The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-07
BUSINESS MEN PROTEST
AGAINST SMOKE LAW
Hearing Before Senate Dis
triCt Subcommittee.
NOTIFICATIONS SUGGESTED
Views Of W. B. Moses, Thomas W.
Smith, A GUIDE, ard Other Lead
ing Citizens.
NOTIFICATIONS SUGGESTED

The smoke problem in the District OF
Columbia was given more than an hours
attention this morning by the Senate
subcommittee. composed Of Senator's Dill
lingham Clark of Montana. and Nal
lory. More than a dozen voluntary wit
nesses appeared before the committee
and testified to the utter impossibfIity
Of complying with the present law, which
makes any infraction punishable by
fine of not less than $50 nor more than
sIO0
The parties heard were representative
Of the commercial interests of Washing
ton. and the unanimous opinion was thar
relief must be granted. Every witness
but one told of two or more experiences
in police courts. where they have been
fined, and in one instance, that of DR..
Swope, vice president Of the Washing
ton Loan and Trust Company. seventeen
arrests and thirteen fines OF $50 each
We're reported.
Money Spent IN Experiments.
General 6. II. Harries produced figures
TO show that his companies have ex-
pended $S0,000 in understanding de-
thousands of dollars.
The District Commissioners and the
Health officer viii appear Monday at Il
O'Clock in support of the present law
The first witness was ". B. Moses.
who has been informed by the Police
Department that his company has VIC
lated the law more than 100 distinct
times and that he is liable for fines in
each case He admitted the truth of
the observations taken by the depart
ment and told of his efforts TO obey the
law.
Questions from Senators Dillingham;
and Clark brought out the statement
that his firm uses the northwestern
smoke consumer. but he was arrested
when it was and was not in order.
He believed thTee-minute periods half q
dozen times day would give the relief
desired.
Colonel Staples Efforts.
Col O. G. Staples. who said ne COO
Quoted two philanthropic institutions.
meaning the Riggs House and the Ma
tional Hotel. said he had been twice
dragged before the Police Court, but had
not been convicted. He finally asked Tor
a conviction in order to test the law in
the Supreme Court He asserts that he
is now trying the fifth device for tile
prevention Of the smoke nuisance, bat
none OF these has proved successful
Commission Suggested
Thomas W Smith. president Of the
Board Of Trade. suggested that Con
gress appoint a commission TO in
quire into the subject and TO report its
findings at the end of one OF two years
lie said that he realized this report
would be an elaborate one. and also the
necessity of appointing commissioners
thoroughly conversant with the subject.
He believed no device now extant will
consume smoke successfully, but fur
naces are now being built under boilers
which viii greatly relieve the difficulty
President GUIDE. OF the Business Mems
Association, demanded modification of
the law 10 such an extent that people
can obey it If they try TO do so. He
gave personal experiences under the
smoke law.
Mr.. jenkins, representing the Wood
ward & Lothrop Company and
number Of others, told Of their earnest
endeayors TO comply with the present
statutes. but Of their total inability 10 10