Evening star., 1927-10-14
'PEACE COMMITTEE
!. LOOMS IN TAG WAR
Graham Suggestion to Name
Joint o. C.-Virginia Body
Favored.

The automobile reciprocity war
armistice. declared yesterday by Gov
Byrd, probably will be followed by the
appointment of a joint committee of
citizens OF the two jurisdictions to
work for a permanent settlement of
the Virginia. District Of Columbia tag
controversy.
A suggestion that such committee
be named, advanced by Edwin c.
Graham, president of the Board OF
Trade. during Yesterdays Cancellation
conference in Richmond, was received
favorahly by the governor and by
kfotor Vehicle Commissioner James NJ.
Hayes, jr.
: The peace committee" under the
proposed plan, would consist of au-
fhorized representatives Of the State
and Of the District OF Columbia, with
Certain representatives of Washington
trade interests as advisers.
{ Injurious to Virginia.
1t was brought out at the meeting
IN Gov. Byrd's office that this COM
mittee could thrash out various in
terpretation& put on the Virginia reg
kstration laws as they affect non-resi-
Gent individuals and corporations
doing business in the State, and,
bers Of the General Assembly regard.
idIg advisability of amending the
Statutes.
Gov. Byrd suggested necessity for
amending the Law so that reciprocity
relations between the State and the
District might continue on an ami
gable basis. He plainly evidenced his
belief that the wording of the law
kS 1t now stands is a menace to
feciprocity and injurious to the COM
tnonwealth.
Z 1T was the belief of those attending
the conference that the reciprocity
committee would include Commission
e1 Hayes Of Virginia and Director w.
II Harland of the local Traffic Bu-
feau, and possibly Attorney General
Saunders of Virginia and Corporation
Counsel Bride Of the District. Moth.
ing definite in the way of carrying
out the committee plan has been done
as yet, however.
Z In the meantime, Commissioner
Hayes today took steps to carry out
Gov. Byrd's wishes with respect to
Cessation OF hostilities in the license
tgRr, which opened yesterday with
Vengeance in Alexandria. In accord
ance with the decision reached at the
conference, prosecution Of the nine
local firms whose agents were arrest
cd for failing to display Virginia tags
On their trucks will be held in abey-
3nce indefinitely.
Arrests Are Halted.
I No further arrests will be made un.
der the section of the law which
makes 1t compulsory for all outside
commercial vehicles operating regu-
larly in Virginia, to purchase State
tags.
Gov. Byrd and Mr.. Hayes also EN-.
phasized that District residents who
occupy temporary homes in Virginia
during vacation will not be required
30 equip their automobiles with Vir-
xinia plates. The law viii be enforced
Dnly against persons whe spend
s'about half their time" in Virginia
and who have substantial holdings
there. This comes under the heading
of dual residents" Mr.. Hayes ex-
planned.
{ With the dispute between Virginia
and the District temporarily settled
State traffic officers next week will
turn their attention to bona flde resi-.
dents OF Arlington and Fairfax Coun.
ties who are using District OF Colum-
bia tags on their automobiles.
Mr.. Hayes announced he would
station four officers at the bridges
leading into Washington and instruct
them to halt every morning all auto
mobiles coming from Virginia with
District license plates. Motorists un-
able to satisfy the officers that they
are bona hde residents OF Washing
ton will be arrested and prosecuted,
Mr.. Hayes declared.