Evening star., 1896-07-03
NOT ENOUGHPE
New Phase Of the Fireworks Ques-
ton for Tomorrow.
WHAT LOCAL CITIZENS WILL Do
interested in the Meaning of "On
the Premises"
T II O U S A n D S APP LY

assumed alarming proportions today. Ear
| ly in the morning Maj. Moore and his as
sistants were confronted with serious
problem. 1t dawned very clearly the
police officials that not the slightest pos
| sibility existed of filling anything like the
number of applications that have been and
will be filed, and then the question arose,
will three-fourths of the population be
permitted to celebrate the glorious Fourth
and the remainder, those unable to secure
permits. be compelled to stand around with
hands in their pockets and watch the other
fellows enjoying themselves?'
1t seems natural that the minority re-
ferred to would not peaceably accept the
situation and stand around with hands in
their pockets. making the best of a bad
bargain. "Oh, no." said caller at the
District building today, who had just left
| his name for a permit. my neighbor,
John Smith, has no more right to explode
torpedoes in his back yard than have in
mine. even though he happens to have in
his possession q permit from Mai Moore
| 1T would certainly be unjust to deprive me
of my patriotic desires and rights merely
because the superintendent of police finds
himself unable to hand me out a permit.
| If Neighbor Smith celebrates tomorrok
shall most assuredly do the same, even
though a permit is not mailed to me. !
may be arrested. and hope / shall be, for,
in my opinion, there is no court of justice
! In the land that would countenance such
proceedings"
The hands Of the police officials are tied
fast, so far as remedying the condition
of affairs, 1t is case of first come frs
served, and as rapidly possible the
tlank permits are being filled in and the
cards mailed to the applicants in the order
| In which the names were filed. The cure
lies with the Commissioners.
Star reporter acquainted Commissioner
ROSS with the facts. and after suggesting
that additional clerks might be assigned
to the work Of addressing and mailing
the cards. he stated that he would confer
with Commissioner Truesdell later in the
day and endeavor to decide on plan that
would work satisfactorily to all concerned
Commissioner Truesdell merely smiled
when the subject was broached to him
by the reporter, and remarked that he
ofd not care to cross any bridges until he
reached them.
| nearly everybody connected with the su-
perintendents Office wore looks of extreme
WEAKNESS today. AL the Clerks who
could be spared we're put at work filing
tective force down In the basement being
engaged all day long industrtoualy scratch
Ing away With thslGspsR171s nGrs.
the District bd4dng IV&de| ~
| long and distributed at Intervals a IN The
entrance to the superintendent office 4.
tne rear OF the structure were clerks in
their shirt sleeves jotting down names
and addresses and dropping the slips in
baskets, which were rapidly filled and
quickly enptied. beehive running extra
With the burst of energy that is in evil
dence today on the lower floors Of the
District building.
The nearer the Fourth approaches the
larger grows the throng of applicants. The
majority are fathers. who Invariably ask:
VIII you please issue me permit for my
little boy?' The little boys themselves are
not lacking by any means.
hn
gun, rife, pistol or other firearms. torpedo,
hrecrackers. squib or other fireworks shall
pe discharged or set off within the limits
OF the city of Washington or within the
nre limits OF the District of Columbia out
side OF the city, or in or on any public road
or highway within the District, without a
special permit therefor from the major of
police. There seems to be no doubt that
q large number Of citizens who desire per-
mits will not receive them. Up to a late
hour this afternoon the Commissioners
had not reached any conclusion in regard
to the matter.
Space for the setting off of firecrackers
and fireworks has been designated by the
Commissioners. The revised list, by DO
lice precinc is. is as follows:
First Precinct-None,
Second Precinct-Square $40, New York
avenue, North Capitol, 1st and o streets
northeast.
Third Precinct-south part Of old observ-
atory grounds, within limits prescribed by
the medical director in charge thereof; res
ervation p, three acres street northwest,
between Doth and 21st streets.
Fourth Precinct-Square 537, between f
street and Virginia avenue and Sd and ~
streets southwest; reservation lib, two
acres. between 7th and 9th streets. Mary
land and Virginia avenues southwest
Fifth Precinct-Square 1887, 18th and 14th
streets. Massachusetts avenue and street
southeast; square 1,045 Pennsylvania and
Georgia avenues. 18th and 14th streets
southeast; reservation 10. from K to L
streets and 5th street to Market space
southeast, three acres; reservation Log, 9th
and 11th streets, Virginia and Georgia ave-
nues southeast, two acres; Pennsylvania
avenue. 9th street to Eastern branch.
Sixth Precinot-Reservaton a, circle, one
third acre, G and 1st streets, Massachu-
setts and New Jersey avenue northwest
Seventh Precinct-Old Morton place, west
side of Lyons mill dam.
Eighth Precinct-Petworth, Brightwood
avenue and Rock Creek Church road; Blue
Bird Hill new reservoir, south of Soldiers
Home).
Ninth Precinct-None.
Any one who believes that the citizens of
Washington have lost interest in the cele-
bTation of the anniversary of the signing of
the Declaration Of Independence would do
well to visit the District building this after
noon. 1t is impossible to correctly estimate
the vast number Of applications for per-
-nits that have been filed.
Where Fireworks Can be Used.
The permits, as heretofore published
give permission to the holders thereof "to
use and set eff on his premises 1recrackers,
squibs, Roman candles sky rockets or other
small fireworks. provided that no giant
frecrackers. cannon. pistol, revolver, gun
rifle or other firearms shall be used OF
discharged on or about such premises"
The permits say ION his premises" blu,
many seem puzzled. AS to just what this
means the public would Ike to know II
means, according to the legal interpreta-
ton of able lawyers that the fireworks are
| to be exploded either in his" house OF
in his yard, for the courts have decided
that the street means from building line
| to building line, and Ibis premises mears
that space of ground for which the owner
pays taxes. Several lawyers were inter-
viewed this afternoon, and all agreed that
| under the provisions of the permit the ex-
plosion of fireworks can be permitted. only
| in houses and back yards, or in front yards
where the houses are not on the building
line .-ss
Judge Kimhall, before whom cases of
violations of this law will come, said this
afternoon that he did not care to decide
| the question in advance, but he thought
| the Commissioners intended to allow the
| use of fireworks on the streets in front of
| premises. He was willing to admit, how
ever, lnat they had not conveyed this idea
in the wording of the permit.
Permits will be issued as late as 6 o'clock
] this afternoon.