Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-30

days meeting. II broke my heart 10
see them. but to use them in way
they were used was a disgrace to the
community. Why be carried away by
emotion? Let us do this thing in the
right way and get the right laws al
| Harrisburg?'
Limeburner QuiZzes Cortelyou
Councilman Limcburner was the next
| speaker. He intcrrogated Director Cor
telyou regarding letters sent out by the
fire marshal's office and the Bureau oi
Police last January, informing dealers
what fireworks could be sold.
| Mr.. Limeburner---"You sent out an
other order about three weeks ago,
did you not. Mr.. Director, forbiddine
the sale of sparklersp'
Mr.. Cortelyou-"The matter was
brought about by the death Of a little
girl, due to n sparkler. | don't know
of any more dangerous piece OF fre-
works than sparklers. While l know
that great many citizens have bought
! fireworks and have made preparations
I to set them off at sectional celebra :
tions on July 3. | would strongly urge
legislation against the sparklers.
Councilman Bimeburner then moved
! to strike out everything in the ordinance
except the portion dealing with spar
klers. This motion was quickly sec
onded by George Connel.
Walter Calls Proposal Unfair
Councilman Walter. speaking on the
motion, took the stand that any legis-
lation that would discriminate against
the sparkler and permit other forms oi
fireworks would be unfair.
I'VE are allowing ourselves to be
stampeded into a foolish position, he
said "If you do this you leave cannon
| crackers. fire crackers and other fire
works free to be purchased and used
! Children were killed by fireworks before
we had sparklers. and l believe that
cannon crackers are more dangerous
than the sparklers. We should, how
ever. make some provision for people
who have prepared fireworks displays
under competent supervision in the
various sections. I would have intro
duced such an amendment to Mr.. Gaff
ney's ordinance had | not heard the
idea espoused by other members. Let
us be reasonable. and not curry favor
with those who are interested in ordt'
nary fireworks
Councilman Won Tagcn made a plea
for the abolition Of the sparkler. anc
urged the members to support thu
Limeburner motion. which would per
nit the general use Of all sorts Of fire
works except sparklers.
For Ban on Sparklers
I'm in favor of doing away with thu
sparklers," said Won Tagen. He sale
that he was in favor of the scctiona
celebrations of the Fourth of July
which he said had operated materially
to cut down the death rate Throughout
the country. I'm going to vot'
against the sparkler," he said. 'Th'
modern thought is to have sectiona
celebrations, where the father ant
mother and children may view will
: safety a fireworks display"
Councilman Roper reviewed recen
legislation and rulings on the use o
sparklers and fireworks. He spok
especially in condemnation of sparklers
: THE mortality from sparklers may b
small. 1t may be as low as per cent
But when a child is dead, it is 100 pc
; cent dead.
Connell, the seconder Of Limeburn
cr's notion arose after the question ha
g been debated and withdrew his second
ing OF the motion. Won Tagen the
arose and moved to strike out every
, thing in section one Of the ordinanc
? that would make it a nuisance Ito have
sell or expose for sale. either at whole
sale or at retail. or use, ignite or bur
, fireworks of any character or descrip
/ ton" With these portions stricken OH
{ the ordinance would prohibit only tn
sale and use Of sparklers.
Had Investigated Deaths
Mr.. Burch then asked Director Cor
| A-l. Il. L. kal .., tAI
:, deaths reported to have been caused
d sparklers, to see il they really wei
from this cause. Mr.. Cortelyou replie
in the affirmative.
: The director. in reply to questio
from Roper, said that the state OF Ne
Jersey had banned the sparkler by Law
: Mr.. Burch then asked whether any cit
: had banned fireworks in general. i
u replied that this had been done.
Mr.. Hall asked the director wheth'
the sparklpr was the most dangero,
= of all forms of fireworks. Mr.. Corte
8 you said it was.
! Mr.. Roper went to a position
front of the clerks desk with spark,
y in his hand, struck a match and lit |
Cortelyou. standing by his side with
piece Of paper in his hand, touched Il
= paper to the fire Of the sparkler ar
= Immediately the paper blazed up. NJ
q Hall yelled: Why, you're putting Il
g paper to the rod. Why do you go
extremes" During the excitemel
Limehurner rushed up to join in Il
"a demonstration and there was some III
q tie confusion.
d? Ordered to Take Seats
;, when was interrupted" Ha
= broke in.
l. "Gentcmcn, please take your seats
ordered the president. Hall continue
to question Cortelyou about the acts
Legislature already applying TO fir
il works, especially the law forbiddil
q children to buy fireworks.
ia Mr.. Hall said that the hospital lis
last year showed that there were tv
- or three hundred persons injured
- fireworks, and asked Mr.. Cortely'
!. what proportion vert hurt by sparkler
r Mr.. Cortelyou said his investigation d
A. not show that
n "I'N tell YOU" said Hall. The
ot were 295 hurt by fireworks in genera
,d out Of total of 300 hurt.
20 Won Tagen jumped up and demand
I the authority on which Hall based ]
n statement. Mr.. Hall said the lii
n showed the figures he had given.
Buchholz Against Sparkler
~ Councilman Buchholz who was f.
al lower NJ the late Senator Martin, a
81 who. since the senator's death, has be
-, siding with the administration. arc
." to make n suggestion that the ban
=. fireworks be limited to sparklers.
- As Mr.. BuchholZ's vote would be !
,,o Quircd by the administration to make
..,..l