New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-13
THE ANTI-SMOKE FIGHT.
League Reports That There We're
1S2 Convictions Last Year.

At meeting OF the Anti-smoke League. consist
ing OF Charles T. Barney. Charles L. Atterbsry.
Joseph 8. Auerbach. William Lanman Bull Will
lam Allen Butler. r. Fulton Cutting. Dr.. George
A Dixon. Richard Watson Glider. William F.
Havemeyer. Otto Kahn. Joseph I.arOcQue. Arthur
H. Masten, Levi P. Morton. Chancellor MacCrack-
en- George r. Sheldon. Francis Lynde StetsOn.
Oakleigh Thorne and others held yesterday at the
home Of the president. Mr.. Barney report Of the
work Of the league for the last year was read and
adopted. Figures were read to show that convic-
lions for violation Of the smoke ordinance were
divided as follows: 1902. II; 1893 as; 1904 o. 1905. o.
and 1906 49,
total Of 1893 arrests were made by the Depart
ment Of Health for violations Of the smoke ordi-
nance in 1905 OF this number 1S2 were convicted
and IS were discharged; and at the end Of the year
there still remained Is cases undisposed Of. The
league explains its work follows:
The method pursued by the representatives Of the
league In assisting the Department OF Health to
and nOxious gases within the city limits was, as
exist the Attention Of tSs ofcia1g Of the Depart
made that proceedings be taken to abate the same
The officials OF the Department Of Health took
whatever steps they thought advisable to abate the
from and the as os the or to
S erb6od TOR or annoyance OF any one In the
PSe19rs police magistrate, and almost uniformly
1t then became the duty Of the representatives Of
the Ant-SmOke League to obtain witnesses who
OOuu tesIIy IN reference TO the existence or tne
nuisance and TO the annoyance which they suffered
oy reason thereof. This work Of interviewing wit
neSses was done by the representatives OF the
league. whether the arrest of the offender was
made on the complaint of the league whether II
was made at the instance Of the inspectors OF the
alive
After witnesses had been found who could testify
20 The existence OF the nuisance the attorneys for
the league assisted the Office Of the Corporation
Counsel in preparation Of the for trial and in
the trlal or the same We think that II Is entirely
due TO this method OF procedure that such a large
percentage OF convictions has been obtained.
In speaking Of the experiments being made by the
New York Edison Company. the report says:
1t was recommended to the members Of the league
that as soon 1t had been definitely determined
Dy the experiments now being conducted at the
pIant or the New York Edison Company that large
quantities or soft coal can be burned without
smoke q vigorous campaign be undertaken
against the other public service corporations which
are practically now the only viOlatorS OF the law
IN reference to the escape OF smoke. They have
all along cOntended that II impossible to gen
craze the immense power that they need IN their
plants without making large quantities OF smoke
We believe that II will be clearly demonstrated by
these experiments by the New York Edison COM
pany that such is not the case. and that II the
furnaces ard the smOkeStacks Of the other pub
nc service corporations are properly conducted
the smoke evil Will be practically eliminated from
the Borough OF Manhattan.
Or. 8. a. Shears. OF the Board Of Health, who
last Monday had the New York Contracting Com
pary summoned to court for using soft coal In
their locomotives IN the Pennsylvania tunnel eXca-
walton. I'm the West Side court yesterday after
noon He told Magistrate Moss that the Murphy
was dismissed.