Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-09
MODIFIED SMOKE LAW
CITIZENS APPoInT co1rMITTEE
on LEo1sLAT1oN.
Meeting Held Last Might at the Riggs
House to Formulate
Plans.


secure, during the present session. the pas
sage Of modified smoke law. following
the lines of the one which was passed last
year and which failed of the signature OF
the President. A meeting was held last
evening at the Riggs House of the members
Of the Citizens Smoke Law Association. 1t
being an adjourned meeting from the week
before. Col. o. G. Staples. president. pre-
sided, and Secretary A. F. Broadbent re-
corded the minutes.
The meeting decided that the best way to
carry on the campaign was to appoint a
committee which should be in charge and
which should make frequent reports to the
association. The committee was instructed
to confer with the President, the Commits
sfoners and with the members of Congress
on the matter; to draft suitable bill which
will meet the approval of the business men
OF the city and to carry it to successful
issue, II possible. President Staples named
on that committee John B. Larner, who
directed the campaign last year; George P.
Hoover, Joseph Harvey of W. B. Moses Il
Sons. l.. ]. Mather and John l.. Weaver of
Weaver Bros.
The selection of counsel was one of the
first matters suggested at the meeting, and
Attorneys J. B. Larner and G. p. Hoover
were chosen. Mr.. Larner was successful
in getting the bill through Congress at the
last session and is understood to be very
familiar with the entire subject.
That the views Of the President on
modified smoke law should be ascertained
meeting which received unanimous ap-
prevail
Presidents Probable Action.
Gossip has it, one speaker stated. that the
President will sign modified smoke law
which is not quite as liberal in its terms
as the one passed last year. If that is true,
hoff Ia ic xx-nYr
The active campaign before Congress will
begin at once, however. The committee
will draft a bill within a few days. to be
introduced into both houses as soon as
possible. And then showngs Will be made
before the proper committees that the
business men OF the city are back of the
movement. In this work, as well as in
that of comforting with the President, the
other associations OF the city winch nave
put themselves on record as wanting
modified smoke law will be asked to CO.
operate. These associations are the Board
of Trade, the Business Mems Association
the Grain Dealers Association, the Laun-
drymen's Association and the East WASH
ington Citizens Association. z. ct. Moran,
who was present from the Grain Mems
Association, stated that he was a member
of committee from that association, in
structed to confer with the President and
the Commissioners in securing an amend
ment to the present smoke law.
Make the President and the Commission
ers see that the enforcement of the present
law will force men out of business, on ac-
count of their inability to do business prof
itably without making some smoke" he
said.
subscription list was passed around at
the meeting to secure funds for the prose-
cution of this matter before Congress and
considerable sum was collected John Mel.
Dodson was appointed committee of one
to visit the business men of the city in
terested in this matter and to swell the
treasury of the association in preparation
for the fight by securing subscriptions
The Legal Aspect.
Attorney George P. Hoover addressed the
meeting on the legal steps that were being
taken to have the constitutionality of the
law passed upon by the United States SUI
preme Court. He stated that two previous
attempts had failed, but that Mr.. Dodson
was making the latest effort, through a
writ of habeas corpus. One argument that
the law is unconstitutional is that 1t is
class legislation, in that it applies to sta
tionary steam boilers and engines, but does
not apply to the locomotives and steam
boats that send dense quantities of smoke
over the city. Another argument to be
used by Mr.. Hoover against the law is
that 1t takes away property without any
just compensation, for, as in Mr.. Dodson's
case, he must have fire and smoke in or
der to make lime, and an enforcement of
the law takes away his power to make
lime at his kilns.
There was lively discussion as to the Sc
verify of the present law and the manner
in which it Is being enforced and the only
question before the meeting as to
the steps to be taken to amend the law.
THE smoke inspector is not as active
row. II was suggested by one member.
He does not want to arouse you while
there is an opportunity to get a remedy, but
he will pounce you later, when 1t is too
late"
The next meeting Of the association will
be held at the call of the new committee
thing to report