The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-06-02
As the status of the gambling act has been in ~


As the status of the gambling act has been in ~,
siderable doubt, owing to the legerdemain stva Il
legislation habitual under the Warmoth reo;ms -.
give the following from the New Orleans Times Of Ii.
21st May:
The extraordinary spectacle St. Charles and aon.
other OF our principal streets have presented durns
the past season, where many of the stores have bs
converted into maisos de ieu, and where faro MONT
and rouge ct nor were and are the only pursuits fol-
lowed with much earnestness, seems about to be n,a
maturely cut short The skies of the fortune seeks
are overcast and threaten to go into disastron
eclipse; and move is on foot which will soon
cause them, like other Adventures to mediate over
the changes which come over human affairs
To state the point plainly, Governor Warmoth An.
nounces that in his belief the gambling act which has
thus far added little to the of the State !,
unconstitutional As it is fair to suppose he will soon
act upon this belief his history of the Legislation upon
this subject is worthy attention.
Some time during the session a bill was introduced
(said to be drawn by Auditor Wickffe) in which ora
visions were made for the licensing of gambling houses
and also OF houses of prostitution. Had this bill
passed. it is reasonable to suppose that the strumpet
ocracy of the city would not have been contented tn
remain upon the back streets, Custom House and RI,
sin dwellings would have taken the Jump forward and
tief residents would have perhaps made themselves
known on Prytania Or Esplanade streets or what
more likely, would have boldly commended with the
gambling houses for good business situations upon
Canal or st. Charles
This bill gave Mr.. Wicklife the power of appoint.
ing the assessors and tax collectors and had it passed
the brothes of the city would have been as completely
under his control the Suans harem is under that
OF bis chief eunuch. The manuscript bill, however
upon being referred to the Finance Committee. had
all three OF the above named important features
scratched out Mr.. McMillen of Carroll Chairman of
the Committee himself made this statement to Gov.
Warmoth.
The revenue bill subsequently, about the time Of
the adjournment of the Legislature was rushed through
both Houses without being read. The gambling and
the prostitution clauses had both been stricken out as
already stated Nevertheless, after it had passed both
Houses it was discovered that the gambling provision
had, as if written with sympathetic ink, suddenly re.
appeared. In point of fact the gambling clause was
by interning (as Gov Warmoth contendsl
after the passage of the through both Houses and
in his opinion amounted to but little
more than forgery He signed it simply because it
was the act upon which depended the collection of the
revenues of the State
The act, be further contends was unconstitutional
because the title did not properly describe its contents
and as no positive repeal of the prahbitory gambling
acts was passed. the power is still left him Of closing
he gambling houses under these enactments
To ascertain whether his Interpretation of the law
bearing upon this is we'll founded Gov War.
moth has addressed communication to the Attorney
General, and in the views of the latter conform
his own, land possibly otherwise), he will at once
rider the gambling houses to be closed
Some people might infer from this expose that the
INGENIOUS and unsuspecting boy had been cajoled
'erhaps, still we would go money, if we had any,
hat he quits the game winner, whether come sngeO,
ouble 0 or eagle bird.