Evening star., 1914-12-30
Commissioners Refer Smith,
Hollis Measure to Mai.
Sylvester, Police Head.
ACTS AGAINST PERSONS
EXPOSING WEAPONS
James M. Wood, Who Wrote Pro-
posed Act, Gives Arguments
in It's Favor.

An early report will be made to Con-
gress by the District Commissioners on
the bill introduced in the House by
Representative Smith of Maryland and
in the Senate by Senator Hollis of
New Hampshire making it misde-
meanor for any person in the District
to expose or knowingly allow to be
exposed any loaded gun, revolver or
other deadly and dangerous f1rearm
which comes into the possession of any
minor under the age of twenty-one
years and which results in said minor
committing a felony"
The bill, which provides a penalty of
not more than $1,000 fine or five years
Imprisonment, or both. has been refer
red by the Commissioners to Maj.
Richard Sylvester, superintendent of
police, and the recommendation of that
official will be taken into consideration
before the District heads begin prep
aration of the report to Congress
Ask for Early Report.
1t is understood that both Represent
ative Smith and Chairman Ben John
son of the House District committee
have asked the Commissioners for an
early report on the measure, and it is
believed that effort will be made to
have it enacted into law during the
present session of Congress. Repre-
sentative Thetus w. Sims of Tennes-
see, author of bill to prohibit the sale
of deadly weapons in the District, has
given intimation of his intention to
support the Smith-Hollis bill, it is
stated.
Commissioner Siddons has received
from James NJ. Wood, former superin-
tendent of the local street cleaning
department. who wrote the bill which
has been introduced by Representative
Smith and Senator Hollis, a letter ad-
vancing arguments in favor of the
measure.
"The bill which you doubtless will
make early report on is designed to
cure a defect in our law which may be
more readily understood by citing
few illustrations of actual recent hap
penings," states Mr. Wood in his letter
to the Commissioner.
Act of Twelve-Year-O Boy.
"a twelve-year-old white boy took his
uncle's loaded revolver off the bureau,
where it had lain exposed for many
weeks, and, July 81. 1914, on 1st street
southeast near NJ street, following a
short alteration, shot ten-year-old
colored boy in the left leg. fracturing
the bone and causing amputation above
the knee Two families were over
taken bv trouble and unnecessary ex-
pense. and the colored boy will be a
helpless cripple for life, and the white
boy NAV have to serve term in the
penitentiary. all on account of the un-
necessary act and the gross negligence
on the part of the uncle in leaving a
loaded weapon lying exposed on bu-
reau.
ION September 1. 1914. the master of
a small vessel loaded with wood tied up
at the foot of South Capitol street. Sew
eral small colored boys, mere children.
years. were playing there at the time.
They were promised a piece of money
If they would carry the wood ashore.
They began the task. after which the
master OF the vessel went away. leav-
ing the boys in charge of the boat There
was a loaded shotgun lying on a bench
on the boat. The boys soon began play
ing with it. They snapped the trigger
several times, but it failed to explode.
Later. in play. one of the boys pulled the
trigger and shot a companion, who died
Instantly
Called Gross Negligence.
"Here again two families were thrown
into mourning and put to great expense
and sorrow on account of gross negl-
gence on the part Of the master in leaving
a loaded weapon exposed on the deck o.
his vessel Other instances might be
cited.
During the past year more than $50
persons were killed in the United
States by children in the same manner,
or one person out of each 1900 of the
population. Many. If not all. of these
lives might have been saved by laws
melting out suitable punishment to the
guilty parties. the ones who allowed
loaded weapons to be needlessly ex-
posed. An unknown number of persons
are crippled each year in the same
manner"
lIAnn To AMn Tnnnno