Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-05-27
SANE FOURTH OF JULY
Village BaiIiffs Have Restricted
Sale of Fireworks
Pistols and Cannon Crackers Under the
Ban-Actlon Was Belated.

a safe and sane" Fourth Of July will
be provided for the people Of Brattleboro
if the board of village bailiffs can bring
1t about Notices signed by Chairman e.
j. Waterman were sent Monday to all
the dealers in fireworks and pistols in
the village restricting the sale of July
4 goods by cutting out cannon crackers
pistols for exploding blank cartridges,
etc, and prohibiting the sale of any kind
OF fire works except between 1901 a. m.
and II p m. on July 4. The notice, which
is printed in fun below, was sent to the
Brattleboro News company, the Mellen
Hardware company, w. H. Geddis, c. w.
Cleaveland, II. NJ. Wood, A. E. Wood,
Robbins Cowles, S. Wilcox and George
A. Gibbs, proprietor of the five and ten
cent store. The bailiffs had not taken
action in the matter as a body, but indi-
vidually they decided to restrict the sale
as stated, and so, although they realized
that the time was getting short, they sent
the notices to give the dealers as much
time as possible in which to cancel or
ders already placed. The bailiffs will meet
tonight and win take action in the mat
ter as a body.
Some of the dealers had not ordered a.
large supply, as they expected that some
prohibitive action would be taken. A
few countermanded their orders as soon
as the notice was received, but some al
ers think that action should have been
taken some time ago, If at all, as it means
a loss to some, coming so late ques-
tion has been raised as to the right Of the
bailffs to single out a day and say that
fireworks shall not be sold except on that
day, but inasmuch as the statutes make
il an offense punishable by a fine to sell
any kind of fireworks any time the deal
ers do not appear to be in position to
make much Of a protest on that score.
While the action of the bailiffs is look
ed upon by most people in town as a move
in the right direction Brattleboro must
go a step farther before it comes into.
the really safe and sane class. II the or
dinary method Of celebrating is to be done
away with some other form Of entertain
ment must be provided. In order to meet
the need in some measure the manage
ment of the Magnet club has been con-
sidering the possibility of making the day
an interesting and safe one for the boys
Of the town. 1t is hoped that by next
week an announcement may be made of a
comprehensive plan of celebration.
Section 1866 of the Public Statutes OF
Vermont reads as follows Sec. 1856
Fireworks. A person who has in his pos
session cracker, squib, serpent or rocket
with intent to sell or set fire to the same,
or sells or offers to sell or give away the
same, or sets fire to or throws lighted
cracker or squib, serpent or rocket, shall
be fined not more than ten dollars" Sec
tion 1914 reads as follows: Sec 1914
Toy Pistols. a person who has in his
possession a toy pistol for the explosion
| of percussion caps or blank cartridges
with intent to sell or give away the same,
/ or sells or gives away or offers to sell or
give away the same, shall be fined not
more than ten dollars nor less than five
dollars, and shall be liable for all damages
resulting from such selling or giving
away, to be recovered in an action on the
| case"
We desire to ask your cooperation in
| observing the above referred to statutes,
| in order to minimize the danger to the
! young people of the town which occurs
every Fourth of July. To this end we
| have decided to prohibit the selling Of
| fire crackers larger than three and one
| half inches in length and one inch in di-
| ameter; pistols, cannons, canes and other
| appliances using blank cartridges, per-
/ cussion caps and torpedoes larger than
| three-fourths inches in diameter.
Fireworks Of any nature will not be sold
! at retail only from 1901 a. m, July
! fourth to - p. m, July fourth. We trust
we may have your hearty cooperation in
| this matter and thus obviate the neces-
sity Of enforcing strict letter OF the law,
| and at the same time protect the young
! er people of our village from danger from
! this source.
Very truly yours,
E ]. WATERMAN,
Chairman of Bailiffs.