The Washington herald., 1906-12-12
INDUSTRIES INJURED
Business Men Complain of
Building Permit Laws.
ONE CANNOT PUT IN A MOTOR
Complaints Are Made to JObbers and
Shippers BOdy by Men Whose
of Red Tape Observed by District
OfIciaIs-They VIII Protest.

The manner in which the District laws
and regulations hamper. if they do not
/ prohibit, the establishment of manu-
I featuring industries, was again the sub
jeet of discussion before the board of
directors Of the Jobbers and Shippers
Association yesterday afternoon. Several
concrete cases were brought out in the
discussion and through complaints made
to the board.
one of them was from a box manu-
I facturer. who was obliged to wait six
weeks or more for the permit to install
an electric motor TO drive the machinery.
! This complaint, in writing, with other
difficulties of the would-be manufacturer,
will be considered at the next meeting of
the board.
] Another case was that of a machinist
who sought 10 start a shop for grinding
/ paper-cutting knives in an alley In the
northwest section. The machinist rented
la building, bought his grinding apparatus.
and applied for a permit 60 install a Z5s-
/ horsepower motor to drive it. That was
nearly three weeks ago, and ne is con-
+ fronted with the payment Of another
Z
wheel to earn a e7ifftt-of money.
Told to Get Thirty signatures.
The machinist was told that he must
get the signatures of thirty property hold
ers along the alley to his application for
a permit before the District electrical de-
partment would issue it. One of the prop
erty holders, who owns thee lots in the
alley and without whom ne cannot secure
the consent of a majority of The property
holders. is an aged woman. suffering
from paralysis. who has been bed-ridden
for three years and is unable to sign the
paper, even if the contents OF it could
be explained to her
Yet, with the facts before them. il is
said. the District authorities Will not yield
from the strict letter Of the law. and the
m&ehinist cannot even secure the signature
of some one else representing the aged in
valid.
saloon Man BRIks Printing Firm.
Another case was cited of a prominent
printing company. which has already ten
electric motors in its plant, but wants
another to run specially designed press,
recently installed. This company. in like
manner, is called upon to get the sigma
lures of a certain number of property
holders and tenants in the neighbOrhoOd.
For two weeks the firm has been blocked
by the animosity Of a saloon keeper, who
is said TO have a grievance against the
printing firm, and viii not sign the peti-
ton.
These cases were discussed at some
length, and it was decided that a COM
mittee consisting Of Ross P. Andrews
and Mr.. Graves should. in company with
the three complainants. seek a hearing
before the District Commissioners.
a letter was read from the National
Cash Register Company stating that it
contemplated establishing its Eastern
factory near New York. or in New Eng
land, instead of as far south as Wash
ingtOn.
Freight Facilities Improved.
The freight committee reported that
shipping facilities out Of the city are
now working much better than at any
time in the past The committee re-
ported that the service will continue to /
improve as freight shipments grow
larger.
plan was discussed Of starting gen /
eral credit information bureau in con- /
nection with the secretary's office The
plan was referred to a committee Of |
three, to be appointed by the chair. to
complete the scheme and report at the 1
next meeting.
Assistant Secretary Clum placed be /
fore the board a study he had recently /
made of the workings Of the Cleveland 1
Chamber of Commerce, and pointed out 4
how some Of the plans in operation there /
might be applied 10 Washington
The next meeting will be held on Fri /
day afternoon. January T.