Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-02
INTERPRETATION
Commissioners Adopt Pro-
hibitive Regulation.
UNANIMOUS ACTION
ORDINANCE FoRBIDs SPLITTING
ON THE SIDEWALKS.
Penalty the Same as That Imposed for
Expectorating in Street
Cars.

The District Commissioners today, in
board session, decided to adopt the pro-
! posed police regulation forbidding expecto-
| ration, splitting, upon any of the paved
| sidewalks in the District of Columbia. The
action of the board was unanimous. The
regulation will become effective at the
earliest period practicable Under the law.
| The police will be instructed to give
warnings before rigorous enforcement of
| the measure is begun 1t Is thought that
a week or ten days will be sufficient time
to allow the residents of the District to
acquaint themselves with the law. After
| that period shall have elapeed II there is
wilfuI splitting upon the sidewalks cases
will be made to show that the authorities
are In earnest and intend to enforce the
regulation strictly as possible. The pen
atty provided for violation is the same as
has prevailed in connection with the regu-
lation against splitting in street cars, a
fine of not less than 81 nor more than $40.
Commissioner Mcfarland. who has been
making the fight for such a regulation
alone up to the present time, believes that
the regulation has public sentiment behind
it and will practically enforce itself. The
very fact that there is a law the sub
ject will be a deterrent not to be over
estima ted. The evidence that public opin-
ion favored the proposed law has not been
lacking since the Commissioners first
nounced, two weeks ago, that a hearing
would be granted on the subject to the
committee on public health OF the Board
Of Trade.
At the outset of this latest crusade both
Commissioners West and Biddle were op-
posed to the regulation. The hearing of
the oath of last month brought out such a
strong sentiment in favor of the measure
however and the Commissioners have re-
cefved collectively and individually SO many
letters on the subject, that the final agree
ment to the adoption of the regulation was
unanimous. Commissioner West said 1t
seemed public sentiment demanded trial
of the regulation, and Col Bidde said he
would agree to the proposed action of his
fellow Commissioners. The regulation is
an amendment to the police regulation
against splitting in the street ears. which
has been successfully enforced for two
years more. 1t also provides against
splitting in any public building under the
control of the Commissioners.
The Amended Regulation.
1t follows: -
Section 33. No person shall expectorate
or spit in or upon any paved sidewalk or
footpath in the District Of Columbia, or on
any. part of any street railway car, or
other public vehicle carrying passengers for
hire, or in or upon any part of any public
building under the control of the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia. Street
railway companies and the other public We
hicles carrying passengers for hire shall
keep posted conspicuously In each and
every one of their cars and public vehicles
notice forbidding expectorating splitting.
Section "a. Any person violating any of
the provisions of any section of this article,
a penalty for which is not heretofore pro-
vided, shall, on conviction thereof, be pun
ished by fine of not less than one dollar
nor more than forty dollars for each Of
fense"
1t was at todays session Of the District
board that the first official consideration
oiVpO to the matter since the pIDlic
hearing of the oath of March Commission
er Macfarland, who has favored the resula-
tons from the first, had been more solidly
intrenched in his position by the testimony
brought out at the hearing Commissioner
Henry L. West and Col. John Biddle, his
associates, who were opposed to the meas
ure, had evidently been much impressed by
the hearing and had come to the concu-
sion that a trial of the regulation was the
only course for the Commissioners to pur-
sue. The board session was but a brief
cne as an agreement was readily reached.
Movement Begun Two Years Ago.
The adoption of the regulation today is
the result of movement begun nearly two
years ago In May, 1901, DR.. w. c. Wood
ward the health officer OF. the District,
recommended to the Commissioners that a
regulation against splitting on the sidewalk
be adopted. Commissioner Macfarland who
has supervision of the health department,
approved the recommendation, The other
members OF the District board at that time
were Commissioner John w Ross and Capt
Lansing Fl. Beach, Engineer Commissioner
After considering the matter, Mr.. Ross and
Captain Beach voted against the proposed
regulation. When Col. Biddle was appoint
ed Engineer Commissioner to succeed Capt.
Beach the matter came up again, and was
vetoed by Mr.. Ross and Col. Biddle.
soon after the appointment of Mr. Henry
l. west as Commissioner OF the District,
Dr. woodward again recommended the
regulation. The matter was referred to the
corporation counsel and he pre- pared the
draft that was finally adopted today. Com
missioner mi n1:n Macfarland approved DR.. Wood
wards recommendation. : Commissioner
west opposed it, however and he was up
held by Commissioner Bidd3e. Mr.. West
SAID at the time he was not convinced OF
posed regulation. nor could he see how 1t
could be made effective WITHOUT a degree of
unnecessary friction and annoyance far be-
gained.
Views Of Commissions, ,:Macfarland.
Commissioner Macfariand. expressed his
approval of the regulation tn positive terms,
saying: as
Il desire to record my iopinion expressed
orally to the Commissioners, that the health
and the attractiveness Of the District of
Columbia require that the regulation in
question should be adopted by the Commis-
sioners. A similar regulation forbidding ex-
pectoratioh IN the street cars mas worked
admirably, accomplishing this purpose with
out difficulty. l am persuaded that In the
national capital, whose population is excep-
tionably intelligent and slaw-abding, it is
only necessary to officially can the atten-
ton Of the people, by means OF regulation,
to the necessity for stopping any such OBJ
jectionable practice to produce a general
compliance. without having to resort to any
considerable number Of prosecutions in the
courts
With few exceptions. the residents of
the District are proud OF the national capi-
tai, and desfrous to make 1T as attractive
as possible. and We can rely upon their
public sp4rtt to support any movement that
will improve II. believe that expectora-
tion on the sidewalks, with all its dis
agreeable and dangerous consequences, Is
pectoration In the street cars was and that
IL regulation to prohibit 1t was adopted
1t would be enforced largely by public opin-
lon. While I think the national capital