Evening star., 1935-03-27
Redrafted Measure Is Urqed
to Abate Nuisance in
District.
MORE POWERS GIVEN
FOR INSPECTION WORK
Commissioner Would Create New
Department to Enforce
Stronger Law Here.

Congress was urged today by the
Commissioners to enact new smoke
control law, which would give the Dis
trict ample authority to inspect and
regulate boilers as we'll as all types OF
furnaces.
This bill, redrafted by District OFF,
cials from an original outline drawn
by a Joint committee OF private and
District engineers, would create di-
vision of smoke regulation and boiler
inspection in the Engineer Depart
ment and calls for provision OF an ade-
quate number of inspectors and other
personnel.
1t would definitely take smoke in
spection and regulation out of the
District Health Department. The
new health officer, DR.. George c.
Shortly after taking ONCE, he asked
why health oficials should regulate
furnace smoke.
Roberts Bill Not Mentioned.
The Commissioners, in letters to the
Senate and House District Committees,
made no mention of the smoke con-
troll bill recently sent to Congress BY
William A. Roberts. peoples counsel,
acting for a number of women's Or
ganizations.
Whereas the Roberts bill merely
conferred general powers of regulation
on the Commissioners. the new bill
sets up a detailed system Of regulation
as well as division for enforcement.
Private residences and steam rail-
road engines and steam marine yes
sells would come under terms Of the
mercial houses The present law ef-
fects only commercial houses.
The proposed new engineer division
would consist of a boiler and smoke
inspector an assistant inspector. such
engineers as may be necessary for in
spection and enforcement and nee
essary other inspectors. They would
be appointed by the commissioners
and their salaries fixed in accord with
the classification act.
Advisory Board.
The new bill also proposes creation
of an advisory board OF five. named by
the Commissioners to consult with the
new Engineer Division. serving without
pay in that capacity, but It also would
constitute a Board Of Appeal from
decisions of the smoke and boiler in
spector and in that capacity each
would be paid SIS per day for such
service They could not receive more
than $3.50 year each.
IL - @1y
rule would be determined by the No.
Ringleman smoke chart. as stand
ardized by the Bureau of Mines. II
smoke emitted from any stack or
chimney is so dense as not to be seen
! through. with the use OF. the chart, II
would be claSsed as a nuisance. The
Commissioners could determine the
! length of periods in which such smoke
| would be nuisance.
( No person could construct, install.
altar or repair any furnace, boiler
/ furnace, steam boiler. stack or other
stack apparatus unless obtained first
a permit from the District, except in
cases of minor changes. New or
altered plants also would have to be
certified as uuilt or altered in accord
with approved plans. Fees would be
fixed BY the Commissioners for the
permit applications and there would
be fee of 81 for inspection OF plants.
Penalties Fixed.
When an appeal is taken to the
Advisory Board the applicant would
have to post s25 to cover cost Of fees
of the board members.
The penalty for violation of the law
or regulation would be $l00 or 80 days
in Jail, or both, for each violation.
For months there has been an or
ganized movement among citizens
groups for enactment of a smoke
| control law with teeth" District
officials have agreed the present old
| law is ineffective. The original draft
Of the new bill was made by a group
headed by Capt. Howard F. Clark,
Assistant Engineer Commissioner. The
bill has been carefully restudied under
the direction of Engineer Commis-
sioner Sultan and Corporation Counsel
Prettyman.