Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-14
Amend the Smoke Law.

A bill recently introduced in Congress for
the amendment of the existing smoke law
is now before the District Commissioners
awaiting their recommendation. 1t pro-
vides that the chimneys of private business
establishments may emit smoke for three
minute periods at times of firing without
involving any penalty. The purpose OF TINS
measure is to enable the furnace owners OF
Washington to obey the law, which Is at
present practically impossible in many In
stances Experience mas proved that with
the best of so-called smoke-prevention de-
vices there yet remains a certain amount OF
smoke emission. especially at times of FIR
ing. Not even the most careful stocking will
prevent it. Boston and Chicago, after ex-
perfmenting with smoke-prevention ordi-
nances for some time, finally adopted slight
ly varying expedients to secure an adjust
ment between the ideal of absolute smoke
lessness and the practical conditions This
was done by granting a certain number of
minutes of permissible smoke emission each
hour The pending bill is faulty in that it
does not limit the number of three-minute
emissions permissible in any one hour or
one day.
The law as it stands r.gidiy divides the
smoke producers of the capital into two
classes those who are absolutely prohibited
from any smoke emission and those who
are granted the fullest license to foul the
air In the former class are the business
men and manufacturers of the city, who
have never shown any but pronounced
disposition and desire to observe the law to
the fullest practicable extent and have
spent many thousands of dollars in the
adoption of new devices, which have proved
only partially successful. In the latter
class, in addition to private residences. are
the government buildings and the railroad
locomotives. which are the worst offenders
of all and totally immune from the laws
restrictions. Thus the rigid prohibition, i'm
possible either of obedience or enforcement
imposed by the laws letter upon the bust
ness men, stands out in glaring contrast
with the absolute license of the worst Of
tenders, and the demand of the former for
some measure of relief is the more reason
able and persuasive in consequence.
There is no such virtue in the letter of tie
law today to prohibit any attempt to
modify it in the interest OF better and more
equitable administration. For the health
officer and the Commissioners have them
selves laid violent hands upon the statute
and arbitrarily interpreted it outside of it's
text to grant one-minute smoke emission
period. The absolute enforcement of the
statute as it was written is therefore con-
fessedly impossible. Hence arises the re-
quest that the margin of permissible smoke
emission now arbitrarily fixed at one min
ute, and subject any day to executive
amendment to smaller period. be stated
In statutory terms, which will represent the
actual demands of existing conditions and
will give reasonable consideration to the re-
auirements Of business and of equitable
dealing. as well as to the need, recognized
by everybody, that the capital city. the city
of marble, shall keep its atmosphere as
pure as possible