The times., 1901-06-27
THE FOURTH OF JULY RULES.
Police Regulations to Prevent Too
Hilarious Patriotism.

Orders for the government of the men,
bers of the Police Department in the ofi-
cial handling of those desiring to cele-
brate independence Day on July were
issued by Major Sylvester yesterday af-
ternoon, after they had been approved
by the Commissioners Of the District.
They provide for the temporary suspen-
sion o: that portion of the Police Regu-
lations which prohibits the discharge OF
firecrackers and other explosives upon
the streets of the city, but confers upon
the members of the department discre-
tionary powers to restrain thCuse OF such
explosives at such places as would annoy
or endanger the lives and well being OF
the sick. II prescribes that no toy pistol
less than five inches in length shall be
made use of, and prohibits the sale or ex-
plosion of any fireeracker exceeding three
and one-half inches in length The use
Of pistols or firearms of any kind. even
when blank cartridges are used. is fur
ther prohibited. Provision is also made
for placing the entire police reserve upon
the streets of the city on the nights OF
July and T. in order to ensure the en-
forcement of the regulations. which in de-
tail are as follows:
I'm conformity with Article TX, section
5, of the Police Regulations. relating tc
loud noises, cries, and the use Of fire.
works and explosives, you are directed 70
regard such section as suspended from
operation on the Fourth Of July. 1901,
after the hour OF o'clock a. m. and per-
NIT of the use and discharge Of firecrack-
ers. squibs, toy pistols over five inches in
length (using paper eaps), or fireworks
within the District of Columbia. except
that the SALE storage. or discharge of
tolls less than five inches in length. and
firecrackers of any manufacture exceed
ing three and one-haIf inches in length
and three-quarters of an inch in diameter
are strictly prohibited, and that where
persons are careless or disorderly in the
use of firecraekers. squibs, and fireworks.
they VIII be amenable 10 the operation or
Article TX, section 8, without regard TO
the suspension herein referred to.
THE regulation will continue in effect
so far as il relates to the use and dis
charge of guns. air guns. rifles. revolvers,
pistols, cannons, torpedoes, other than
paper, and other firearms, even where
blank charges are employed
Members of the force are directed to
strictly enforce the regulation so far as
it relates to frecrackerS of any manu-
facture more than three and one-half
inches in length and three-quarters of an
inch in diameter, dynamite and other
dangerous bombs. guns, and revolvers,
and in instances where crackers exceed
charged the police will ascertain from
whom the same were purchased. and not
only take action against the person or
persons using them, but against the deal
er who may have sold them
Members of the force will use every
effort from now on to ascertain the names
of dealers, wholesale or retail, who may
dispose of fireworks Or other explosives to
children under sixteen years of age, and
take proper action against them in court
Members of the force will do every
thing in their power to prevent the firing
of crackers or other explosives in the vi
cinity OF hospitals and places where per-
sons are known TO be sick and where the
orders of the police are not respected, the
person or persons so offending should be
taken to court
The Heutenants of the several pre-
cincts Will employ all available reserve
force for the night preceding the
Fourth of July, in order to secure COM
plianee with the law and this order and
continue such extraordinary detail on the
night of the Fourth for the same pur-
pose"