Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-24
FAVORS FIREWORKS
ON FOURTH OF JULY
James II. Hughes, Jr.. Opposes
Passage by Council OF Ordi-
nance Prohibiting.

A ban on the use of fireworks was
strongly opposed last night by LANES II.
Hughes, Jr., when he presented facts to
City Council showing that the danger from
fireworks was greatly exaggerated. lie
appeared as representing the Victory
Sparkler Company of Elktor, Md, which
it is said, employs Wilmington people.
He questioned whether or not Courcll
should enact a drastic antl-fireworks
ordinance and "Puritanize the Fourth OF
July celebration
Last year the Chamber of Commerce
asked Council to pass an ordinance prohib-
iting the use of sparklers as "a dangerous
pastme for the young folks on lndepend-
encc Day. The city fathers at that time
refused to pass such an ordinance, on the
ground that many dealers throughout the
city had already laid in their stock oi fire
works, anticipating this objection thus
year, Chamber of Commerce recently
reiterated its request, and III addition
asked that the sale and use of fireworks
of any description be prohibited except
in public demonstrations under the Iurls-
diction of the city authorities,
The ordinance presented to City Coun-
Gil was arranged and drafted hy the
Chamber of Commerce. If enacted and
Fourth of July look like n Quaker meeting
A penalty of a fine of SO for each offenee,
and provision forbidding their manu-
facture and sale under penalty OF Sl00
were set out in the ordinance. In fact the
provisions of the proposed ordinance are
SO drastic that they include every thing
except safety matches and cigarette
lighters.
Mr. Hughes, after hearing the tentative
draft. said at is 10 doubt designated
to eliminate fireworks entirely IN VIII
mipgton on the Fourth of July and other
public holidays The last thing ! would
want to do would be to oppose any mea-
sure which had for its purpose the pro
lection of the children But the manu-
facturers maintain that fireworks, prop
erlvused. are not any more dangerous than
other sports engaged in at that season of
year such as baseball, soccer, canoeln6
| and swimming Naturally there are more
accidents on the Fourth thar any other
day, hut there are more accidents from
| indulgence in sport than from fireworks
is that not the responsibility OF the
parents?" he asked. MIR Hughes intl-
mated that perhaps we have gone too
far in patenalism. and that the city
would make mistake If II usurped
rights properly in the sphere of the pa
rents of children who used fireworks.
The argument that the use Of fireworks
creates dangerous fire hazard was rldi-
| culcd by Mr. Hughes Last year, he
said. there was one fire in Wilmington
and the loss was ouly s25, The year be-
fore there were two fires and losses Of S25
and $50. The risk from fire, he main
tanned, is practically ineligible. The wei
fare Of the child. Mr. Hughes said is
the only issue. We are depuving the
child Of something il wants. If properly
used there is no danger 1t seems to me, II
there should be any limitation, IT should
he that no fire works should bc sold 70
children under a certain age. and pass
/ the responsibility to the parent The child
has right to certain amuSements and 70
4 certain little extravagarCes. This ordl-
nance would mean the closing up OF the
Fourth Of July as we have known it.
Following Mr. Hughes argument,
/ Councilman Mearns said: II think that
/ if this ordinance IS passed, We should
| arrange a new ordinance prohibiting
swimming. baseball and other dangerous
sports on independence Day
! Consideration Of the proposed ordinance
was postponed for one week.