The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-11-15
MUST HAVE A LICENSE.
TO HANDLE EXPLOSIVES
A NEW FEDERAL LAW WHICH
WILL BE RlGIDLY
ENFORCED.

Any person in the United States
found with explosives in his possession
after November IS, and who does not
have license issued by the federal
government showing the purpose for
what the explosives are to be used,
will be at once arrested and fined up
to $4,000 or sent to prison for one year,
II the circumstances warrant, the per-
son may be fined $4,000 and in addition
given the one year in prison
This is the principal clause in
war measure passed by the last con-
gress which is now being put into eff
feet by the bureau of mines, depart
ment of the interior, which bureau has
been charged with it's enforcement.
Francis S. Peabody, of Chicago,
well known coal operator familiar with
the use OF explosives, large amounts
of which are used in the coal mining
industry, has been appointed by Sec
rotary of the Interior Lane to act as
assistant to the director of the bureau
forcement of the law. Under the law,
! the director is empowered to utilize
the services of all United States off,
GERS and all police officers of the states
including the city police forces, coun-
/ y sheriffs, deputies, constables and
all officers in any way charged with
police duties. The police of the cities
| have already been organized for this
work, headed by committee of chiefs
of police in big cities, of which Major
R. w. Pullman, superintendent of po-
lice of Washington, d. c., is chairman.
The police are not only to look after
the enforcement of the law, but are
also to make thorough Investigations
of all dynamite outrages and fires in
factories and warehouses, and to make
their reports to the director of the bu-
reau of mines.
Severe Penalties.
Persons apprehended in plots to blow
up factories and bridges will be turn
ed over to the authorities for prosecu-
ton under federal or state laws Most
states have specially severe punish
ments for these crimes. New York
has an extreme penalty of twenty five
years Imprisonment for the placing OF
dynamite with intent to blow up pro-
perty. The penalty provided in this
federal war measure is merely to COW
er the illegal possession of explosives
The law provides that everyone who
handles explosives must have Ii
cense. The manufacturer, the import
Ell and the exporter must have licenses
issued by the bureau of mines II
Washington. The seller of explosives
and the purchaser of explosives must
also have licenses these to be ISSUED
generally by county clerks, or other
local officers who are authorized tC
; administer oaths. There will be al
least one licensing officer in each
/, county, and more agents will be desig.
! mated if the county is sufficiently large
to warrant it. If state has laws pro.
viding for system of licensing per
sons manufacturing, storing, selling OF
using explosives, the state officials au.
thorized to issue such state licenses
shall be designated as federal licensing
agents; also city officials qualified t
Issue city explosive licenses will b,
given authority to issue federal H.
; censes. A federal license will not re-
lieve any person from securing H.
censes required under state laws ant
local ordinances.
Special State Inspectors.
r In each state there will be appoint
3 ed a state explosives inspector, WHIT
will represent the bureau of mines il
, the administration of the law within
Z the state.
, Only citizens of the United State.
: or of countries friendly to the United
States and the allies may so obtain H.
censes.
[ Contractors, mining companies
) quarrymen and others using large
quantities of explosives, which are
, handled by employees, may issue ex,
, plosives to their employees only through
those employees holding a license. call.
ed a foremans license.
The purchaser of dynamite. in oh.
tanning license, must state definitely
what the explosive is to be used fol
and will be held responsible for it's use
as stated and the return of any ex-
plosives that may be left.
With the strict enforcement of this
law, the federal authorities hope tc
prevent explosives falling into the
hands of evilly- disposed persons and
to put stop to all further dynamite
plots