The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-09
DENY SMOKE REPORT
Atfidayits Filed by Washing
ton Loan and Trust Co.
INSPECTOR DEFENDS HIS ACT
Insists His Theory About Alleged
Emission of smoke from ComPany's
spirucy to Attack His Ability TO
Make a Correct Report.

Officials Of the Washington Loan and
Trust Company deny by affidavits, the
statement contained in the report Of 4.
NJ. Whitaker, smoke Inspector, to Health
officer ". g. Woodward, relative TO the
alleged emission of smoke from the stack
OF the Washington Loan and Trust Com
pany building on June 3.
4 copy of this report was forwarded 70
Thomas z. Bradley. real estate officer
in charge of the building, in answer TO
which he says in letter to the Commits
siOners:
I'VE are prepared TO prove by unques-
toned and ample testimony the fact that
on June IS there was not an emission
Of smoke from this building, and that
from the condition Of the plant on that
date il was a physical impossibility. This
company has paid many fines in smoke
cases where the prosecution is based en-
tirely on the sworn statement of an in
spector Of the health department. We
can. as a rule. present no witness to re-
flute such testimony, and are AT the
mercy OF the Inspector. In this case We
have the evidence"
What Anidavits AUege.
Ahfdavits contradicting the report OF the
inspector are submitted by Charles E.
Frazier, chief engineer Of the company;
John A Zellers. contractor for remodeling
the steam plant. and Edward Taylor. fire
man. These affidavits, signed and sworn
to before a notary public, are to the eff
feet that on June 2S the heating plant was
being remOdeled and in such condition
as To make the building Of a fire or the
emission Of smoke a physical impossible
ity; also. that there was no SCOT carried
Up the chimney in any such quantity as
To make it possible TO mistake II for
smoke.
In answer 10 these affidavits, Inspector
Whitaker was directed TO make a spe-
sial report, in which he states that he
called upon Engineer Frazier and called
to his attention a large open iron door
in the base of the stack In the furnace
room, forming a sort OF a fireplace.
in which some of the accumulated refuse
could have been burned 10 cause the
smoke reported. The engineer says the
Inspector declared in the presence Of his
dremen that he would have discharged
any man who would burn anything in
that place.
Inspector Suggests Conspiracy.
The engineer, he says. relies on the
statements Of the colored employees, and
as far as his statement shows, ignores
the possibility and probability that some
Of the accumulated refuse that had here
tofore been consumed in the furnace had
been burned in the fireplace at base Of
stack. Il consider the conduct of this
Engineer Frazier" says the inspec-
tor, most remarkable, as indicating. TO
my mind, If not a conspiracy TO attack
my ability TO make correct reports. at
least an effort to protect his employees
and sustain his original report with Mr.
Bradley"
In a later report Inspector Whitaker
makes the following statement: Il have
seen five Office rooms in the Washington
Loan and Trust Company building. in
which there are large, open firepiaces.
and I am told that there is one such
fireplace in each room, dulyg connected
with the stack on way 10 the roof ]
have taken time TO thoroughly Investigate
this matter to find one office room ten
ant, who, on June 2S may have had an
accumulation Of refuse in his room that
he preferred TO dispose Of by burning in
his fireplace. rather than send 10 the
furnace room, 10 be kicked about the
floor, because my theory for the solution
OF the problem remains unchanged as to
the burning of some Of the refuse by one
of the cOlOred men 0here were three of
them about the furnace room in the
opening at the base Of the stack"