Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-01-18
ruE GAxsrlNa QUESTION.

Two bills are now before the Legisla-
turs on the subject Of gambling. Ths
object Of M il to prohibit the evil alto
gsthsr. BY impssing heavy penalties,
not only upon the men who prosecute
the business. but upon those who risk
their money upon the trsachsrous paste.
boards. The other aims simply to still
further restrain its too public prosecu-
ton. by forcing the perpetrators Of games
10 love from the street floor, and carry
on their business above the first story
Of the building occupied. thus in q
measure guarding the stranger and the
simplston from being lured into the
game by the flashing Of lights, and the
fascinating music OF the chips. Both
these bills are In the hands Of the Com.
mittss on Public Morals. and will prob
ably Be reported on for action by the
two houses o
The fact 10. gambling Is QUE OF those
evils which must he borne because they
cannot ~ sradicated. Prohibition has
been tried for years. and has missrably
failed. Il has been tried in California;
il has been tried in New York; and the
only result has been TO add to the wealth
Of the professional gambler. by giving
TO him the money which he should be
made to pay to tho State in licenses.
There are as many faro banks in New
York aad California to-day as there were
before the prohibition laws were passed.,
and the only additional inco nvenisnce
70 their patrons IL. that they are obliged
to knock at the door. instead III simply
turning the handle. a. form rly. In
short, the principal result OF nuch laws
has been. gain to the gambler, loss to
the State Treasury. and No apprsciable
good TO the cause OF public morals.
Our gambling law is very stringent.
Is 1t should be. and its strins'sn can
Be prontably added to by n increased
amount Of license and by tho passage
Of the proposed bill providing that no
gams shall be carried on on thu ground
or frat floor OF q building. The en-
iorcemsnt OF such an ordinance would
prevent our boys from getting even a
glimpse Of the camo.in which they are
already forbidden by law to take part.
But at this time. when we sorely need
money in the State Treasury. TO cut of
this sourcs Of revenue, by attempt
ing 10 le~sislats out Of existence that
which will continue 10 exist in spite Of
US. seems not merely unwise. but fool.
ish and impolitic.
Following is the text Of the proposed
bill:
The people Of tho State Of Nevada. rep
resented in Senate and Assembly, do
enact as follows:
CLCIlbN is ctttAou univ W ~ y Y W
which this Act 10 amendatory. Is hereby
amended 10 - 10 read a. follows Section
Three-Ssctioa ssven Of said Act is hereby
amended 90 a. 10 read ~ follow 8 Sec.
ton seven-Nene Of tho above risRtionei
games shall be carried on. nor shall any
license issue 10 carry ON the same. in any
room Of the first or ground fi,'or OF any
building ; aud II any person or persons
carrying on any " said games shall know
ingly permit to enter or rcma.n In any
licensed room any person under the age OF
t~wenty-sse years, be shall be deemed gull
~ Of q misdsmeanor. and shall be pun
ished by the same penalties as are pre-
scribcd In section a OF this Act for vio-
lAtion Of its provisions"
sEc. 2. All Acts and parts at Acts In
conflict with the provisions Of this Act are
hereby repealed.
sEc. D. This Act shall take eli, ct and he
In force On and after the tenth day of
April. eighteen hundred and seventy
seven.