The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-17
TO MAINTAIN ORDER
ALDERMEN TAKE STAND ON
BROUGHTON STREET SITUATION.
MERCHANTS BEFORE COUNCIL
SHOWED HOW CHRISTMAS EVE
DISORDER INJURIES BUSINESS.

Mr.. J. w. jackson Explained to
Aldermen How the Latest in the
Way of IA Dynamite Stick Is
WOrked-CnIIed 1t "Instrument of
Torture" and Exploded n Cap to
Show the Council How Dangerous
1t Is-It Was Agreed That the
Fireworks Ordinance VIII BE En-
forced and Arrests VIII BE Made.
There must be order on Broughton
street Christmas Eve night and no fire
works of any sort, which includes
what are being called dynamite sticks,
are to be shot. The City Council says
so.
There will be order throughout the
city, including Broughton street, and
the ordinances Will be enforced to
the letter no matter who the violators
are. The entire police force will be
on duty and there will be more uni
formed men on the street than ever
before-thirty for Broughton street
alone. Supt. Garfunkel puts the pub
lie on notice.
During the meeting of Council last
night Capt. ]. t. West and Mr.. ].
w. Jackson, representing the Retail
Merchants Association, formally pro-
tested against the condition of affairs
that has been tolerated in the shop
ping district Christmas Eve for years.
They assured the aldermen that sales
have been steadily decreasing and
that where the night was once one
of the best of the year from a bust
ness standpoint, it has become one of
the worst.
show Council a Torture Stick.
Mr.. jackson said that the retail mer-
chants are heavy losers because of the
disorder on Broughton street each
year. He produced one of the dyna-
mite sticks, called it an instrument
of torture" and declared that it was
dangerous. The stick that Mr.. Jack
son displayed was different from those
used during the holidays last year.
The cap was exploded in the old style
stick by striking it on the sidewalk,
but with the stick of more recent make
the cap is exploded by an iron wash
err, and it is not necessary to strike
the stick on the ground.
Mr. Jackson had Ammunition" as
the caps are termed, and gave the
aldermen an ocular demonstration of
the manner in which the instrument
of torture" works. The explosion of
the cap caused the members of Coun-
Gil to jump, and caused those in other
parts of the building to think that
something out of the ordinary was
happening in the Council chamber.
Mr.. Jackson commended that the ex-
plosion of the cap produced a spark
that might do considerable damage,
and convinced the aldermen that the
e-ky eSA, t.
worse each year and that it is high
time to call a halt.
Police VIII Enforce Order.
The superintendent of police was
| present and heard the statement made
| by the merchants. He was not in
charge of the department last year
and stated that he would see to it
that order is preserved the coming
Christmas Eve. The city attornew con-
strued the ordinance to cover the
shooting of what Mr.. Jackson had call
ed instruments of torture and it
was decided that it is not necessary to
pass another ordinance.
Those who blow horns in the faces
| OF pedestrians, or commit other similar
acts, are guilty of disorder, in the
opinion of the city attorney, and the
police will be instructed to make ar
rests wherever complaint is made The
city is determined to protect the shop
pers and the merchants, and with one
accord the aldermen stated that VIC
lators should be arrested, no matter
who they might be. The committee
from the retail merchants was assured
that their interests would be protect
ed.
City Attorney Garrard expressed the
opinion that under the fireworks or
dinance Madison and Monterey
Dill
erty, were not in the forbidden dis
trict. An amendment was prepared
so that they would be included in the
section that prohibits the shooting of
fireworks on Bull street anywhere north
of the Park Extension The amended
ordinance was read twice ard passed
by Council.