The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-20
CODE FAV0RS
INDUSTRIES.
Business Can Be Operated
On 10 Per Cent Basis.
OLD Law VAS PROHIBITORY.
Clause May Not BE Allowed TO Re
observation-disclosures Have been
Added TO the New Code which
NonId Cause Its Repeal in the
Very Near Future.

There is a clause in the District Code
which, If allowed to remain. would soon
make Washington a manufactures city.
II provides that auy stock corporation
for business purposes shall be allowed
TO operate when 10 per cent Of its cap
ital stock is paid in In this respect
the code places Washington on The same
basis as other cities in respect to the
establishment Of manufacturing plants.
Under the Old laws the difficulties in
me way Of starting a manufacturing plant
were such that they amounted TO practi-
ear prohibition For instance there wa,
law that corporations seeking 10 do
certain kinds OF business must show a
bona iide capital Of SI00. 900 all paid in.
This in itself deferred many from at
tempting TO start the industries which
flourish in other cities
Corporations Were Held ne Bay.
This law and the refusal Of the Dis
trict Building Department to issue per
mlts for the erection Of structures OF
the kind required for manufacturing
purposes have in effect. until nov. kept
the manufacturers out OF the District
Of Columbia
This law and the practice OF the Build
lng Department have been justified IN part
BY public opinion The idea has had wide
currency that the Capital City should be
reserved from the smoke Of The furnace
ana the rumble OF the factory wheel The
present smoke law which the Commits
sioners are finding so much difficulty in
enforcing had its Inspiration in the same
notion that the marble construction OF
the public buildings must not he black
ened by the CRIME Of coal smoke
Commerce Was Unknown.
All these prohibitory laws have been
aimed at the realization Of the idea that
Washington is not and ought not 10 be a
manufacturing city During the first cen
fury Of the city's existence they have
beea eminently successful in keeping the
whlrr Of the engine wheel at a distance
and commerce among the forgotten arts.
Or late. however. a change Of view has
found frequent expression in the trade or
CARNATIONS and in some Of the citizens
associations Of the District Men like
ar Is. II. Warner have lad the COURAGE
10 oppose the notion that Washington
should be- without the manufacturing in
duatries. They have said that the corn
munity is suffering from the want Of
proper means Of employment
The fact is cited that a Washington
80 me- - ---e-"-A A.''alA "a N44rallht 10 make
living than q boy in New York. Chicago.
or Baltimore. The fact is also cited that
there are not enough positions 20 20
around, and that The best young men OF
the Capital. born and reared here. are
Obliged TO so away for employment, or
starve.
Factory Hust BE Added
This condition Of affairs. which is de-
clared not to be overdravn. is said 20 De
an unnatural and anomalous condition.
It is said that the City Of Washington
has now reached a point where must
cease 10 grow in all that goes 10 make a
good city. unless the factory is added 20
the elerkship in the Government employ
and 70 the few professional positions in
which the energies Of the men Of the city
Ind exercise.
No one seems 10 know whether the
clause referred 20 in the code was placed
there by accident or design. but il serves
for the time being TO reverse the legal
conditions under which corporations for
business purposes may operate in the
District Of Columbia
Il IS possible now for the small con
Germs with a few thousands capital 20
start up and manufacture whatever they
may be able TO sell The SI00 eco limit
no longer opposes the small concern en-
plOying a few workers and turning out a
limited product