Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-16
AN ALLEGED NUISANCE
PROPOSED REGULATION OF THE
USE OF oRAPHoPHoNEs.


the operating Of graphophones and phono-
graphs in public places, and in private resi-
dences, when declared a nuisance by the
neighbors, was the subject of public
hearing before the board of Commissioners
at the District building this morning Adj
mtral Baird. president Of the board Of edu.
cation; number Of school teachers and
citizens who claim to have been annoyed
by these musical instruments. besides the
agents and operators Of graphophones and
monograph firms. appeared and expressed
their opinions for and against the pro-
posed regulation.
Admiral Baird was the first speaker. He
said he advocated the regulation in the in.
terest of the Polk School on 7th street,
which Is adjacent to an. amusement place
without any let-up." as. he expressed It.
Il have been appealed to by the teachers
OF this school to have some measure adopt
ed to put an end to the alleged annoyance"
said Admiral Baird.
He then introduced Principal Patterson of
the Polk School, who said the continued
operation of the machine at this place
makes 1t impossible for the school work
to be carried on properly, and the discipline
of the school is greatly interfered with.
He said he went to, the place one day and
asked the proprietor to cease operating the
machine Tor little while, in order that
without interruption.
Regarded as Unjust.
Paul H. Crumly. vice president Of the Co.
lumbia Photograph Company. the next
speaker, said this legislation would be most
unjust. I'VE have butt up our business"
he said, right here in Washington, and
have extended it with success to nearly
every country on the globe, and trust you
wi IA ka ady n q 90 Of vnr
authority and establish a precedent that
will not only be a great blow to us here,
but would no doubt be followed by other
cities. This regulation on it's face looks
very simple and harmless, but will pre-
dict that it will mean that some graphic
phone companies will go out Of business.
1t Is an unfair unjust and harsh regulation
and will inf1ict hardship upon us.
You are throwing damper upon big
and progressive industry; one that Wash
fngton should be proud of, and should en-
courage rather than harm. might say
this regulation Is oppressive. The talking
machine does great public good and be-
cause few people complain about the
noises Issuing from lar rooms and public
places, and because some school teachers,
who complain about everything, also pro-
test, do not think you should take this
harsh step. You are discriminating against
this particular instrument. You should in
clude all other Instruments
A. c. Gross of the Columbia Photograph
Company also entered vigorous protest
against the regulation. He declared en-
phatically that such regulation will put
graphophone companies out of business.
E. H. Droop of E. F. Droop & Sons, music
dealers, who handle a large number of
graphophones and monographs, and Percy
Foster of the Sanders & Stayman music
store were present at the hearing, but did
not make known their views upon the regu-
lation, although Mr.. Crumley in his re-
marks said that both of them were opposed
to such restriction being placed upon the
music business of Washington.
Statement by Commissioner West.
At the beginning of the hearing Commits
sioner West made statement in explana-
ton of the action of the Commissioners in
proposing the regulation. He stated that
the Commissioners had been in receipt of
many communications complaining of the
annoyance caused by noisy graphophones.
While these complaints had been given con-
sideration no definite action was decided
upon until letter was received about a
month ago from the board of education for
-warding a communication signed by the
principal and all the teachers Of the Polk
school, protesting against the continuance
of graphophOne on 7th street opposite the
school building The letter of the school
teachers was forwarded to the Commission
ers by the board with an appeal to the
Commissioners to use their good offices to
have the annoyance abolished or at least
diminished. The letter was then forwarded
to the police authorities and investigation
and warning followed, which, it was hoped,
would abate the annoyance.
Afterward, however, Mr.. West stated,
Admiral Baird, president of the board of
education, requested the principal of the
school to report whether the nuisance had
ceased In reply the principal stated that
1t had been abated for three days, but 1t
had then been renewed more persistently
than ever. The supervising principal of the
school district also added his protest. This
led the board of education to send a letter
to the Commissioners, again calling atten-
tiop to the fact that the graphophone was
still in operation, Ito the great annoy
ance and Inconvenience of teachers and
pupils
Admiral Bairds letter concluded as fol-
lows: II complained of this matter several
days ago, and am now instructed to ask
your honorable body to use every effort to
have this nuisance abated.
by order of the board:
&c. w. BAIRD, President"
Directs Preparation Of Regulation.
Commissioner West then stated that upon
receipt of this communication he submitted
to his colleagues q motion that the cor
poration counsel be directed to prepare
a regulation, or, If the matter is beyond
the jurisdiction of the Commissioners, a
law for submission to Congress, which will
abate the nuisance Of loud and noisy
graphophones playing in bar rooms and
other public places tor the purpose of at
tracing attention.
The corporation counsel thereupon sub
mitted the amendment under consideration.
Commissioner West also added that Maj.
Sylvester had repeatedly gone upon record
in favor of the regulation of the character
which the Commissioners proposed to
recommendation
subject, which appears in his last annual
report, was read by Commissioner West