Evening star., 1927-10-13
Byrd Orders Liberal Interpre-
tation of Auto License Act
by Authorities.
DISTRICT SP0KESMEN
SEE VICTORY IN ACTION
Delegation Well Satisfied After
Conference in Capitol at
Richmond.
BY REX COLLIER.
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

d.
Gov. Byrd this afternoon at a con-
ference with representatives of
Washington's traffic authorities and
trade bodies called off the threatened
reciprocity war" between Virginia
and the District of Columbia.
While admitting that the registra-
tion law of Virginia is very broad"
Gov. Byrd expressed the opinion that
a strict Interpretation of 1t at this
time would abolish the present re-
ciprocal relations between Virginia
and the National Capital, and he
recommended to Motor Vehicle Com
missioner Hayes that all warrants
already issued against Washington
business firms under the registration
law be held in allegiance and that
further prosecutions be deferred un-
til the matter of amending the pres
ent law has been put before the State
Legislature at its next session.
Hailed as ID. C. Victory.
The decision of the governor, an
nounced at the conciliaton conference
arranged by the Washington Board
of Trade, was hailed by the delegates
from the National Capital as a com
plete victory" for their cause.
while it appears that the law is
very plain" Gov. Byrd said, land
that under a legal Interpretation of it
any Washington firm regularly oper-
ating it's vehicles in Virginia on busi-
ness should purchase Virginia tags,
l personally feel that Virginia should
interpret the act literally, until such
Nlxy I,an
have had an opportunity to consider
the far-reaching complications in.
volved in the wording of the law.
AS governor of the Sta.e do not
have the power to order Mr.. Hayes
to withhold an enforcement of any
law, but do think that for the pres
ent at least we should confine our
prosecutions to bona fide residents of
Virginia who Illegally go into Wash.
ington and secure District of Columbia
tags.
Governor Explains Position.
when l first instructed Mr.. Hayes
to make arrests in Arlington County
of persons operating their cars on
District of Columbia tags, had in
mind only bona fide residents of Vir.
ginia who were deliberately svadins
our registration laws. 1t seems, how.
ever. that the thing has gone far
beyond the original bounds. 1 think
that Virginia should manifest the
greatest hospitality to all non-resi.
dents, and I should hate to see any.
thing done that would hurt the exist.
ing reciprocity understanding"
Commissioner Hayes agreed with
Gov. Byrd's expressed attitude and
announced to the conferees that all
fs1sc mt oil H. n
cent ruling of the attorney general
would be held in allegiance indefinitely.
He stated, however. that next week
he would station four officers on the
bridges leading into Washington and
stop every motorist leaving Virginia
before 10 o'clock in the morning
whose automobile is equipped with
ID. c. tags. If the motorists cannot
show satisfactorily that they are resi-
dents of Washington they will be
arrested and prosecuted, Mr.. Hayes
said.
Traffic Director w. H. Harland and
members of Washington's trade bodies
present at the conference assured Gov.
Byrd and Mr.. Hayes of their co.opera-
ton in any action Virginia may take
to compel her own residents to buy
Virginia tags. 1t was pointed out that
this question, involving bona fide Vir-
ginia residents, was not in dispute.
District Delegation.
Representing Washington at the
conference in the governors Office
were Edwin c. Graham, president of
the Board Of Trade; George w. Offutt.
chairman of the traffic committee of
the Board of Trade; Richard l.. Con-
ner, assistant secretary of the board:
Henry Stringer, member of the Trade
Board traffic committee; William Jorg,
from the Chamber of Commerce: Ivan
Z. Weld, vice president of the Cham
Der Of Commerce; A. p. Federline of
the A. A. A. and Traffic Director Har-
land.
Members of the Washington delega.
ton told Gov. Byrd that when the
Virginia Legislature meets a commit.
Tee will confer with members of tae
General Assembly in an effort TO cor.
vince them of the injustice of Viz,
gina $ present registration law as il
affects nOn-residents and with a Viev
to having the Law amended
This suggestion was received favo..
ably by the governor and he plainly
indicated that he, too. felt the law
as It stands is inequitahle.
Inc governor also WaS Ad~isrd that
the business interests of Washington
and others would take up with Con.
gress the matter of enacting an auto.
mobile title law for the District of Co.
lumbia. This move, it was stated
would serve to eliminate another noint
OF issue affecting reciprocity.
To Check ON Tags.
Director HaIland told the governor
that the District of Columbia regrets
tnat any Virginian should by giving
hctItious addresses purchase District
OF Columbia tags and as a step to-
wards ameliorating this situation the
traffic authorities plan hereafter to
mail the registrations to tag an.
plicants.
In this way. he said, it is hoped
to check up on persons misrepresent-
ing their papers of residence.
Deputy Automobile Commissioner
Edward McDermott at Alexandria to.
day arrested nine District operators of
commercial vehicles for operating
without Virginia tags.
At the same time the Langley. Va.
Citizens Association and the Airing.
ION Motor Club entered the lists
against the Virginia officials as op-
posed~to any agitation which threat
Ems severance of the present anicable
relations.
Those arrested at Alexandria fol-
ow: c. l.. Fletcher. employed by the
Ward Baking Co. of Washington:
y. II. Gordon OF the Auth Provision