The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-07-13
COUNCIL WILL PROHIBIT
SALE OF FIREWORKS HERE
Instructs Attorney To Draw Orr
dinance-Many Other Cities
Passing Similar Legislation
OTHER COUNCIL AFFAIRS

ny uIduIluOuS dCIlOn Oh the Mayor
and Town Council of Oakland, the city
attorney was instructed to prepare an
ordinance prohibiting the sale or stor-
oge of fireworks in the town of Oak
land, at the regular meeting of that
body on Monday evening.
The immediate passage of the ordi-
nance unanimously as soon as drawn
and presented is considered foregone
conclusion.
In taking this step Council is doing
what large number of other cities of
the nation are doing, Cumberland hav-
ing just this week passed an ordinance
prohibiting the sale of fireworks, in
addition to prohibiting people from
setting them off within the city limits
or one mile beyond the limits.
Oakland already had an ordinance
preventing fireworks from being set
off within the town limits, but as long
as fireworks are sold it is practically
impossible to enforce the law. Mem
bers of Council stated that quite a
number of citizens had protested
against the manner in which the
Fourth of July was celebrated here
this year and asked that the Council
take definite steps to see that it did
not occur again.
Baltimore newspapers made a sur
vey of injuries suffered throughout
Maryland during the holiday period
which showed that many persons were
injured and one person died as a re-
suit. In Pennsylvania, where the law
against fireworks went into effect last
year, satisfactory results were noted
this year.
Legislature Killed Bill
A fireworks bill, introduced in the
legislature at the last session, which
would have prohibited the manufac-
ture and sale of the article in Mary
land, lost by one vote. Senator Clifford
Friend, Garrett county, was one of
those who voted against its passage,
and thereby made their sale legal this
year as usual. Senator Kimble, Allie
gany county, also voted against the
measure.
A news article in a Cumberland
paper a few days ago told of repor-
ter contracting Senator Friend at Acct
dent. Friend declared that "the news
papers are stirring up all this talk. l
haven't changed my mind on that fire.
works bill, but | might favor more
lenient law. l understand they have
such law in Pennsylvania containing
certain liberal leeWays." Informed
that patients in hospitals at Cumber-
land were nearly driven crazy by the
Cumberland demonstration, Senator
Friend observed: eyes, l know. My
wife was in hospital down there one
July a; l complained about the noise
and tried to do something about it."
Another Ordinance Request
Council also requested that another
ordinance be drawn which would limit
the speed of trains through the town
to twenty miles an hour.
The fireworks ordinance would also
contain a clause prohibiting the sale of
ammunition of all characters to chill
dren under sixteen years Of age.
Rudy Resigns
Irwin R. Rudy, Council president, re-
signed as a member of the body. He
was recently appointed acting post
master and hence under the Federal
law, is prohibited from holding any
other civic office. No successor has
been named for the vacancy made by
Council which is empowered to fill the
vacancy thus caused. Delbert Davis
was elected president of Council N
place of Mr. Rudy.
An order was passed directing that
Third street, Green to Center street,
be curbed and that a new sidewalk be
built on the west side Of the block thus
improved.
The County Commissioners were
given permission to use the town roll
Ter on several roads in this community.
Bills amounting to $2,705.60 were
ordered paid. This amount includes the
payment of an electric light bond of
81 900; coupons of $500, and $134.61 as
balance due on the band appropriation
for last year.
The town was in receipt of a check
for 81 500 from the West Maryland
Power Company, covering payment Of
an electric bond and coupons.
Arthur Lawton, clerk-collector, in
formed Council that collections during
the month of June amounted to 1924.