Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

Several matters of Importance were given
consideration at the meeting of the Cen
trail Labor Union Monday evening. The
committee consisting of Messrs. John Rig
gles John r. Hartley and William A.
Beatty, appointed to consider the District
of Columbia smoke law, reported as fol-
lows:
After a careful investigation from all
sources obtainable, we consider the present
smoke law of the District of Columbia I'M
just to the masses of people, especially
those who labor. The present law is too
stringent it gives the fireman and engineer
! no limit to fire, or clean fires, which is alb
solutely necessary where coal is used for
fuel. Hard-coal fires are started with
wood and soft coal, which does not entirely
eliminate smoke Even oil-burning loco
| motives smoke sometimes. 1t is the re-
quest of engineers and firemen that the
| smoke law shall read that black or gray
smoke shall be allowed for period not to
exceed three minutes in each hour. 1t is
| just; it will give some time to fire up when
excess steam is needed and boilers have
| to be forced AS far as can be learned, it is
| only a certain aristrocratic class who object
| to smoke in this city, not those who were
| born here and must toll for a living. Many
complaints come from people who reside in
Washington in winter time only Their
homes in most cases are out of the smoke
| limits. Another class Is department clerks,
| who are only here for a period of time, then
return to their homes, many from smoky
| cities, and would be glad to receive the
| salary there that they do here.
This law keeps numerous industries out
of Washington which would have given
| employment to many high-pr.ced mechanics
| Progress and prosperity of the city de-
| mand some places for employment of the
| masses. not all being fortunate enough to
get government positions. The smoke germs
| that hover over this city never bring any
| disease according to doctors statements
| The men who run engines and fire them
are better qualified for physical examina-
| ton than most clerks, who seldom go near
| an engine or steam plant Their families
| have less sickness and their children are
| just as healthy as any out of the smoke
| limits.
| No cases of death or disease have been re-
| corded from smoke. but numerous cases of
| want and poverty have occurred that would
| not be here If few more industries were
| here to give employment, which the smoke
law keeps out True this is the most beau
| tiful city in the United States and should
| be kept so as near as possible, but we cam
| not live on the city's beauty, although we
| are citizens of Washington. The railroad
| employees are not anxious to see the new
union station equipped with electric motors;
| some claim 1t is a break in the wheels of
progress. Electric motors are not COM
plete success SO far, but are used for
suburban trains in many places. They are
] uScQ III new 4OFk " SLlOhe III TIC
! subway. Washington has no subway, but
/ 1t has two tunnels.
1.-The classification of the Lackawanna
railroad will not be done until all the grade
crossings are abolished, as 1t would be
dangerous to life to build a third
rail over grade crossings where people are
constantly passing both on foot and We
| hicles. In a yard where trainmen must
work shifting trains, are not these cur
rents just as dangerous to railroad en-
ployes? Are they proof from electric cur
rents? The public demands speed, the
| company compels their crews to make time.
| Railroads have spent a million dollars to
save minute. The New York tunnel under
the Hudson cost 10000, 00O to save fifteen
minutes. $5,O00.O0O minute. Hartman
snent $500 900 to save two hours across
| Salt Lake two years ago. Seven million
! dollars was spent in Baltimore to save
fifteen minutes. half million dollars a
| minute. Every person that travels waits
| for the fastest train. II these motors run
| seven miles out of town with train to
connect with steam locomotive. at least
| five minutes or over will be lost to couple
| up and trying air. which the Interstate
| commerce commission says must be done.
| Another question comes up shall all cars
| be equipped with electric heaters-the law
requires that no stoves shall be used in
| passenger cars-becauSe in case of a break
down the passengers would suffer from
| cold? The locomotive f1remen are not much
| in favor of hard coal: 1t can not be sue
cessfully used on long runs and hard-coai
| fires cannot be forced for steam. The loco
motives built for hard coal have fire boxes
| as wide as the track; the engineers cab Is
| in front away from the fireman. This style
of engine has been fought by the railroad
men for years, as dangerous to crews and
public because IL anything happens to the
| engineer the passengers lives are In
jeopardy. By the engineer and fireman
| being both in the cab Of the engine watch
| ing signals and reading orders. It gives
| double assurance OF safety. The different
roads running into Washington have agreed
| to burn coke and hard coal in all their
emitting engines and equip through-runnfng
| engines with semi-bituminous coal, which
will. eliminate the Amoke entirely on shift