ASSURED
Maryland Officials Confident
Temporary Status Will
Become Permanent.

Maryland officials are confident that
the present temporary automobile
reciprocity arrangement will continue
received by Commissioner Rudolph
today from Austin Baughman. Mary
land commissioner of motor vehicles.
The communication was intended to
be an invitation to the District gov
eminent to become affiliated with the
eastern conference of motor vehicle
administrators. But in pointing to the
advantages to be derived from such
affiliation. Commissioner Baughman
made this significant reference to the
tag situation:
ESPECIALLY is this the case. in view
of the present certainty of full reci-
procity between the state of Mary
The existing agreement under
which Maryland is recognizing Dis
trict tags expires February %, less
han two weeks hence. 1t was en-
tered into for sixty days to enable
Congress to enact the gasoline tax
bill for the District, and under that
bill reciprocity would become per-
manent.
Although that measure has passed
the House, it was adopted in such
form as to arouse almost general
are planning to fight for a different
bill in the Senate.
VIII Act This Week.
Consideration of the bill by the SEN
ate committee will probably begin
the middle of the week. Senator Ball
of Delaware, chairman of the Dis
trict committee and of the subcom-
mittee handling the bill, is in Della
ware because of the death of his
brother. Dr.. John Ball. and is ex-
pected to return here Wednesday.
NJ. Q. Eldridge, representing the
joint committee of trade .and civic
organizations on the gasoline tax
bill, called at the office of Senator
Ball today. 1t is the desire of the
joint committee to obtain a hearing
before the Senate subcommittee at
the earliest possible date. Mr.. Ell
bridge pointed out that the period of
temporary reciprocity between Mary
land and the District in the matter
of automobile licenses would expire
at the end of this month and for
that reason it was necessary to OBJ
tain action on the proposed legis-
lation as soon as possible. He said.
however, that with the assurances of
congressional action he thought the
present reciprocity period might we'll
be extended for another thirty days
in order to permit Congress to COM
plete the pending legislation.
next week the District of Columbia
Commissioners will request Gov.
Ritchie to extend the temporary
agreement until both houses of Con-
EreSS can act.
Text of Letter.
Commissioner Rudolph announced
tion to join in the eastern confer
ence of motor vehicle officials in At
lantic City April is. Wade H.
Coombs, superintendent of license,
Will represent the local government
Commissioner Baughman's letter
follows:
AT the meeting of the eastern
conference of motor vehicle admins
traitors, held in New York city Janu-
ary 25, 1924, was instructed to ex-
tend a cordial invitation to the Dis
trict of Columbia to be represented
at the conference and to also urge
upon the Commissioners the many
advantages to be derived from such
membership.
1--WE feel that the utmost satisfac-
tion and cooperation has been de-
rived since the organization of this
conference, and we are sure that the
mutual advantages to be obtained
will more than repay your efforts in
this direction. Especially is this the
case, in view of the present certainty
of full reciprocity between the state
of Maryland and the District of Co.
lumbia.
81 trust we may have the pleasure
of representation from the District
of Columbia at our next meeting
which will be held in Atlantic City,
April 1S, and If you will advise me of
your wishes in the matter / shall be
very glad to forward you full par
ticulars concerning the meeting and
also to make the necessary hotel res
ervations for you."