Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-16
SMOKE LAW HEARING
Before Senate District Com
mittee Today.
OFFICIALS PRESEN T
MR.. JOHN B. LARNER AND GEN.
HARRIES SPEAK.
Advocate Amendment Limiting Time
for Emission of Smoke When
Fires Are Lighted.

District of Columbia. Senator Gallinger
presided at the meeting, and there were
present, beside Mr. Gallinger, Senators Mar
tin, Hansbrough, Stewart and Mallory.
Commissioners Macfarland, West and Bid
die, and DIR. Woodward, health officer,
were also present, and listened attentively
to all that was going on. Mr.. Macfarland
during the meeting spoke in favor of the
law, as did DR.. Woodward.
The chief spokesmen in favor of the
amendment of the law were Mr.. John B.
Larner, representing business men of the
city, and General George H. Harries. Both
of them made strong plea in favor of a
change in the law, declaring that it's en-
forcement in it's present form is impossi-
ble
Senator Gallinger called the meeting to
order, stating that the hearing was given
on bill 51OS providing that a definite and
longer time during emissions of smoke be
permitted He called attention to the fact
that while this bill provided for emissions
of smoke during periods of three minutes,
it did not specify how often chimneys could
emit smoke for that period.
1t was proposed by Gen. Harries that six
minutes would be proper for the emission
of smoke during times when the fires are
being lighted, and two or three minutes at
other times. ...
Senator Gallinger asked Commissioner
taken any action on Senate bill 51OS that
had been referred to them.
Mr.. Macfarland said that the bill had
been received on the oath of last March
and had been considered by the Commits
sioners, but up to the adjournment of Con-
,gress April % the Commissioners had not
agreed on their report. Later Mr.. Macfar-
land remarked that the Commissioners de-
sired to hear what was offered at this hear
ing before making their report on that bill.
NJ
Mr.. John B. Larner, representing promi-
nent business men, then went over at some
length the effect of the smoke law and ar
gued that the law in it's present form is
not possible of execution, because no mat
ter how often people are arrested the build
ing of fires is sure to be attended with
smoke. So.
He said that he had just returned from
the Police Court where he had been re-
quired to deposit $40 collateral for Messrs
Woodward & Lothrop.
Mr.. Larner then gave history of the
attempts that have been made to prevent
smoke by devices Of various kinds. He
said that the first smoke consumer was
made in 1855, and it was used to some ex-
tent in London, but it was found to be
Intellectual. This smoke consumer was in
vented by Watt. the inventor of the steam
engine. Mr.. Larner continued to give the
history of many other efforts to prevent
the emission of smoke.
He went on to say that perfect combus-
ton is impossible. and without perfect COM
buStiOn 1t is impossible to prevent smoke.
He said that where some establishments
had been able to prevent the emission of
smoke little time, they had not been able
to do continuously.
Il do not believe declared Mr.. Larner,
that there is anything to etfectually pre-
vent smoke in connection with the building
or stoking of fires.
Mr. Larner wanted to know how it was
possible to make fire without smoke.
There is sure to be some smoke" he said,
wherever there is fire."
Senator Mallory asked whether any limit
of time is allowed for the emission of some
smoke upon the building of fires, and Mr..
Larner replied that there is none.
IF there is a violation of the law for one
instant it is punishable said Mr.. Larner.
Mr.. Larner continued to say that it was
a very burdensome thing for business men
to be constantly brought into the Police
Court along with drunks and disorderlies
that appear there. If they were able to
prevent their arrest, there would be some
reason in the enforcement of such a law.
In reply to a question by Senator Mallory,
Mr.. Larner said that no testimony in re-
buttal is permitted on the part of persons
arrested for violations of the smoke law.
This is SO for the reason that an inspector
simply watches the tops of chimneys and
later reports the emission of smoke. 1t
would not be possible for the proprietor Of
hntt,I mniass he hirse,f Wera watnbin,
t1u at;,a,s H. snr,oa ,,,n,,,n,. ;.t, ne
smoke inspector:
a,tod LIZ fa,r rt ah an .he ha,, ass ie
care to drive away rich people or moor
people from the city. They wanted them
all to come here, and If there was anything
that eoulo POSSIBLY De zone 70 lessen the
,,,n,, 1,,ara y, r.om1to Az '"'''io''
senator GaJIinper read an editorial from
The Evening star In favor of a moditica-
tton ~ the smoka law ana rarnarLed that
he s,nnosed that nawsnaner o,,ntre, CO
hendsppna = marble builfine as tha9 nf
Tha Eyan,ny Star u,onId ,,ndonbtoa,,, - 90
anxions as anvhodv cor,d he to hsva 20 TIC @
citv clean and heaI,tifnI '''~
Mr. Iarner col IL -, ranI, 70 ,,,,a.,,o,, h,,
sanator NT.,,or, ~. ~, W tts taession . Wy
Yonid be asnna hia r. m init ,ha .nih ~
of SMOKE to thraa n,;,,,tos 3, an, Gu, ,an'0
II " 'Ge a;H j.; ~ -, ~, ea III any oiie noui.
~ oa,,Is a ~ .i,o ~ ao'asi ques.ioh, liitie
, o,ea ,,isanna -, - ~ .hu :. sAtenl @ ol the
iH1 y, i,,rad y, !, lau hiatefiai