"under the guise of depriving crooks and criminals from having weapons, but would make every decent citizen who failed to get a license a criminal."

FIREARMS BILL
LOST IN HOUSE

Measure Requiring Permit
to Buy Revolvers, Etc.
Defeated 104 to 76

License Fee of $1 and Leaving
of Homes Unprotected
Among Objections

By a Staff Correspondent

   Harrisburg, Feb. 25.--Country members of the House defeated decisively the Neary bill to require purchasers of and persons having in their possession small firearms to obtain a permit from the sheriff of the county in which they reside.

   The rural members took violent exception to the clause in the bill which requires an annual license fee of one dollar. A similar fate is predicted for the Daix Senate bill which would require a permit fro the police authorities.

   Philadelphia's present crimes were given as ample reasons why the bill should be passed when the measure was called up for final action by Representative Daniel J. Neary, last night. Representative Baldridge, of Allegheny opened the attack on the bill.

   Mr. Baldridge declared the bill was "put in under the guise of depriving crooks and criminals from having weapons, but would make every decent citizen who failed to get a license a criminal." Baldridge spoke feelingly of the people who would have to part with heirlooms in the way of old weapons.

[Evening Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Tuesday, February 25, 1919. Vol. V.--No. 140 Pg. 2]