South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-22
COUNCIL SESSION
To PAVE WAY FOR
SANE PATRIOTISM
Meeting Tonight to Begin on
Anti-PyrOteChniC Ordinance
for Next Year-ContrOIIer'S
Report Ready.

An ordinance forbidding the sale Of
Fourth of July pyrotechnics at retail
in the city of South Bend. not to be
passed, however. until after that date,
will be introduced in the common
council tonight by Pres. Lang, accord
ing to copy furnished City Clerk Ros-
tiser today for typewriting; which, to-
gether with the passage of a sewer
districting ordinance, and the presen-
tation of resolutions providing for
sidetracks by the c. !. & S. TO the
States & Hardman coal yards, and by
the NJ. G. r. r. TO the George Hoffman
viii probably be the principal matters
TO come before the session. The board
of works Will also be present at the
meeting with an ordinance empower
ing it to dispose of some $2,5OO worth
of steel sheet piling left over from the
construction of the new north pump
ing station.
The pyrOtechnics ordinance is the
suggestion of State Fire Marshal w.
+. Longley, who calls attention to the
fact that in 1913 the fires over the
state averaged 80 per day, while on
July 4th there were 80 fires due TO
fireworks alone. He calls attention
to the probable fact that merchants
this year have laid in their supply, and
that IL might be unjust TO not let them
work them off, but suggests that the
ordinance be introduced as an educa-
tional measure and then passed after
the 4th. early enough for next year
that the merchants need have no eX-
Cuse for laying any supply.
Ordinance Is Sweeping.
Under the ordinance proposed the
sale of fireworks at retail is absolutely
forbidden under heavy penalties, and
the scope OF what constitutes fireworks
is sweeping. Even baby fire-crackers
are not exempted The right to dis
charge fireworks within the city is for
hidden with equal effectiveness, save
that the chief of police may grant
permits to individuals Of responsibility,
to be carried out at places approved
by the chief OF the fire department
The council will also be asked TO
pass a resolution favoring what is
known as the Hamil civil service bill,
now pending in congress; this on sug-
geStiOn of the association OF civil ser
vice employees which reports the pas
sage of a similar resolution by the
common councils OF cities throughout
the country The Hamil bill provides
for retirement OF civil service employees
after % years service on 40 per cent
pay, and. after five years service, If
/
brought upon themselves. at 80 per cent
pay: all civil service employees 10 re-
tire at 20. 1t is a sort of civil service
pension measure.
Cash Boosted BY Taxes.
Controller Manning's report for May
shows q rise in the tide of cash
finances. April 1st, the city had
S77,S4S.S5 IN cash. which was boosted
TO S113, 3,6O1.2O on May 1. and was re-
tained at Sl13,031.12 on June l. The
total collections FOR April were $S7.-
1855, and the expenditures S5l,
1850. while for May the collections
were S65.14S.27, and the expenditures
S6b.719.45. The bulk Of the S113.-
O3112 on hand is in the new law i'm
provement fund. s45.399.77 and water
rent S24.O41.S7. with ST,0S5.24 in the
general fund and SS,575.64 in the track
separation fund.
The current taxes collected in April
were $50, 600 and in May S3O-NO. other
collections for May aggregated S35,-
1927. The balance in the general
fund was reduced during May from
.S27.2I436 10 S7,0S5.24. nOtwithstand-
ing that S22,093.O3 was added. the
total outgo from that fund being SAL
2s3.77.