The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-06
OPP0S|TION'TO
FIREWORKS BILL
Common Council Indefinitely
Postponed tho Resolution.
LONG DEBATE LAST NIGHT
SsvsraI Reasons for Opposition Were Ap.
piunt-vuts Stood 20 10 8-0ns
More Meeting Of Council OF 1904

common council meeting ak city hall last
night to the passage OF the resolution
directing the city solicitor TO apply to
the general assembly for certain Iegisla-
tion relative to fireworks" which was in
troduced I'm the board by Alderman Will
liam X. Reynolds. who said II was drawn
up under the direction OF Assistant City
Solicitor Albert A. Baker.
The chief reasons for the opposition TO
the resolution appeared that the sponsor
for the resolution recommended the Yin
definite postponement OF a similar meas
ure last summer. that the resolution was
not properly drawn, "a the city had
ample authority to pass all such ordi-
nances necessary. and last OF all from
the standpoint OF the dealer In firearms.
blank cartridges. toy pistols and the like.
TO say nothing of the funds OF the small
boy
As soon az the resolution was read
Councilman Tower objected TO it's pas
sage. as he claimed that II was unneces-
sary. and he moved It's indefinite post
ponement
Mr.. Grady seconded the motion in sup.
port of which Councilman Root spoke
referring to the public hearing which was
held last summer, at which the medical
profession was well represented and the
matter was pretty thoroughly threshed
out. The police commission can stop the
firing OF firearms on the streets II ID de-
sires. under existing laws. No fulminite
caps are to be sold TO boys under Is and
persons over that age do not care TO fire
toy cap pistols he said.
Dr. Matthews sa id at the hea ring that
the powder wadding or fulminite did not
cause lackiaw. but II was the dirt or dust
that was driven into the wound Even
then, he said. lackJaw would not result
II the Injured hand or wound. whichever
IL was, had proper care.
SHOULD BE REFERRED.
Considering the action Of the special
committee. OF which the man who intro
duced this resolution was the chairman.
| do not see that this council can do
anything but indefinitely postpone the
matter"
Councilman Sisson called for the read
ing OF the communication signed by DR.
Matthews OF the Providence Medical So
ctety
Mr. Sisson. who retained the floor. said
that this communication from the med
icat fraternity should receive the con
sideration OF the council. as thee doctors
were certs inly disnterested In suggest
ing that such legislation is needed He
suggested that the matter be referred 10
committee
Mr.. Tower said that the resolution was
not in proper form and intmsted that
the nature OF the legislation desired should
be specified before the city solicitor was
sent to the general assembly again and
forced to tell that body the city council
wanted some sort Of fireworks legislation
the nature of which he couldn't exactly
specify.
Councilman Parsons suggested that the
matter be referred to the committee on
ordinances and seconded Mr. Sessions mo-
tion 10 that effect. as he said the prece-
dent had been established to that effect
USES OF BLANK CARTRIDGE.
Councilman Root inquired IL the mem
Der from the Second ward knew what n
blank cartridge was to which Mr. Ssson
replied that he was not an expert I'm such
matters but that he had prohibited their
use by members Of his family.
Mr. Root explained some OF the many
uses OF blank cartridges speaking OF mil
itary salutes. theatrical salutes yacht ga
lutes and others not relating 10 the
Fourth OF July. which was really the
only thing aimed at by thls measure
Mr. Sisson replied that this resolution
only was for the application for the pow
er to do certain things and that Il was
not necessary 10 use that power I'm its
fullest extent once IL was obtained
Councilman Peterson recalled the pub
lie hearing and remarked that he took
exception TO the attitude OF the police. on
that occasion, which made criminals OF
the boys who only were showing their pa
triotism. He defended the boys celebra-
tion and said this sort OF legislation
would be unnecessary ~ a campaign OF
education was carried on In the schools
such az was tried at his suggestion last
year. He pointed to the fact that there
were but few accidents last Fourth OF
July.
Mr.. Root secured the floor again and
stated he personally questioned whether
a law could be framed TO allow the sale
OF bali cartridges that would prohibit
him selling blank cartridges.
PLENTY OF LAW NOW.
The present law giving town and city
councils the right TO enact ordinances for
the protection OF the people from danger
from fire works explosives. etc, was read
by Mr. Tower.
Mr.. Parks asked for reading Of the
resolution and upon President Hendricks
compliance. the motion was put as 10
whether IL would be Indefinitely postponed
or not.
The ayes were called for and a loud vol
ume OF them were heard but Councilman
Balch secured the floor before the mega
tive votes were called and picked the
wording of the resolution to pieces, refer
riug TO tho futility OF prohibiting tho sale
of blank cartridges and toy pistols II
would be different n ~ said use but the
word "sale" makes IL absurd
What the maker Of this resolution
means is evidently to give us national
Fourth of July but he has not gone
about it In tho right way.
on motion OF Councilman Fletcher
there was a roll call vote which resulted
In the indefinite postponment OF the reso
luton by vote OF % TO s.
The vote stood: Ayes-President Ken
drick. Councilmen Balch. Coffey Darling.
John O.. and Edwin s. Darling. Daw.
Evans. Grady. Grant, Grlmwood. Higgins.
Lee Makepeace. Leonard. Miller Potter.
Root Smith. Tower and Winn. Noes
Counciimen Fletcher Parks. Parsons.
Moore. Peterson. Presbrey. San soucl and
Ssson.
ATTENDANCE LIGHT.
m, transaction Of tn. other business on