Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-24

zoe. per lib. "Try a ten-cent sam
e. a. EARNShAW 4 Bro, VIII,
as well as to eliminate the possibility OF
healthy individuals contracting the disease
..The very important part played by in
fected sputum in the dissemination ana per
petuation OF tuberculosis has been SO THOR
opghiy proved by experience that am CON
yfnced il indiscrtmnate splitting IN pubnc
places by those afflicted with tuberculosis
can be prevented. very efficient step Will
have been taken toward the elimination OF
this preventable disease.
The Spread of Consumption.
Dr. George NJ. Kober, president OF the
Medical Society of the District OF Column
bia, spoke of the spread of consumption,
and gave the results of many researches by
eminent men into it's causes. The sputum,
1t was announced. was the main cause. DR..
w. R. Kingsman of the board of education
spoke in favor of the proposed regulation,
as did DR.. ]. w. Chappell. Mrs Ellen
Spencer Mussey spoke on behalf OF the
Federation of Women's Clubs, representing
1900 women. Mrs. Mussey said the women
of the city did not appear In favor or the
regulation on account of the Inconvenience
to their long skirts. They appealed as
mothers for the protection OF their chill
dren. No precautions could be too great to
take in the interest of the children.
Miss M. E. Lent, chairman OF the society
Of Visiting Nurses, also spoke.
Mr.. Charles F. Weller, secretary OF the
Associated Charities. presented on behalf
of the committee on the prevention OF the
spread of consumption, organized under
the auspices of the Associated Charities,
resolution in favor of the adoption OF the
regula ton. Mr.. Weller said the expert
ment OF stopping expectoration In the
street cars had proved so successful and
81 anfOrcQ6 he hODed the Commits
sioners would take the next step forward
and prevent splitting on the sidewalks.
Petition Presented.
Mr.. O. H. Tittmann appeared as the rep
resentative of number of leading citizens
and presented petition reciting that The
undersigned residents of Washington have
noted with interest and concern that the
question Of keeping the sidewalks clear OF
certain offensive and insanitary matter is
being considered by you. During a meet
ing, at which all of the undersigned were
present. 1t was unanimously determined TO
urge upon your honorable body the adoption
Of such police regulation as will tend to re-
strict and abolish the unclean habit of spit
ting on the sidewalks.
your petitioners are informed that In
many cities such regulations have been
adopted to promote the public welfare. and
they believe that in this capital Of the ma
ton the prepriety Of adopting similar
measures Will commend 1tSeiI 10 the great
ma jorfty of it's residents
The petition was signed by George NJ.
Sternberg, q. T. Sewers, H. w. Wiley. A.
Graham Bell, Mr.. Fenallosa, Marcus Baker,
William Dali, G.. w. Littlehales, Theo. NJ.
Gill. Elmer Gates F. l. Allen, Chichester
Bell, Charles ]. Bell, Arthur Day. N. Car
rington Bolton. F. v. Coville, 8. l.. Krebs,
A. r. Spofford, F. H. Wines. F. A. Lucas
G. o. Totten, Robert H. Chapman, G. H.
Grosvenor, Swan NJ. Burnett, F. w. Clark
]. H. Fable, w. NJ. Mitchell, o. H. Tit
mann, chairman.
Voices the Opposition.
When Commissioner Mcfarland called
for some word from the opposition, Mr.. M.
P. Key arose, saying he wanted to make
a plea for helpless old age and old woman
hood. He did not want to see some poor
old woman, unable to reach the curb,
dubbed in the head by a policeman for
splitting on the sidewalk. He said the side
walks in this city were so wide people over
100 years of age could not walk lightly to
the curb every time they wanted to spit.
Mr.. Key said he objected as strongly as
any one to the tobacco chewers and pro-
fessional spitters, but he thought there was
some way around the matter instead of a
police regulation and sensation in the
newspapers.
Dr. Charles Allen also opposed the meas
ure. He declared there are already too
many laws. He did not think the people
should be made the victims of any more
vexatious regulations forced upon them by
three officials in whose selection they had
no choice. He did not believe the state
ments made by the physicians to the effect
that splitting is the main carrier OF con-
sumption.
"And the ladies come here to force this
thing upon u.s." he continued. "Why don't
they stop kissing? You can't send your
child out into the street but some woman
comes along and kisses it. Disease is
spread a million times more through kiss
ing than through splitting. kissing is
going on all over the city, all over the
country, all over the world, and will con-
tinue till the end. l suppose | don't be-
lieve there is any necessity for this pro-
posed law. 1 have no sympathy for the
women who wear long skirts. Let them
bear the brunt of their own foolishness.
What you ought to do is to stop the sale
of all milk in the District Milk brings
more disease than anything know of.
r. C.. Glascock was the third opponent
Of the proposed regulation. To adopt 1t, he
declared, would be treading upon danger
Gus ground: 1t was an absurd PROPOSE
ton to drag a man off to a dungeon for
happening to spit on the pavement. The
speaker declared the smoke law to be abb
surd. No one, he said was ever hurt by
smoke until the smoke law was made.
Then men who are the heart, the bone
and the sinew of the city were dragged
Off to the Police Court and mulcted.
f Under Consideration.
The Commissioners took the matter under
consideration. Up to the present time Com
missioner mcfarland has been the only
Commissioner in favor of the regulation,
Commissioners West and Biddle having
voted against 1t. The matter will again
come up for final action in a few days.
Among those present at the hearing, in
addition to the speakers. were: Mrs. Han
nah B. Sperry, president Of the District
Federation of Women's Clubs; Mrs. H. M.
Rose, past president of the Loyal Women
and representing the Aid Association for
the Blind; DR.. Anna A. Wilson, Miss Tuck
ermann, Mrs. Isabel E. Smith, Miss Laura
B. Chamberlain, w. ]. F'rizzell, ]. Eidridge
Burns. DR.. George w. N. Custis, w. p.
Van Wickle, Albert Stabler, G. N. Brown.
Rev. D. E. Wiseman, A. e. Shoemaker.
the health officer, DR.. Woodward n. L.
CoIlamer. DR.. Chester H. Beatty. the cor
poration counsel, A. B. Duvall; Benjamin
F. Gibbs, Henry w. Sampson and George
s. Wilson. secretary of the board of chari-
ties