Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-24
SMOKE LAW DISCUSSED
CITIZENS WANT LOCOMOTIVES
PUT UNDER BAN.
Meeting Of North Capitol and Ecking-
ton Association-Vario Needs
Considered.

The North Capitol and lexington Citizens
Association held a meeting last evening at
6 O'Clock in st. Martins Hall, corner North
Capitol and T streets northwest, with the
President Mr.. William G. Henderson, in
he chair.
President Henderson called for reports of
the various committees and the membership
committee, through Mr.. Bernard Waters,
reported the names of several candidates
for membership and they We're declared
elected.
Mr.. Howard Boyd chairman of the COM
mittee on railways. reported that his COM
mittee had called upon the presidents of the
street railway companies and asked them to
have the cars stopped in the center of long
blocks, but as yet no reply to the request
had been received. Mr.. James A. Conner,
In brief address, said he thought the rail-
ways should be commended for allowing the
front gates of the cars to be opened when
the rear platforms were crowded
The president asked Mr.. Boyd of the rail-
way committee for an expression of opin-
ion regarding the probable success of the
cross-tOwn railway bill in Congress and the
reply was that according to popular belief
the bill will be defeated.
lights was asked for a report, and the chair
man, Mr.. Herman Biau. stated that he had
called upon the Commissioners some time
ago and asked for the improvement of T
street east of Lincoln avenue, but the re-
quest was refused, the Commissioners stat
ing that the title to the land is not vested
in the District of Columbia and that they
did not feel warranted in making the inn
proVementS upon private property A Gin
der path has been constructed, Mr.. Blau
stated, and the sidewalk is in a much bet
ter condition than formerly.
The Smoke Law.
Mr.. Blau also stated that the law passed
by Congress regarding the removal of snow
and ice from sidewalks had been adjudged
to be unconstitutional, but that he did not
believe the Commissioners should be asked
to appropriate special fund for the clean
ing of the sidewalks, and then the property
owners pay the expenses.
Mr.. James A. Conner said he had been in
formed that the Commissioners were going
to enforce the police regulations which re-
quire the snow and ice to be removed from
the sidewalks.
Mr.. Blau added that in his opinion the
Commissioners thought they did not have
the power to enforce the regulation.
Mr.. ]. H. Lane stated that the sidewalks
on r and I'd streets northeast, were cover
ed with dirt and that he positive the
District is liable If any one should be
injured by the cars as people have to walk
In the center of the tracks. He moved that
the committee on sidewalks and lights be
instructed to confer with the Commission
ers and request them that the streets be
cleaned. This motion was adopted.
Mr.. A. NJ. Elwell, chairman of the COM
mlttee on police and fire departments, said
his committee had been investigating as to
the location of several new fire alarm boxes
recently placed in the lexington section
OF the city. with view of having them
more Judicieusly placed
Dr. Thompson, chairman of the commit
tee on public health, said he desired to ell
ter an emphatic protest in regard to the
speed of the repair wagons of the electric
companies They pass down this street.,
said the doctor, with the speed of the
wind, and one who has a horse standing
at the curb has to be ever on the alert and
be an adept at sprinting to reach the ami
NAL IN time to prevent a runaway when
one of these wagons comes driving furious
Iy up the street striking the gong at every
STEP
He spoke of the crowded condition of the
cars, and said that it is the fault of the
public in crowding into the first car that
comes along.
In regard to the smoke law, DIR. Thomp-
son took occasion to say that the locomo-
tlves of the railroad companies are the
greatest violators of the law, and that if
the law is amended a provision should be
added so as to include them in the list of
those coming under the law.
~ Objects to Sweeping Outfit.
Mr.. James A. Conner approved Dr. Thomp-
sons suggestions, and stated that another
very disagreeable thing which is tolerated
in the North Capitol and lexington section
of the city are the street machines drawn
by horse power. In his judgment the hand
machine should be used in the residential
section of the city on account of the fact
that the dust arising from the horse ma
chine spreads all over the neighborhood and
Is nearly unbearable.
why don't they use those machines on
Pennsylvania avenue and let us have the
pleasure of not having dust settling all
about us as we sit ON our front doorsteps
in the summer asked Mr.. Connor.
Prof. w. A. Taylor, in referring to the
smoke law made a motion that the asso-
recommend an amendment declaring switch
engines to be violation of the law.
Mr.. j. II. Lane informed the association
that Col. Biddle, the Engineer Commission
er. had recommended that locomotives be
included in the provisions relating to vio-
lations, and thought that the association
should back him in every way possible. A
motion to this effect made and carried
by unanimous vote.
President Henderson stated that he
thought 1t was in order for the association
to pass resolution thanking Henry B. F.
Mcfarland, president of the board Of Com
nissioners of the District of Columbia for
his presence ct their banquet held last
week, and this was done by rising vote
Mr. Dan Vaughan was released from
membership in committee No. 3. on account
of pressing business matters, which would
not allow him to spare the time necessary
for proper fulfilment of the duties, and
Mr. Charles Phillips was substituted in his
place. The meeting was then declared to
be adjourned.
T,,o n;ro1>lal No.,lsx:x-