Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-15
BELLS UNDER THE BAN
CALLS TO WORSHIP OBJECTED TO
BY RESIDENTS.

II move that the Commissioners take I'M
der consideration the subject of the abate-
ment of noises in the District which are
detrimental to the health, comfort or quiet
of persons residing therein; and that the
pastors of the several churches in the Dis
trict which have bells upon their church
buildings be requested to meet the Commits
sioners in conference, with respect to the
matter of regulating the ringing of such
bells, SO as to obviate, as far as possible,
occasion for complaint on that account"
This motion was made by Commissioner
Mcfarland to the board today in connec-
ton with a statement that he believes the
time has come to enlarge the police regu-
lations prohibiting noises, as we'll as to en-
force more strictly the rules already ex-
listing.
A number Of sections Of the police regu-
lations are intended to prevent or reduce
noises, chiefly upon the streets or public
places" but the complaints coming to the
Commissioners show that these regulations
do not cover all the causes of annoyance.
Rafting carts and wagons. musical ma
chimes and unnecessary street cries, besides
bells and whistles, are among the things
Gus noise of street cars and the various
noises of the steam railroad and some
steamboats, are also sources of complaint
Time for Definite Action.
Commissioner Mcfarland has been deal
ing personally with complaints of excessive
bell ringing, as well as the complaints
against the only remaining bell that rings
fire alarms, and has succeeded in meeting
some of these complaints by negotiation or
other means. But it is felt that the matter
ought to be treated Systematically and a
whole ground, under the power given the
Commissioners by the congressional joint
resolution of February 49, 1892, authoriz-
Ing them to make and enforce all such
reasonable and usual police regulations as
they may deem necessary for the protection
of lives, limbs, health, comfort and quiet
of all persons in the District of Columbia.
Some noises formerly necessary, as, for
example, fre-alarm bell-ringing when vol
unteer firemen had to be summoned in
that manner. are now absolutely unneces-
sary, as in this particular case the fire
alarms are transmitted directly and in
simultaneously to the stations of the fire de-
partment. In this particular instance the
ringing of fire alarms on bells has been
gradually forbidden in all large cities, be-
cause 1t hampered rather than helped the
fire departments.
Recommended by Superintendent.
The superintendent of the Washington
fre-alarm service recently recommended
the disconnecton of the last remaining
bell sounding fire alarms in the streets, that
Ou 4fIA StIetl pctWSSu " anu NEW 1OTh
avenue. because 1t actually and seriously
interfered with the operation of the fire.
alarm service, causing persons who heard
1t to call up the flre-alarm headquarters on
the telephone, thus interrupting and delay
ing the transmission of fire-alarm and
necessary police and fire orders. 1t was
upon this ground, as well as upon the OBJ
jections from the surrounding office build
ings to the mere noise, that Mr.. Mcfarland
approved the recommendation that it should
be stopped.
AS to church bells, 1t is pointed out that,
now that clocks are in practically al,
homes, it is not necessary for them to ring
the hours, and that their use should be at
least restricted to what is absolutely neces-
sary to the compliance with the ritual of
service in any particular case But Mr..
mcfarland felt that the representatives of
the churches should have opportunity to
confer with the Commissioners as to this
matter before amendment to the regua-
tons should be made.