Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-13
PLANS FOR THE FOURTH
POLICE DETERMINED THAT CITY
SHALL BE QUIET.

The authorities of the District are be-
coming more determined than ever that
their past efforts for moderate and decent
celebration of the Fourth of July in the
District shall not prove of avail for the
coming independence day celebration, and
that the day shall not be marked with an
unrestricted celebration. Since the decision
of Judge kimhall in the Police Court on
the section of the police regulations cover
ing the discharge of firearms and fireworks
on the public streets there has been some
discussion regarding the effect of the de-
cision on the Fourth of July celebration,
and some fears have been expressed that
1t would allow an open Fourth. From the
expression of opinion of two officers who
Will have much to do with prosecutions of
OffenSeS of this kind committed on the
Fourth, given to Star reporter this morn
ing. it would seem that that day will be
celebrated very much the same this year
as last year.
When Corporation Counsel Duvau was
approached on the subject he said: I'VE
are not at the end of authority by long
ODDS When asked as to what steps would
be taken he stated that he not ready
TO give out definite statement on the mat
ter, but he gave the impression that the
celebration of the Fourth this year would
be as quiet as before, despite the fact that
prosecutions could not be made under the
are now before the Court of Appeals,
MAJ sylvester, when seen, said on the
subject: You may be sure that we will not
allow an open Fourth of July. Whether we
Will arrest for disorderly conduct or for
other grounds. We will make arrests that
are covered by the law. We will find some
law to cover the offenses."
AS the matter stands now it is understood
tnat the arrests Will be made for diSorderly
conduct There is law of Congress for
the District which prohibits disorderly con-
duct 1t is maintained by the authorities
shat the hrlng Off of firearms, firecrackers
fireworks, etc, is not orderly, and therefore
IS dlsorderly, and therefore violation of the
law. " "
Permits for Storage.
Inc forms of the permits for the storing
or hrecrackers and other things used In the
decorations Of Fourth of July have been
prepared and placed in the hands of Major
sylvester, Superintendent of police. The
dates and place for the storing are speci-
fed. and the permission is given with the
following provision:
PROVIDED the same not exposed or
stored in show windows, doorways closets,
stairways, cellars or where matches
lamps, candles, gasoline or other infam-
1napies are Kept or used, and provided the
storage of dynamite or other dangerous
bombs, cannons, toy cannons, toy pistols
canes for exploding other than paper caps,
and hrecrackers of any manufacture ex-
NSSNAA6 eiiSC etiiO Olle-IdlI lnCneS IN length
or making the report or noise of what is
generally known as the giant cracker is
PROMPTED, and provided further that no
sales are made to any child or children
under the age of sixteen years. (Webb's di-
gest, D. 1901"
This provision, 1t IS stated, will be
strictly enforced.
The grounds upon which the appeal from
the decision of Judge KimbalI was made
are now being prepared and it is expected
that full argument will be made before
the higher court. 1t is argued that the
provision giving the superintendent of po-
lice authority to give permits for the dis
charge OF firearms on the streets was made
to meet special conditions here as it is
sometimes necessary to allow such things.
If the Commissioners have no right to del
egate this power to the major it is further
argued that this clause of the section can
be stricken out as being without effect
This would leave the section an absolute
prohibition of the discharge of firearms
and fireworks on the STREETS. In the con-
terest of making every reasonable law con-
stitutional this can be done, it will be ar
gued.