Evening star., 1940-07-27
Enforce Trash
Disposal Rules,
Ordered
Commissioners Also
Direct Action by
Health Officer

The Commissioner today ordered
Police Supt. Ernest w. Brown to in
struct his policemen to pay stricter
attention to violations of regula-
tions dealing with the disposal Of
trash and refuse.
They also directed Health Officer
George C. Rutland to have the per-
sonnel of the inspection service
tighten enforcement of rules con-
cerning the use and occupancy of
buildings and grounds. The in
spection service was directed to re-
port Immediately to the Corpora
tion Counsel's Office for Police
Court prosecution any cases where
nuisances were not abated at the
end of time given in first notice.
The city refuse division also was
ordered to report to police any vio-
lations dealing with disposal of
trash and refuse.
Attention to Pedestrians.
In their order to Maj. Brown, the
Commissioners asked that special
attention be directed to violations
by pedestrians throwing waste paper
on the sidewalks and in cutters, to
motorists throwing trash from car
windows, to overlooking of trucks,
resulting in the littering of streets.
and to householders piling trash in
alleys in the rear of their homes.
The police also were to be in
structed to enforce the regulations
applicable to occupants of dwelling
houses, proprietors of boarding
houses, commission warehouses,
hotels, restaurants and other places,
relating to the placing OF garbage,
ashes and other refuse in recep-
tacles.
Health Department inspectors
were to be directed to report persons
observed throwing or depositing ref
use or trash contrary to police reg
ulations.
Warned Against Extra Noises.
The Commissioners also cautioned
the refuse division, particularly the
garbage collection group, against
making unnecessary noises.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen
told representatives of the Districts
outdoor Cleanliness Association yes
terday that only by bringing Of
tenders into court would the viola
tions be cut down.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Vernon West, interviewed by The
Star yesterday, also expressed
conviction that offenders should be
prosecuted He cited. however. the
difficulty of proving that the anti
litter ordinances we're violated and
discovering who the violators were.
Gets Good Case"
Told of a case brought to the at
tention of The Star yesterday, he
said that it appeared to be good
example of case that could be
taken into court -
A householder in the Northwest
section called The Star to ask what
action to take regarding a pile of
trash deposited in the alley in the
rear of her home. She said she had
seen the servant in the house across
the alley put the trash there Mon
day and had protested to him that
the debris, half in and half out of
receptacles, would blow into her
yard. The regulation trash collec-
ton for the week had been made
a few hours before the trash was
piled in the alley.
Willing to Testify.
A Star reported asked her if she
would be willing to testify in court
that she had witnessed the violation
and she said she would. Since the
police appeared to have sufficient
evidence for an arrest, the reporter
suggested that she notify her pre-
cinct station.
Checking back later to find what
police action had been taken, the
reporter was told that an officer had
visited her home and had assured
her that the trash would be re-
moved. She told him at that time
that she had seen the trash being
deposited in the alley.
A check at the precinct station
some hours after the complaint had
been registered revealed that no
record of it had been made. The
station clerk guessed" that the man
on the householder's beat had taken
care of notifying the violator to
remove the trash.
No arrest was made.