Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-22
BY REX COLLIER.

spread interest In the general question
OF State reciprocity and has brought 10
light some facts hitherto not understood
among motorists
One OF the more salient OF these
revelations is that the so-called "reci-
Dominion and Washington does not
exist formally.
Virginia authorities In charge OF
motor registration may be reciprocal or
not. Just as they see At, and In either
case they are not bound by any written
compact or treaty or interstate under
standing" The same holds true with
regard to trafic officials OF the District
OF Columbia.
Breach Of Faith"
The hue and cry raised by Washing
ton motorists, and by some officials,
also alleging a breach OF faith" and
a violation OF the reciprocity agree
ment" by the Virginia motor vehicle
mopuls was ill-founded. in 30 far as
reference was had to any technical ana
binding contract between the Two ]uris-
| dictions.
There was disagreement. furthermore.
between Washington traffic officials and
Virginia motor authorities as TO whether
there existed even "gentlemen's agree
ment" affecting reciprocal recognition
of license plates. Traffic Director Har-
land and Assistant TRAFFIC Director FL
| bridge we're of the opinion that such an
understanding" did exist, but oodurate
| and robust Jim" Hayes the neighoor-
ing but not too neighborly motor venl-
1 Gle commissioner in Richmond, was not
! so sure about 1t.
| AS for MARYLAND. however. there does
exist a formal treaty" regarding auto
mobile reciprocity. It was drawn up
pursuant to an act OF Congress follow
| ing the long and bitter tag warfare
which once harassed luckless MOTOR
| lists of the two domains BEFORE tnis
treaty was entered into. every WASH
| ineton automobile had 70 carry Two u
cense plates-one for the District ana
one for Maryland.
Leads to Difficulties.
The double-tag plan led to insufier-
able dificulties on tour. Many OF the
states have specific inhibitions against
| carving more than one license plate
| This was especially true in New YORK
state. Time after time washington
and Maryland motorists. bent upon
pleasurable vacation trips along the
Hudson and elsewhere in New YORK:
were victims of vexatious delays ana
ofttin1es fines for having two tags on
! their cars.
No amount OF explanation. expostu-
lation or cajolery could answer the
! stubborn and quite logical response OF
/ the traffic officer or magistrate that IL
! saws right here in the statutes that you
can't carry more than one tag on your
car" Prominent motorists sometimes
hwy tntfTnAs
| tons that their automobiles were car
! rving two tags for no good purpose.
| and frequently occupants were sub
| jected 70 close scrutiny and exasperat-
/ ing cuizzing on the object OF their
| Journey.
The Northern officers and judges
| we're no respecters of persons. and their
| activities now and then plagued high
| Government, State and city ofncialS OF
/ the District and Maryland. II was this
accommodating dissatisfaction that finally
led to the intervention OF Congress
and the eventual settlement OF prob
| lem that for years had embittered resi-
| dents Of one side Of the line against
those across the State boundary.
| The adoption of the 'pay-as-you-go"
| gasoline tax plan for road construction
/ in Maryland and the District was the
1
! what had become a serious situation.
| Maryland previously had protested the
/ fact that Washingtonians could buy q
/ cheap tag in the District and then
[ spend much 81 their motoring time on
! Marylands good roads. without con-
| tributing q penny toward their upkeep,
. Under the gasoline tax plan this con-
dition was obviated. for every autorio-
bile owner who purchased gasoline IN
Maryland was contributing his share
toward the States highway program,
During al OF this real warfare BE-
tween the District and Maryland Viz
ginia, with true Southern hospitality.
had raised no objection 20 District
tags. Virginia. in fact. Welcomed
Washington motorists 10 her historic
shrines and her famed parks and val
leys and mountains, She realized tina,
! the more visitors Virginia had. the
greater would be her prosperity. not
alone from the standpoint OF money
orough; into the State. but o. publicity
given her places OF interest.
To say that OF late Sirginia's a;tt-
tude has suffered change. at leaS.
I with respect 70 visitors .rcm the Ma
tional Capital. would Be distortion OF
The facts.
According TO The States popular ard
hospi'aole governor. Harry Byrd. the
whole tag controversy between the Dis
rict ana Virginia, or vice verSa, IS the
result al misunderstanding. both or
me paFt q Virginia and the District.
Treaty Is Proposed.
In The frs, place. he calls attention
10 me Aforementioned point tha, there
Is no reciprocity treaty between VYr-
g'n;a and the Capital That. In his
opinion. Is really the whole trouble. He
believes that such a treaty should De
worked out and formally adopted. I,
would end for all time the constantly
recurring misunderstanding that have
beclouded the friendly relations Of the
NO Jurisdictions.
Gov. Byrd has said ne wants the
present Legislature 10 so into the Whole
question" He thinks the District OF
Columbia might help considerably by
adopting al adequate automobile title
law
II Is an open secret tina. the governor
ana his motor vehicle commissioned
have not been entirely In accord AZ
times With regard to certain OF the hat
terS policies anent District q! Columbia
tags.
Hayes ensrSSSed IN the wcrS Of
riItdly administrators the State motor
vehicle laws, Is loath 10 depart from
fhe iron~elad procedure plainly set insth
on the statute hooks Ryrd. q brad.
minded executive intent c0 N,puiartx-
ms Virginia to ali the wvrla. Is inst
as reluctant to have Virginia make any
move that would eusender il~ferlsny
outside her eoryierS.
HAYES paints out that the motor We
hicle laws NJ Virginia c>,n,a.n an UNI
eoui'ccA provision thar l,erSSN,S living
outside Ut the state. eut operating their
automobiles IN Virginia on business
must equip their cars with HWs,nia
tags WAshmg,cnS bakery trucks Tor
example come into Virginia for the
parp>ASe Of selling bread there, and, he
! contends, they yNme Within the mean.