Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-01-31

IA " vi -
The bill reminded him very much Of the
old "Blue Laws" Of Connecticut, and he
was opposed to it. he believed every
person, who had been endowed by God
Almighty with reasoning faculties, capa-
BILE of judging whether it was policy to
get IN interest in lottery schemes.
A CALL OF THE HoUsE
Was had during the absence of the Storey
county delegation, which was doing COM
mittee duty on the amendments proposed
to the Virginia City Charter. and more
than half of the House were arrested and
excused for absence under it.
After a suspension of the call, the House
proceeded with the pending question, the
motion Of Mr.. Glover to strike out the
enacting clause Of the bill to prohibit lot
teries.
Mr.. Glover continued to oppose the bill.
He thought this House was not par x
c~ellence the intelligence Of the State, and
believed in letting the intelligence of the
people of Nevada govern them in their
disposition towards lotteries, whether
given for benevolent or other purposes.
[Mr. James, Speaker pro tenn, in the
chair.l
Mr.. Banks came here to perform his
duty Us a legislator. lie had sworn to
support the Constitution, and it prohib-
tied the federation Of lotteries. For the
purpose of carrying out that provision he
had introduced this bill. The opposition
of Mr.. Glover to this bill was probably
based upon the fact that that gentleman
had not read up the Constitution. He
consclentiously intended to carry out its
provisions so far as he was concerned.
He questioned the knowledge of any man
of other States laws. also his statesman
ship who opposed this law. Other States
had passed similar laws. lie said that
religious and benevolent societies had
been controlled by the errors of the times,
and although recognizing them, they al
ways endeavored to excuse or palliate the
error. A law similar TO this n had
passed through the California Legislature,
throughh his fundamentally, notwithstand-
ing the opposition of Ben. Wood of New
York and his moneyed associates, and it
had operated well in that State.
Mr.. Cutter said that, unlike the MEM
bers Of California, he dared to do right.
He believed in no legislation to correct
public morals it was for public opinion
to right the wrong in this respect. In all
of the New England States all church So
cieties held fairs, at which there were grab.
bags, postofices and ra files and other little
swindles, by which they managed to gouge
money out Of the ungodly for the benefit
of their society. lie was in toto opposed
to the bill.
MIR. Williams said that MI. Banks had
justified his introduction of the bill MS an
attempt TO fulfill the provisions of the Con-
stitution. He believed SO. He said that
it wa necessary that the bill should pass
in order that the provision alluded to
might be carried out. He argued against
the evils arising in communities from the
prevalence Of lotteries. This bill did not,
in effect. propose to affect the innocent
games Of chance INDUCED in by societies
for benevolent uses. This bill, prohibit
ing lotteries and Furnishing the crime, was
Just as necessary as n law against stealing
was.
Mr.. Elliott heartily favored the bill, and
endorsed Mr.. Banks remarks.
Mr.. Gutter was opposed to all SUMMARY
laws, and particularly this bill which pro-
posed to prohibit a very small vice, and
did not prohibit the larger ones, such as
stock and faro gambling. whisky dealing,
etc. Il was useless to pass a law to pre-
vent the vices of n people, for the reason
that such laws have never been enforced,
and to prove it he cited Maine, which had
turned out more young drunkards under
the anti-liquor law than ever before. for
the reason, that the young men thought it
always smart to slip in tho back door for
liquor. There was Massachusetts, which
had u stringent a~nti-gambling law, and
to-day there are at least 1000 hogging faro
games going in direct violation of the pro-
hibitory law.
The motion to strike out the c~nacting
clause was lost.
Mr.. Cutter offered the following amend
ment in the shape Of n new section, viz A.:
SEC. 2S. The provisions OF this Act shall
be considered to apply to gambling in mining
stocks, and the sale Of worthless claims in
brokers' boards within this State. Ruled
out.
Mr.. Cutter moved to amend the bill by
adding an additional section to read The
provisions Of this law shall not apply to
church lotteries and gambling"
Mr.. Cutter said that he wanted this amend
ment adopted and then he would join the
church.
Mr.. Banks said that he was satisfied that
members Of the churches actually desired no
such cxemption-if the church members Of
Storey county did or would not feel insulted
BY the exemption, he would not oppose it.
Mr.. Cutter said he had offered the amend
ment for the purpose Of easing up the con-
scientious scruplcs Of churchmcn who might
not like to violate the law.
Mr.. Grey said that he hoped this amend
mcnt would not be treated with lcvity. 1t
was a matter Of no uncomfortable import
ancc, for the reason that it would deprive
them OF an annual revenue OF about $4,000,
derived from the games prohibited in the bill.
Incidentally he remarked that the receipts OF
Fairs had been remarkably increased through
the dispensing Of brandy and wine punches.
Mr.. Glover endorsed the remarks Of Cutter
and Grey.
Mr.. Clemens offered an amendment cx-
empting Mcssrs. Cutter and Glover from the
provisions of the bill. Ruled out.
Mr.. Hayden offered an amendment to cx-
empt the churches in Storey county. Ruled
out.
Mr.. Cutter moved to amend so as to strike
out all that authorized the giving Of a bonus
or part OF the fine to be collected for II viola
ton OF the law. Lost.