The Washington times., 1906-02-24
SMOKE LAW UNJUST
SAY BUSINESS MEN
Petition Commissioners to
Favor Amendment.
RAILROADS ARE CONDEMNED
Exaction of Excess Mileage Charges
Sharply Attacked-School Board
Commended.
RAILROADS ARE CONDEMNED

At a largely attended meeting of the
officers and board of directors OF the
Business Mems Association, last evening,
many things OF Importance to the Dis
trict of Columbia were discussed pertain
ing TO the committees on smoke law.
public schools and building regulations.
These committees are actively at work
and VIII be ready 10 report at the reg
ulaT meeting of the association at an
early date. The eXaction OF excess charge
on all mileage tickets by railroad cor
pOratiOns was unanimously condemned
10y the association and it voted to do all
in its power to have this exaction abol-
ished.
Secretary Agriculture Thanked.
The following resolution was offered
by William F. GUIDE and unanimously
adopted:
Resolved. That we hereby express
our appreciation of the educational op-
nortunitieS the present Secretary of
Agriculture has given the children OF
this city in the past. and of his recent
ofer TO the Board of Education OF an
acre of land within the park surround
ing the offices OF the Department OF
Agriculture Tor a children garden
Columbia may study the value OF gar
deninE as a vacation movement that
develops The young physically. mental
y, morally
Board of Education end the Superin-
tendeHt of Schools for their earnest en-
deaNOrs TO promote civic Improvement
among the children of the schools. real
1ZinE that upon these same children de-
bends much OF the future Of the national
capital
After the meeting adjourned. Secre-
IaTy GUIDE submitted the resolution to
sion at the New Willard. 1t was adopt
cd by the board.
Smoke Law Condemned.
The following preamble and resoIu-
ton Was submitted by Frank h Ray
mOnd and unanimously adopted
Whereas the present smoke law Of
the District of Columbia imposes uu-
just burdens upon every business man
in the City OF Washington whose busi-
ness cOmpels him to use power in the
conduct OF his business; and,
W whereas the District Commissioners
and the courts in enforcing the exist
ing law frequently find II necessary to
impose excessive Zines upon every bust
ness man, firm, or corporation, which
uses soft coal in developing the neceS-
sary power for the conduct of business.
which IN some instances have exceeded
the uneS imposed upon persons con-
VlCted of serious misdemeanors. and
W heFeas the very best citizens OF the
District OF Columbia ana OF the city
OF Washington have been put 10 great
inconvenience, loss of time, and. as We
believe, unjust fines, Notwithstanding
their earnest Efforts TO comply with the
law as II stands on the statute books
today 10 say nothing of the fact that
they are, by such Hnes, placed in an
unpleasant position before their neigh
boTs ana associates ana the citizens OF
the District generally. because they are
thereby branded as law breakers. and.
W heredS the railroads entering the
District OF Columbia are exempted from
all the provisions of the said smoke
law which exemption las resulted in
more than one instance IN the creation
OF smoke IN the vicinity OF d 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 authorities are not blamed,
and,
Whereas the Business Mems Asso-
clatiOn OF WaShingtin, .. c. is as earn
est IN its desire TO keep the upper at
mOSphere of our beautiful CITY as free
from dirt and nauseous fumes as is
any citizen or official of the city Of
washington, and Is at all times willing
10 do all in its power TO bring about
legislation TO this end not desiring To
advocate any measure which will make
Washington as notorious for its bad
atmosphere as some OF the great manu-
1aeturlnS cities of our country; but the
Business Mems Association at the same
time protests against law which
forces The local municipal authorities
TO impose burdens upon every business
man. firm, or corporation compelled to
use a boiler or smOkestack in the con-
duct OF his or its business; therefore
he II
Amendment Is Requested.
Resolved. That the Business Men =
Association of the city OF Washington
earnestly requests the Commis sioners
of the District Of Columbia to Join with
them in urging upon the committees of
the Senate and the House Of Repre-
sentatives having charge of the Dis
tTiCt affairs TO amend the smoke law
of the District so as To permit the
emission of smoke not prohibited by
law from ch1mneys or smOkestacks for
a period Of five minutes during the
building Of fires under boilers and for
period not exceeding two minutes
When such fires are being cleaned out
or being refilled.
Resolved further, That the Business
Men IS Association of the city of Wash
fngtOn pledge their earnest and hea rt,-
support TO the Commissioners Of the
District in their efforts TO beautifv the
city ana to cleanse the atmOSDhere and
AT the same time the association be
speaks the support of the Commission
ers IN their efforts To secure such
amendments TO laws which are onerous
ana unjust upon those who are using
every possible effort to comply with
the statutes and regulations Ii is not
the sense Of this association that the
District Commissioners desire to be
party To unjust regulations which i'm
pose burdens upon our business men
firms, or corporations which are not
borne b. citizens in any other city i'm
the United States "