The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-11-12
MUST HAVE LICENSE
TO HOLD EXPLOSIVE
Possession Without License Will Make
the Person Liable to a Fine of
$1,000, or One Years I'm
nrjS0umaut
prisonment

Washington, D. c., Nov l2-Any per
son found with explosives in his posses
sion after Nov. 10 without license is
| sued by the federal government showing
the purpose for which the explosives are
to be used will be liable to arrest and
fine of 5000, or one years imprison-
ment
Under the law, the director of mines
is empowered to utilize the services of
all United States officers and all police
officers of the states, including the city
police forces, county sheritfs, 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 a committee of
chiefs. 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 fac
tories and warehouses, and to make their
reports to the director of the bureau of
mines.
Persons apprehended in plots to blow
up factories and bridges will be turned
over to the authorities for prosecution
under federal or state laws. Most states
have specially severe punishments for
these crimes. New York has an extreme
penalty of % years imprisonment for
the placing of dynamite with intent to
blow up property. The .enalty provided
in the federal war measure is merely to
cover the illegal possession of explosives.
The law provides that everyone who
handles explosives must have license
issued by the bureau of mines in Wash
ington. The seller of explosives and the
purchaser of explosives must have IL
censes, issued generally by county clerks
or other local officers authorized to adj
minister oaths There will be at least
one licensing officer in each county. and
more agents will be designated if the
county is sufficiently large to warrant it.
If a state has laws providing for a sys-
TEN of licensing persons manufacturing,
storing, selling or using explosives, the
state officials authorized to issue such !
state licenses shall be designated as fed |
eral licensing agents; also city officials |
qualified to issue city explosives licenses
will be given authority to issue federal |
licenses. A federal license will not re-
lieve any person from securing licenses l
required under state laws and local ordi- /
nances. Only citizens of the United /
States or of countries friendly TO the 1
United States and the allies may obtain
licenses
Contractors, mining companies, quarry
men and others using large quantities of
explosives, which are handled by EN-
ployes, may issue explosives to their EN-
Dloyes only through those employees hold
ing license, called a foreman's license.
The purchaser of dynamite, in obtain.
ng a license. must state definitely what
he explosive is TO be used for and will
be held accountable for its use as stated
and the return Of any explosives that
nav be left.
With the strict enforcement of this
aw. the federal authorities hope TO pre-
,ent explosives falling into the hands of
willy disposed persons and to put a stop
o all further dynamite plots.