Evening star., 1909-06-06
FOURTH TO Be SILENT
Prohibition of Fireworks Is to
Be Enforced.
POLICE TO GET ORDERS
Firemen Will Probably Get First
Independence Day Off.
TAKOMA WOULD KEEP QUIET
Violators of Ordinance Against Use
of Explosives May Expect Sc
we're Penalties.

Maj. Sylvester. superintendent OF police.
has received requests for information
to what is to be permitted in celebrating
the Fourth of July.
No formal order has been issued to the
members of the police department. Such
message will probably be prepared dur
ing the next few days.
Heretofore the enforcement Of the reg
ulations relating to the handling of ex-
plosives has been suspended for the day.
This year it Is the intention Of the au-
thorities to arrest and prosecute any per-
sons found violating their provisions.
thoroughly safe and sane celebra-
ton, if possible. is to be insured. Viola
tors of regulations may expect nothing
but trouble.
Severe Punishment Probable.
Should there be any arrests made for
setting off firecrackers or other explosives,
It Is believed, the police will require the
deposit of collateral sufficiently great to
insure the attendance of the offenders in
court 1t Is also probable that the judges
of the Police Court will be asked to i'm
pose severe sentences.
Under the new conditions" remarked
member of the police force to rep
evening, the imposition of nominal fines
would not have a salutary effect. Should
any persons be foolish enough to violate
the law they should expect no mercy at
the hands of the court. The display in
the evening should be all that the most
patriotic persons can desire"
1t Is highly probable that the sane and
safe idea will spread to some of the sub
urban towns outside the District. A
member of the town council Of Takoma
In
Ing to make inquiries about the laws
that are to be enforced. He was in
terested more particularly in the matter
of preventing explosion of more noisy
fireworks. saying he feared the time had
not come to put a stop to the disastrous
form of celebrating.
Takoma to Be Quiet.
The member Of the town council was told
of the law which prohibited the explosion
Of tirecrackers more than three and one
half inches in length. bombs and can
non. He said the noisy demonstration
about the Maryland side of the town last
year is still remembered by those who
were annoyed at that time. His idea is
that more dangerous and Objectionable
fireworks be eliminated this year.
With a law prohibiting the sale Of fire.
works in the District, he said, he thought
the Maryland residents of the town of
ldhOH1d WOulu experience Some trouble
getting supplies. Stores there are on the
District side of the town.
Members of the Takoma town council
are considering the advisability of adopt
ing "a stringent ordinance in time to pre-
vent repetition of the conditions of last
year Just what kind of an ordinance
they will adopt is not known. 1t is likely
that 1t will not permit noisy demonstra-
tiOnS.
All Police on Duty.
Although the law in this city this year
will not permit the use of explosives,
Maj Sylvester will have his full force on
duty the Fourth of July. in order that
every effort may be made to enforce a
law intended to give the people safe
and sane celebration. 1t will probably be
the first time in the history of the fire
department that any Of its members will
have the benefit of the day off, on In
dependence day.
II see no reason why the Fourth of
July should not be treated the same as
any other day. in view OF the adoption
and prospective enforcement of the new
reSulation," said Chief Wagner last even
ing. IF there are to be no fireworks
permitted there is no reason why there
should be any unusual calls made upon
h.. don. .rt. o.afof'