Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-24
ANTI NOISE LAW
AIM OF CIVIC CLUB,
DEMAND ORDINANCE
Experts Address Meeting on
Evils Of Unnecessary
Sounds in Streets-Doctor
Harte Has Remedy.

A system of petty fines as the solution
of the noise problem in Philadelphia was
advocated by Director Harte, of the De
partment of Public Health and Charities
at a meeting of the Civic Clubs Commit
tee on Unnecessary Noises, at the Acorn
Club, today.
"I wish we would inaugurate such
system" said Director Harte whereby
policeman could, on proper complaint
collect a small fine on the spot and give
the offender receipt In this manner
we could be rid of great number Of
nuisances."
Director Harte urged the Civic Club to
work for anti-noise ordinances in It's
campaign to suppress useless noises in
the city. He admitted the impossibility
Of eliminating many noises. but expressed
himself as strongly in favor of reducing
them to a minimum because of the
nervous disorders and deafness they
cause.
The meeting was attended by over 100
persons, city officials, hospital superin-
tendents, educational leaders, represent
tatives of companies and women inter-
ested i'm the work Under the present
20 TO a magistrate. swear out an am
davit, furnish witnesses and take the
case to a police court.
John p. CARRIER, Associate Director OF
Public Schools. advocated the posting OF
warning signs, reading Public School'
Careful and Quiet" in the immediate
vicinity of public schools, Death takes
its annual toll from among the school
children because of the lack of adequate
warning facilities, he said.
"Tcachers, who are the most ardent
advocates of quiet. school children ana
vehicle drivers would benefit from the
placing of such signs" said Mr.. CAREER.
The police are helpless until proper
ordinance is passed, said Lieutenant
Mills, representing Director OF FubliS
Safety Porter, who was unable to attend
the meeting.
"A confusion of authorities often re-
suits" he said. FOR instance, II, for. the
sake of quiet, we order chickens TO ne
placed on low perches or in cellars, the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 10
Animals takes a hand Complaints oy
property owners on account of unneces-
sary noises are numerous. Until an
ordinance is passed, we are unable TO
act efficiently in quelling useless sounds.
officer Pease, of Baltimore. "the only
nntI-noIse officer in the world also de-
llvered an address, He reviewed the work
done in Baltimore, from the regulation OF
the fiat-wheel trolley car to the beating
of biscuits in the early morning hours
moral suasion backed by adequate
anti-noise laws has worked wonders in
Baltimore" said Mr.. Pease. THE city
Is uuieter than It was before the anti
noise campaign began. Philadelphia
would oe much more pleasant TO live In
with the passing of an antl-noise ordi-
nance and the appointment of an official
to take charge of the work"
SO noisy is Philadelphia that when Leo
pold Stowkowski, leader of the Philadel-
phia Orchestra first came to the city he
thought seriously OF resigning and leaving
Philadelphia, according to Mrs. Imogen
Oakley, chairman of the committee, who
presided. The concert leaders, work, she
said, was so disturbed that he was unable
to distinguish the finer tones until he be-
came accustomed to the noises.
Mrs. Oakley outlined the plan of the
Civic Club to obtain laws for the regula-
ton of street vending, coal dumping, the
growing of roosters, and all other noises
which come under the category of useless.
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
announced that 1t would cooperate with
any efforts to suppress unnecessary
noises