Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-25
FIREARMS BILL
LOST in HOUSE
Measure Requiring Permit
to Buy Rcvolvers. Etc.
Defeated lO4 to 70
RURAL MEMBERS DID 1T
License Fee of 81 and Leaving
Of Homes Unprotected
Among Objections
RURAL MEMBERS DID IT

HarrisburE. Feb. c5--Country mem-
hers Of the House defeated dccisivoly
the Neary bin 10 require purchasers
NJ and persons having I'm their posses
sion small firearms ia Obtain n permit
from tho sheriff Of the county in which
they reside
The rural members took violent OK
ception 20 the clause IN tho bill which
requires an annual license foe OF one
dollar A similar fate is predicted for
tho DaiN Senate bill which would re-
Guire permit from tho police author
tiles.
Phlladelphia's present crimes w"r"
given az arnpio reasons why the hill
should he PASSED when the measure was
called IN for final action by Bepreson-
tative Daniel j. Ncary, last night. Rep
rcsentativc Baldrdgo. Of Allegheny.
opened the attack on tho bill
Mr.. Baldrldgc declared tine viii was
put I'm under the E,usc Of dNpriviug
crooks and criminals from having wcap-
ons, but would make rrcry decent cjti-
zen who failed IN get a ljrousr q Grim
inai" Baldridgc spoke fccliuEly or m"
people who would have to part with
hctrloOms In tho way ut old weapons.
Residents Demanded Law
Representative Wells. Of Philadelphia,
said tho bill was drafted after a con
ference with the district attorney and
other prominent cltiZcns Of that city
and declared the residents of Philadcl-
phia had demanded the enaction Of such
legislation "to protect them from the
reign of terror sweeping over the city
"Citizens OF Philadelphia" Wells eN-
claimed. ''are being held up nightly on
tho highways and byways. and beaten
and robbed. The police arc working
overtime TO halt these outragcS but
they are unable to cope with the situ-
alton because OF the lack of sufficient
men"
Representative Showalter, Of Union
opposed the bill because conditions did
not exist in the rural districts similar
to those IN Philadelphia.
:, Representative Sewers the only Phila.
delphian to speak against the bill said
il was "a vicious measure because II
did not permit q citizen to have a re.
volver in his home If that clause were
eliminated he said, he would vote FOL
the bill.
Representative Bennett. Philadelphia
said the bill was designed especially &c
prevent irresponsible boys from buy
ing a revolver at a pawnshop and un-
intentionally staying a playmate
I'VE owe it to siciety." Bennett dc,
Clared, ito put teeth into the law Il
clean UP this wholesale possession OF
firearms by irresponsible people. 4 CUR
gives no protection from a hold-up mar
when he already has you covered
Mr.. Bennett dwelt particularly on the
number of youths slain accidentally by
revolvers in the hands of companions
He declared that "a law like this would
have prevented the recent shooting OF
Ave citizens in one day in Philadelphia
by a demented man
Objects to Amendment
Representative Walker. Philadelphia
made a stirring plea for the passage o
the bill. Before the vote was put Mr.
Sewers asked unanimous consent 4
amend the bill, but Mr.. Neary objected
Representative Showalter. of unlon
interrogated Mr. Bennett and asked VIII
a citizen who took out license wa
required to go and have it renewed Il
the end OF the year.
tBecause II he were rounu 70 be UNI
to have a gun in his possession i'm tina
time, the license would be icvoher wa
the reply of Mr. Bennett, The vote %
the bill was 76 for and lo4 against.
After the vote Lieutenant Benjamin 7
Colder. who represents PhlladeiphI
district, TOOK tne uOoF Oh pei eISOl''' ~ ~
iIege." and defended the name Of Phili
delphia. Lieutenant Colder said he re-
sented the sneers cast at the Guy .
members who sat near HIM both IN
Ware and PenrOse delegations froi
PhiIadelphia voted almost soltdly tC
the passage of the bill.
Following the action on The Near
hill. rural members defeated hill d'
signed for their own protection. III
measure introduced by Mr., Davis
Cambria. would have required all cou'
ties in the state TO employ one or mot
county detectives.