The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-21
INDUSTRIES MAY
CONE TO CAPITAL
Big Concerns Find Federal
Jurisdiction Alluring.
HOPE TO AVOID STRIKES
Recent Developments Have Made Sub
jeet a Live Topic for
Discussion.


With the purpose of getting away from
State laws. and under the protection Of
Uncle Sans laws. courts. and police
power. a number of important Industrial
concerns are seriously contemplating re-
movaI 20 the District OF Columbia.
That is the latest rumor which is
beginning 10 make itself heard. and one
which seems likely 10 arouse widespread
discussion. Believers in the report claim
that the recently announced intention OF
the Firth-Stirling Company 10 establish
large plant here was. in fact only
the preliminary TO a series OF industrial
developments which are said 10 be in
contemplation, and which if they take
place will bring TO the District several
great establishments. representing con-
Germs having their headquarters in and
around Pittsburg.
Impetus for Movement.
Dissatisfaction with labor conditions.
and with the methods employed by the
Pennsylvania authorities in enforcing
the laws in case of strikes and riots,
is given as the chief reason why these
ly toward the District of Columbia.
For here the Federal Government is
supreme Here there are no State courts.
no sherifTs who must look 10 the pOpu-
lace for delegations and for votes. no
elected judges whose administration of
the law might be tempered with con
sideratiOn fOTtthe future Federal law
prevails; the Federal injunction Is the
only sort of injunction known: Federal
officers enforce and Federal Judges CON
strue the statutes The strike organizer
who would be so unIucky as 10 bring
down upon his head the wrath of the
Federal Government would indeed stand
a poor show.
Realizing. all at once. that within the
area Of this District there is a goodlv
territory available for such purposes.
industrial managers about Pittsburg are
said TO be considering seriously pro-
posal 10 convert the outlying part of
the District into a great industrial zone
surrounding the Capital City and within
It's governmental arsa.
Subject of Comment.
In this connection the purchase nv
the Firth-Stirling Company OF 900 acres
OF land. where it expects. according To
announcements. 10 employ only small
number Of people. is occasion for some
comment and speculation.
Whether Il would be ultimately desir-
able for the CITY and District that such
an industrial DEVELOPMENT should take
place Is the subject OF considerable
variety OF opinion.
one view was vigorously set forth yes
terday afternoon by Hon. .Josanb "
baOcOck. chairman OF the House Com
mlttee on the District of Columbia. Mir.
Habcoek expressed utter disgust with all
suggestions about Industrial deveIou-
ment IN the District, and insisted that il
would be q great mistake for the city
1t hard for me TO find words to ex-
press my feelings about this proposal
said Mr. Babcock. Il think asinine
about covers the ground. Here the ma
ton has been at work for a century try
ing 10 develop a beautiful and a fitting
capital City i; has spent q great treas
ure trying 10 produce show city. a
place Of beauty, and of delight. and OF
aItraCtiVencss that no American would
feel that he could afford not TO visit and
know II has the foundations fairly
laid for such city; a city that with the
growth Of the nation In wealth and pop
ulation and leisure must attract an ideal
population and make itself unique. for
very attractiveness, among the cities of
the world
Would Suffer From Smoke.
And now, just at a time when the
Government has in progress public i'm
provements involving ultimate expendi-
ture OF S50.G0O,OO0 here, we are con-
fronted with this Industrial proposal;
With the serious consideration by lot
OF Washington people Of the desira-
bility Of making this a factory town
They tell us they want the factories
out in the suburbs, but YOU can't have
them anywhere without having their
smoke. They mean the CRIME and dirt
and also the social problems Of a man
ufacturing city, the vastly different
excise regulations, the various ques-
lions that arise when such a popuIa-
tiOn is to be handled.
no, it would be, in my judgment,
the greatest mistake Washington could
possibly make. 1t would be followed
by an early manifestation on the part
Of Congress af a disposition 10 pare
down appropriations for public pur-
poses In the District; that would re-
duce the attractiveness OF the city; and
in the end il would suffer in every way
Il don't know whether there is any
policy that could be adopted by Con-
gress to discourage such development
of Industries here. No, | haven't heard
this new feature, Of industries coming
here To get their labor problms under
Federal laws: don't know anything
about that part Of it, But do know
that Washington doesn't want to be an
industrial city if she knows what is
good for her"
President Gompers Talks.
When the report was called TO the at
tention of Samuel Gompers, president
OF the American Federation of Labor,
he. in no uncertain terms. declared his
lack of faith In It.
II do not believe there is a word of
truth in the statement that the Firth
Stirling Steel Company is coming to
Washington I'm order To get under the
wing of Federal protection or 10 place
itself and its operations within the jli-
a. "a Al