New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-15
GAMBLING LAWS AND DENs.

The legislature Of California has recently
passed an anti gambling law, and tbs stated that
in anticipation Gifts action the leading gambling
houses in San Francisco have been closed
How is il. then, that while there the bells are
closed in advance of the law, here they are in
full blast, despite the law so long established
| Are we thus so far behind the Western State in
this as in another important branch of public
morals and police controll
The contrast is perhaps the strongest In the
gaming nuisance, and what renders it more wide
against us is that public gaming in California
has been authorized by law Unto what Daniel
Lord would probably call "vestei business
fright, ~ eva with the existence Of the State,
while here, so far as statute goes, it has always
been stringently condemned.
| There must be some standard reasons for this
| difference, reasons above mere accident or pop
| ular caprice and we who suffer the disgrace
| should expose them.
| 1t cannot be that the moral sentiment of the
| City of New-York is inferior, as motive power
| against crime, to that of California, and es-
pecisly it cannot be that gamblers are higher
in social favor here than there On the con-
| trery, the unanimous expression Of our press for
years has reflected the desire of society to sup
press their trade and mystery, and it is notori-
GUS at the same time that the great mass OF the
community regards the fraternity as the repre-
sentatives of every vice that disfgures and en-
dangers city life.
1t cannot be either that our law is in any way
deft ctive, for it has stood always and indsputa-
! bly upon our statute book, and many conyic-
tons, actuated by speculation or police piqae,
have gone again and again unquestioned to the
record.
Nor can it be that the City which eaiures it
does not employ suffciency Of agents to effect
her wishes and carry out the law. We have a
| thousand men who drill admirably with the ba-
| ton, Mayor who claims to be sincerely DESTROYS
| of re form, and Police Chief wise in experience
| of the evil, who has gained some reputation in
| the suppression Of numerous smaller crimes.
| There must be then some settled disinclination
| to the task OF some unseen obstacle which per-
plexes the vigilance Of the Mayor and defeats
| him in the aim which it is so impor-
portant to society he should carry out.
We do not wish to imagine motives detri-
mental to those on whom we depend for the
| enforcement of the laws, nor to impair by undue
| criticism that respect which in land like ours
| is their only charter and support; but finding
nothing lacking in their powers and the unde-
| Tended evil VIGOROUSLY before their eyes, we
are forced to conclude that it fourshss by their
| consent If this is not fair conclusion let it
| be shown, not by desultory forays and excep-
| tional descents ON the dens of Pat Hearn and
company, but by some general action and sus-
| tanned endeavor. Not by the arrest of two or
three selected victims who may have given un-
explained offense to particular inforIners, but
by systematic effort which shall give earnest
| of a thorough movement We are aware that
| the whole Of an immense reform cannot be ac-
cemplshed in day, but something can be done
in one day and something more followed up the
next. Let the endeayor therefore have some
order and be leveled in turn against the nu-
sance as it exists in certain Streets aud if this
course is advisable let it direct its vigor where
the most opulent perpetrators keep their hells
and where the danger most abounds.
1t is our opinion that there is force enough
distributed throughout the city to suppress all
the gambling bells within it ina single night and
keep them closed for good; but surely there
should be efficiency enough in thousand men
to stihe the infamy out of Broadway alone. The
task seems to be plain and easy, and the means
pursued to correct the mock auction nuisance
suggests the course. A policeman with ban
ner, stationed at each gamblers door, to warn
weak creatures away until proper complaints
could be preferred, would doubtlsssb be as effect.
ual in this case as il was in the former, and the
result would be os much more satisfactory, as the
ruin Of mans hopes and character is greaterthan
any loss he can sustain by the mere purchase Of q
bogus watch. We suggest Broadway, because
an attack upon the powerful aud prominent. gives
earnest of d fixed intention, and because it is in
those gorgeous saloons, where inebriated VIC
tins take the first degrees which result in for
gerry, defalcat.on aud the state Prison. This is
the GROWING evil Of the time and the present
administration will be expected to make Wig
orous effort to suppress it. Some difficulties,
doubtless, lie in the way but no difficulties will
excuse a toleratioo, which renders the city ameu-
sble TO the reproaeh that within i; gambling bells
are one Of the insiutions Of society.
Tie law is perfect, the power Of the admins
traiion ample, the evil notorious, its practisers
unsupported, and the community impatient for
their suppre ssion. If reform is the word, why
do We stop
THE BOLTERs' ADDRESS.