The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-19
FIRE PREVENTION BILLS
Measures Advocated by Commissioners BulIard and Strong and Fire Chief
 Mooney.
Providing for Regulation of Explosives, Moving Picture Machines and Sale
 0f Fireworks.

Hartford, March 19. - Ammunition manufacturers were present. in force before the committee of public health and safety yesterday afternoon to protest against a bill amending the statutes relating to the manufacture and storage of explosives, so that: Gunpowder shall not be excepted from it's provisions and that permit shall be granted for the manufacture or sale of any explosive compound in any building used wholly in part as a dwelling and that the duties of the se- letcmen or town clerk as to issuing H. cenSeS and transportation permits. etc. shall be assumed by the local fire mar shal
 This bill was introduced at the re- quest of the Fire Prevention ASSocia- ton of Connecticut. President A. H. Bullard of Bridgeport, representing this association, explained the purpose of the bill. saying that it was desired know where explosives were stored and that they should be the only ones per mitted to issue permits Fire Chief Edward Mooney of the Bridgeport Fire department also favored the measure.
 Judge Stoddard of New Haven, rep resenting some of the leading anmu- milton manufacturing interests, oppos- ed the bill, saying that the law was altogether too broad. Judge Stod- dard said he was fully in sympathy with what the bill was expected to do and offered, providing the gentlemen favoring the bill would tell him ex- actly what they wanted, to aid them in drafting a new bill that would sat isfy all concerned.
 Attorney A. M. Marsh of Bridgeport for the U. M. c. Co.,, also opposed the excluded from the provisions of the bill. The committee suggested that both parties get together and redraft the bill. This was acceded to-.
 Considerable discussion was caused by a bill providing that no moving picture machine, or cinematograph. or similar apparatus, shall be operated in any place of public resort unless with in a fireproof enclosure; providing for inspection of such apparatus and en- closures, licensing of operators by the state police and fixing fees therefor, and providing penalties for violations
 Commissioner Bullard of Bridgeport supported the measure, emphasizing the dangers attendant with moving picture machines, which he said was not so much from fire as from panic. He thought that perhaps the local ire marshal would be better qualified to look out for the matter than the state police. ..t.se
 The committee also gave a hearing on another bill fostered by the Fire Prevention Association of Connecticut, providing that every person desiring to store or to keep for sale or to sell fireworks in any building must make; application to the lOcal nre mdrSnal TOT a license therefor in writing, signed by the applicant, giving the location of the building, the nature of other kinds of business carried on in it, the quality and description of fireworks intended to be stored or kept for sale, and the room or rooms to be used therefor. The bill also provides that no hcensee shall store or keep for sale or sell fireworks in any building occupied for dwell ing, or in any door or window or out side the walls of a building. or in any room where smoking is allowed, or where there are kept for sale cigars, or tobacco, paints, oils or other light ma terial of a combuStible nature, or dam gerous compounds. The bill provides a fine of not more than $500, or hmpris- onment for one year, or both.
 Representative Fayette c. Clark Of Bridgeport, MT. BuIlard. Chief Mooney and Commissioner Kegeymeyer of New Haven favored the bill. They told or many fires and casualties that had re- suited from carelessly kept fire works. Edmund Zacher of New Haven oppos- ed thei bill on the grounds that 1t would prevent the country storekeeper from selling fireworks. The commit tee suggested that all parties con- cerned should get together and draft a new bill satisfactory to all and set March 25 as the date for the hearing.