The Washington herald., 1908-05-17

sandwiched between talk upon usuFy
and lunches for the members, at the last
meeting of the Chamber of Commerce,
two suggestions were made which are OF
considerable Importance to the future
progress of this city.
Agnus Almond. formerly q citizen Of
Louisville. KY, and now residing in
Washington. pointed out that in some OF
the States manufacture is being submit
ted to local restrictions which viii short
ly compel removal to some other point
where the factories can have a freer
hand in their operations. Mr.. Almond
cited the case Of the National Cash Reg
ister Company. Of Dayton. Ohio. which.
he said, had been practically driven out
Of that city because Of taxation assessed
upon the company's works which, ~.
Almond said, was prohibitive Of any liy-
ing profit. Mr.. AllmGnd said that prob
ably the cash register concern could be
induced to come TO Washington with the
right kind Of effort made by the Chamber
OF Commerce.
Restrictions on Manufacture.
Mr. Almond declared that for one rea-
son and another old and established
manufacturing concerns were being
fenced in so high and so strong by the
local authorities in many places that they
would either be forced TO emigrate or TO
build branch establishments elsewhere
for the production of the cheaper parts OF
their machinery. As he understood 1t,
that was one OF the impeiling motives
which brought the Firth-Sterling Steel
Works TO Washington. where it was
meeting with great success IN its new
field
Mr. Almond suggested that great
work lies before the Chamber OF Com
meree in going out after such concerns
and seeking to bring them 10 the Caplta4.
The suggestion bore immediate fruit, in
that q member offered a motion that the
secretary should enter into correspond
ence with the heads OF the National Cash
Register Works and ascertain whether
they would consider a proposition 10 es-
tablish their new plant n Washington.
other side of the Picture.
This was one side of the picture. The
other side was contained in some remarks
offered By John Fleming, who represents
Baltimore manufacturing plant in
Washington and is familiar with all the
| factory work carried on here. Mr.. Flem-
| ing said that IN the District also a series
of restrictions had been placed upon the
installation OF manufacturing machinery
| that had already resulted in driving away
several firms and companies which sought
to locate here, and wOIAd continue 10 DO
so until the laws were changed.
| Mr.. Fleming instanced the smoke law
and the requirements made by the local
authorities with reference to the iustalla-
| ton of electrical machinery, the last
mentioned item Mr. Fleming designating
as mot only unnecessary. but childish
and ridiculous" Mr.. Fleming holds some
| strong views upon the smoke law, OF
which he did not speak that night. He
F! believes that the smoke law is Welt
/ enough for the residence section and the
region Immediately surrounding the pub
lie buildings, but that It should have ter
ritorial limits where il would not be Oper~
ative: for example, the AnacOstia vai-
ley and a certain distance along the water
front OF the Potomac.
Tanks Rules should Be Nodded.
Mr.. Fleming holds that the use Of soft
coal under much less rigid restrictions
than is required fos the uptown district
would be the means Of bringing many
manufacturing establishments to the city
and would not in the least disturb the
quiet or vitiate the air In that territory.
! With regard to the rules for installing
electrical machinery Mr.. Fleming did,
not go much into detail, but the upshos'
Of the regulation is that with the require
ments relative to signers of nearby prop
erty holders and the delays incident TO
getting the permits through ihe District
Building any energetic manufacturer gets
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