Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-30
COMMISSIONERS FIRM
They Will Not Modify Their Fire
works Order.
an APPEAL BY PATRIOTIC WOMEN
A Lively Interview at the District
Offices Today.
APPEAL BY PATRIOTIC WOMEN
PROTESTS FROM CITIZEN S

ton, any of you. If you did you would feel
otherwise. We will leave the whole matter
to what there is left in your hearts of the
spirit of 10"
With this parting shot at the Commits
sioners the lady representatives of the So
ciety of the Children of the American Revo-
luton left the District Trumvirate to
struggle with some potent arguments why
they should modify their order relative to
observance of the Fourth of July.
Shortly after the board met this morning
Major Powell introduced to his colleagues
Mrs. Rosa Wright Smith and Mrs. T. A.
Alexander, repres entatives of the Children's
Society of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Smith was the first to speak. She
said
Gentlemen: We come before you today to
appeal for patriotic America The children
of Washington have been looking forward
for weeks to the celebration of the Fourth
of July, and we feel. the representatives
of the only patriotic children's organiza-
ticn in the city, that it is our duty to appeal
TO you in person for modification of your
order. According to that order you Danish
the children to places where most of them
cannot go, and where much damage is
likely to result. Parents cannot accom-
pany their children to these places, and the
lawlesS element will reign supreme there.
There has been no trouble heretofore, and
just at this time it is we'll to foster the
spirit or patriotism in the breasts of the
rising generation. Your reservation plan,
1 must say with all difference to your abili-
ty. is very bad one. The nearest one you
nave placed near my home is the old OBJ
servatory grounds, and surely mother
Will allow her children to go there, where
there is danger of drowning"
Its the little ones that are being dis
eliminated against" said Mrs. Alexander
Ihey are practically barred out by your
order, and stand no chance Where are they
10 go! If you send them to these vacant
places where the crowds accumulate, there
is bound TO be disaster, and if they stay at
nome and set off cracker they will be ar
rested"
Mr. Ross Question Answered.
Are you willing to trust them on Penn
sylvania avenue. with the bicycles and cars
and horses constantly moving?" asked
Commissioner Ross.
Yes. sir, a hundredfold," replied Mrs
Alexander You can hardly appreciate the
trouble the ladies have been put to to in
fuse patriotism in the little ones, and this
order of yours has thrown a wet blanket
over all our endeavors. Our society num-
bers 800 children, and it is increasing
every day.
We do not Subscribe to the use of giant
frecrackers, nor do we believe in allowing
the use of cannon in the Streets inter
tected Mrs. Smith, but We do plead for a
restriction of them. But for the small fire.
works, don't take them from the children"
Mr. Ross Statement.
Commissioner Ross replied He said:
The Commissioners agree with you as to
the patriotic lesson that the Fourth of July
teaches. All of us have been boys, and 1
remember myself the first fire ball 1 ever
threw. for burnt my fingers. What is the
danger of today in allowing the unrestrict-
ed use of fireworks? That is the question,
the great question. with which we have to
deal This year the situation is different
than it ever was before. We have a num-
her of rapid transit street car lines and
horses moving everywhere But the
cement, the dangerous element, is the BIZ
cycles. 1t is that combination that makes
trouble. A horse will shy at a firecracker,
and one life one MANNED limb would he
poor compensation indeed for a little fire
works. There is no restriction outside of
the city limits. and the parents take
their children into the suburbs and shoot
off ffrecrackers to their hearts content
Then, consider for q moment the sick and
nervous confined to their homes or hos
p.talS, who cannot get away from the in
ceSsant noise
I'VE have received a great many COM
plants. many, in fact. that this year It
was necessary to enforce the regulation"
said Commissioner Truesdell. THE regu-
lation, you know, Is not a new one. 1t has
Eeen in force number of years. 1t was
IN order to compensate for this existing law
that the Commissioners set aside the places
and reservations where the law would not
be enforced
Interchange of Views.
Mrs. Alexander pointed out that while
the vacant lots and reservations might do
Tor DrllS OH giant CRACKERS, tney were
wholly inappropriate for the smaller dis
play of fireworks. such as pinwheels. etc.
Commissioner Truesdeil, however. thought
the best place to fire them off in the
vacant lots
Mrs. smith called attention to the fact
that there were fewer horses this year than
last. The stores would be closed because it
was holiday, and there would not be
much traffic that day.
Commissioner Ross called attention to the
fact that the Fourth of July Saturday,
and that was regular market day, and a
large crowd would be in attendance.
Commissioner TrueSdell went back to the
subject of the sick and nervous people. and
what they would do on the Fourth of July
with the freCrackers going off al! around
them.
Eeve that mother ill would ask her chill
dren to sacrifice the day on her account.
Commissioner Truesdell thought there
should be some other way of celebrating
the day
Mai Powell suggested 1t was the society
represented by these ladies that fostered it.
Yes" replied Mrs. Alexander. and we
will keep it up. But to return to the real
danger. 1t Is, / submit in corralling the
children. If they are huddled together with
all sorts and conditions accidents are ir-
evitabe."
What Commfssioner Powell Will Do.
Commissioner Powell said the Commits
sioners did net propose to take any meas
places The Commissioners simply gave
them the opportunity. AS far he
cCncerred lie was going to take his chill
dren to the country and let them show
their patriotism out there. He believed
also in some other means of celebrating the
day. He thought the equestrian statue of
Washington and the statue of Lafayette
should be decorated. In less than two
years ne predicted the Capitol would De
illuminated on that day.
Mrs. Smith acknowledged that If she
could not appeal to the Commissioner
sentiment of patriotism she would fail in
her undertaking.
Commissioner Ross said he had given the
subject the gravest consideration. Last
hight in his bed he had thought 1t all over
He felt that if he took his stand for the
Tcn-elforcement of the order he would be
responsible for any accidents that might
happen.
Mrs. Alexander asked Mr.. Ross what
VIC uld be his responsibility If there should
be an accident at enc of the reservations
Commissioner Ross replied that there
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