The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1899-10-23

The District authorities promise livsly
time for the violators of the smoke law
which went into effect on August 1. This
is one of the most positive laws the Com
missioners have ever had promulgated by
Congress for the benefit of the District,
the officials say, and they can use no dis
elimination in its enforcement.
The act as passed last February provides
that ION and after six months from the
passage of this act the emission of dense
or thick black or grey smoke or cinders
from any smokestack or chimney used in
connection with any stationary engine,
steam boiler or furnace of any description
within the District of Columbia shall he
deemed and is hereby declared to be pub
lie nuisance; provided, that nothing in
this act shall be construed as applied to
chimneys of buildings used exclusively for
private residences"
The penalty for a violation of this lag
was fixed al not less than SO or more than
500 fine for each day the law is VIC ated.
This will make matters very interesting
for a number of local firms so the Dis
trict officials claim, as they have been
keeping memoranda of the number OF yio-
lators of the law, number Of people not
having made any attempt to comply with
the new regulation since ii has been in
force. The District officials state that
there is no excuse for a violation of this
act, as before its maturity they gave the
matter wide publicity. They have equip
ped the only building belonging to the Dis
trict Government, the pumping station on
L Street. with one OF the most improved
smoke consumers and il has given entire
satisfaction.
When the law went into effect on August
8 the matter of its enforcement was turned
over 10 DR.. Woodward, the Health Officer,
and he appointed DR.. Lynch smoke inspec-
tor and gave him positive orders to see that
the law was enforced. DIR. Lynch immedi-
ately set TO work taking the names OF the
violators of the law and made one arrest
This man is now waiting trial in the Police
Court, and all other prosecutions have been
held up until the case has been disposed
of. In the meantime the merchants who
have failed TO equip their chimneys with
smoke consumers have been asked 10 e&-
plain why they have not done so. Some Of
them have replied that they have not had
time TO get the necessary mechanism, but
this excuse will not be accepted.
The Health Officer has absolutely no dis
elimination in the enforcement of the Law,
and there is no loophole through which the
offender can escape. The trial of the man
arrested some time ago will probably come
off in the Police Court some time this
month, after which all the other persons
who have been noted as violating the law
will be arrested and a number of charges
of the same offence will be brought against
them. An idea of the amount of fines some
of these offenders will have TO pay was CIV
en- today by one of the Health officials.
"One hotel which has been noted by every
one for the density and blackness of the
smoke that pours from its chimney and
completely envelopes Pennsylvania Ave
nue." said he, has violated the law every
day since the act went into effect. If We
| can get the owners of this place into court
and make them pay the maximum fine, as
| they should do for there is absolutely nc
excuse for their negligence, they would be
compelled TO turn about SIS, 600 into the Dis
trict Golfers. With this sum they could
have purchased smoke consumers for every
window of the hotel and have some left
over.
The minimum in this case would APP
proximate SEQ: quite an amount to pay al
one time--This is only one of the offend
ers. If We can prosecute all of them the
District will have a great increase in its
deposit at the Treasury Department ana
there Will be q decided difference in the
bank accounts of some of the National Cap
ital's leading citizens