New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
,.u Club Aroused by Daily Occurrence of Killing Of
Manning Made Possible by Carrying OF Concealed
Weapons, Will Urge Legislation to Cure This Evil.

7 of weapons in our streets can be prevented
to any considerable extent the crimes that
are committed with such weapons will be
| reduced.
For long time have been revoIted
| bv the state OF affairs, as I think any right
minded man must be. Some time ago II
was directly suggested to me by the CITY
/ Club that should draft bill on this sub
| ject I did get up such bill Then I
/ threw II away. The subject is so impor-
/ tant that I felt IL needed the sincerest
/ thought of a number of men, and of the
men who are best acquainted with the con-
/ ditions and with the workings OF law
| Il am much pleased with the bill that
1 Big Tim Sullivan has introduced in the
/ Senate. don't think II is as thoroughgoing
as II should be. but do believe that with
| a little amendment it could be made
sound. working law. which could be
/ strengthened later If that were found de-
| sirable. II the Senator is in earnest-and
| certainly have no reason for supposing that
| he is not--he is searching for the best law
that can be framed. That is precisely the
law that we want.
"His bill. which is an amendment to the
present law. adds blackjacks. sandbags and
budgeons to the dangerous weapons which
il is felonicus to make. sell or possess un-
der any circumstances. 1t also broadens
the clause forbidding the carrying of
weapons with intent 10 use them so that
it includes all dangerou, or deadly
weapons. 1t makes the carrying OF con-
cealed weapons felony instead OF mere
misdemeanor.
Further. It adds new section to the
law providing that dealers in firearms must
keep a register showing the name age.
occupation and residence Of each pur-
chaser and the number or mark OF iden-
tihcation Of the frearm. If the weapon
is OF a sort which the law forbids to be
carried without license, then the dealer
must require the purchaser to produce
such a license and must register its date,
number and the name Of the magistrate
or officer who issued II. The register must
be open to the inspection OF the police at
all times. Any violation is to constitute a
misdemeanor.
The last section goes right to the heart
OF the matter. Sooner or later we will
have 10 license the seller and buyer Of
firearms. at least in our cities 1t seems
to me the time has come already The
present law does not prevent the practice
II is aimed at But there is one point
which l think should be settled in this
bill before IL is passed: The bill does not
provide the means for issuing the licenses
to purchasers. leaving that important
point to the local ordinances Of the diff
ferent cities, as It is at present
That is a detail which It seems to me
should be covered by state law. Also, I
should like TO have the question raised. at
least, whether. If II is desirable to require
the dealer to take out a license to sell fire.
arms. the purchaser should not also get a
license to buy them Those points could be
met far more easily by amendments TO
Senator Sullivan's bill than by introducing
new one. Now that the matter is fairly
before the Senate, II would be a pity II it
were not settled satisfactorily.
81 have been talking this over with Dis
trict Attorney Whitman, and he feels very
much as do think. shall try to see
him again, TO get his exact views on what
the law should be, and then IL possible
shall go to Albany to attend the hearing on
the Sullivan bill. With an amendment or
two such as ! have suggested, I am sure
II is a bill which the City Club would favor
and would wish TO appear In behalf Of
before the committee. I understand that
it has had considerable opposition from
weapon manufacturers and hardware DEAL
ers"
The next scene is in the hall Of the Timo-
thy D. Sullivan Association. Up one dark
stairway Is large. bare room. with a raised
dais at one end like that in a police court
On the walls are colored "enlargements"
Of four Sullivans and a mottled map Of the
Sd Election District Through low arch
way is smaller room, beaten into by
the roar Of wheels on the granite and the
six car tracks OF the Bowery. Here at a
round table whose top is upholstered with
black leatherette, Big Tim sits down to
explain his own bill.
"Of course" the "Big Fellow" began,
people read about preventable shootngs In
the newspapers till they're sick of 'eU. It's
most always some poor devil who don't
mean much to anybody but his family, any,
way Then when it happens to be some-
body like David Graham Phillips-and that
man was one Of Gods noblemen, l tell
you-then people all say something ought
10 be done They usually let it go at that.
Now, it's different down here in the dis
trict. Nine chances out of ten the dead