The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-18
No More Noisy Fourths Seized
uled for Topeka.
MAYOR LOSES FIGHT.
Tries to Give Youngsters a Few
Celebration Privileges.
Commission Defeats His Amend
ment by Big Vote.

Who is the friend of the small boy
in Topeka, Mayor Billiard or the city
commissioners? That is the big ques-
ton at the city halH today.
Mayor Billiard claims he is the best
ally of the kiddos because he fought
for thirty minutes in the city com
mission chamber this morning trying
to put through an ordinance which
would permit the firing of fire crack
ers on the Fourth of July. He con-
tended that the fire crackers should
be less than three inches long and
one-half inch in diameter.
The city commissioners-Mille
Bone, Holman and Tandy-claim they
are the real protectors of young
America. They defeated Mayor Bill
lard's ordinance and in place of it
they passed another that prohibited
the sale of any kind of fireworks in
Topeka and made it an absolute i'm
possibility for the children to procure
anything of the noisy variety to cele-
brate the glorious Fourth.
1t has been stated that the Fourth
of July firecracker ordinance was lost
1t has never been lost. 1t was in the
hands of Mayor Billiard awaiting the
construction of a new ordinance-the
one produced in favor of the small
boy today. But the mayors substi-
tute ordinance was defeated-even
though His Honor voted for it in the
face of the votes of the entire COM
mission against him.
The ordinance as passed today
means that the Fourth of July in
Topeka hereafter will consist in pic
MICS ooh, how the small boy loves
those picnics), quiet walks to the
parks youngsters love to put on stiff
collars and stroll through parks), a
lovely dinner at home with all the
unclea and aunties there (did you
ever see a kid who didn't love to talk
to his auntie?) and in the evening in
stead of firing off the roman candles,
the sky rockets and the pinwheels,
the little boys must kiss each and
every member of the family good
night and sneak off to the little bed
in the attic Ca thrilling sensation).
This is the program mapped out
for the youngsters by the city COM
missioners this morning-and all of
the commissioners have children. The
mayor, with no small boys to please,
introduced an ordinance in their be-
half.
In his substitute ordinance the
mayor asked that the children of the
city be allowed to shoot off fireworks
in the yards of the homes. He was
willing that there be no celebration
in the streets or alleys. He was will
ing also that the average run of ex-
plosives with the exception of big fire.
crackers be prohibited, but the COM
missioners thought differently and the
mayor was voted down.
The commissioners went further
they decided that there should be ne
pyrotechnical displays in Topeka
without the permission of the city
officials.
The ordinance in full is as follows:
-
any person to discharge or fire off any
cannon, gun, rifle, pistol. revolver, toy
pistol, cartridge cane, or fire arms of
any kind, or fire off or explode any
squib, rocket, fire cracker or Roman
candle or other combustible fireworks
within the city of Topeka"
Section 2. at shall be unlawful for
any person, firm or corporation, with
in the City of Topeka, to sell or offer
for sale, any toy pistol, cartridge cane,
squib, rocket, fire cracker. or Roman
candle. or other combustible fireworks
or other article that may be used in a
pyrotechnical display"
Section 3. Nothing contained in
this Ordinance shall be construed as
prohibiting the Board of Commission
ers of the City of Topeka from giving
pyrotechnical displays of fireworks in
said City or from granting permission
TO responsible persons. firms or cor
porations to give pyrotechnical dis
plays In said City in places to be de-
signated by said Board of Commission
ers and it shall be unlawful for any
person, firm of corporation to give any
pyrotechnical display in said City with
out first obtaining permission therefor
from the Board of Commissioners of
said City"
Section 4. Every person violating
any of the provisions of this Ordinances
shall be deemed guilty of misde-
meanor and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be fined in any sum not less than
three dollars nor more than fifty dol
lars for each offense and shall be com
mitted to the city prison of said City
until such fine and costs are paid"