Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-24
II.HIINIIINlTHTINIIDfT
BUSINESS MEN M EET
LOCAL ASSOCIATION.
Discussed Smoke Law, Public Schools
and Building Regulations-For
a Children's Garden.

At a largely attended meeting of the
officers and board of directors of the Bust
ness Mems Association held at 1914 street
last evening business of Importance was
transacted in reference to the duties of the
committees on smoke law. public schools
and building regulations. These committees
are actively at work and will be ready to
report at the next meeting of the associa-
ton. The question of the excess charge
on all mileage tickets now eXaCted by
railroad corporations was unanimously con-
demned by the association, and 1t voted
to do all in its power to have this exaction
by the railroad corporations abolished. The
following were elected to membership in
the association; John ]. Smith Alexander
c. MaCLeunan S. Clifford Cox, NickQloUs
Auth, r. ]. Hunter, Roe FulkeTson, Clar-
ence Clement Jackson, George ?. james,
Gottueb HeiIman, Frederick Holmes and
Louis Hodges.
Al resolution was submitted by Mr..
Frank K Raymond, and unanimously
adopted setting forth that
The present smoke law of the District
of Columbia imposes unjust burdens upon
every business man in the city OF Wash
ington, whose business compeIs MIN 10 use
power in the conduct Of his business; that
the District Commissioners and the courts
in enforcing the existing law frequently
find it necessary to impose excessive fines
upon business men, arms ana corpora klOllS
which use soft coal in developing the nee
essary power for the conduct of business
which IN some instances have exceeded the
fines imposed upon persons convicted of
serious misdemeanOrs, and that the very
best citizens of the District have been put
10 great inconvenience and loss of time
Notwithstanding their earnest efforts to
comply with the law as 1t stands on the
statute books, to say nothing Of the fact
that they are, by the imposition of fines
8 nOEitiOn before
their neighbors and associates and the
citizens OF the District generally, because
they are thereby branded as law breakers
Railroads Exempted.
Further, it was asserted that the rail-
roads entering the District of Columbia
are exempted from all the provisions Of the
smoke law which exemption has resulted
in more than one instance IN the creation
of smoke in the vicinity Of a factory or
business place, which smoke was charged
against the factory or business place to
the cost Of the owner. when accused Of
violating the smoke law IN the COURT an
unjust discrimination, for which the au-
thorities are not blamed; that
The Business Mems Association is in
earnest In It's desire to keep the upper at
mosphere as free from dirt and pauseous
fumes as Is any citizen or official Of the
city, and is at all times willing to do all
In its power to bring about legislation TO
that end, not desiring 10 advocate any
measure which will make Washington as
notorious for It's bad atmosphere as some Of
the great manufacturing cities OF the coun-
try; but that the association at the same
time protests against a law which forces
the local municipal authorities to impose
burdens upon every business man. firm or
corporation compelled TO use boiler or
smoke stack In the conduct of his or its
business. Therefore 1t was resolved that
the association request the Commissioners
n - t.
the Senate and the House of Representa-
uves having charge Of the District affairs
TO amend the smoke law of the District
so as 10 permit the emission of smoke not
prohibited by law, from chlmneys or smoke
stacks for a period of five minutes during
the bull ding Of fires under boilers and for
a period not exceeding two minutes when
such nfes are being cleaned out or being
refIled.
The association pledged its earnest and
hearty support to the Commissioners in
their efforts TO beautify the CITY. and to
cieahse the atmosphere. The association
also asked the support Of the Commission
ers In their efforts TO secure amendments 70
laws which are onerous and unjust upGo
lhose who are using every possible effort
t 20 comply with the statutes ana regula-
IONS II is not the sense of the assO,,ia-
tlon that the Commissioners desire In he
party 70 unjust regulations which lmnose
burdens upon our business men firms or
corporations which are not borne Nv III
NeHS III any other city In the United States
Educational Opportunities.
The association also adopted resolution
offered by Mr. William p GUIDE express
ing appreciation of the educational opnor-
tuniueS the Secretary Of the Aer.icrlture
has given the children Of this CITY in the
past, and Of his recent OFFER to the; hoard
or education Of an acre of land within he
pdIh SURF ouhQlng tho Offices OF the Depart
ment Of Agriculture for a chiIdren5s 90
den where the citizens of the District ar
Columbia may study the value OF GARDEN
Ing as q vacation movement that develops
and commencing the board OF educa lion
and the superintendent of schools for theit,
earnest endeavors TO promote civic improye-
ment among the children of the schools
realizing that upon these same children de-
ponds much Of the future of the national
capital