The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-17
THE FARO PLAYERS
A Rotten Ring in COneress-True Inward
ness of the Late Police Investigation.

A Rotten Ring in C0ngress-True Inward
ness of the Late Police Investigation.
Washington Special Atlanta Constitution.
The following story is going the rounds here,
and is creating considerable comment: There is
a club in Washington, composed of four Senators
Three southwestern and the other
comes from section of the country not a hun
dred miles from this city. In addition to the
Senators there are sixty one members of Con-
gress and about twenty more of the common
herd. The latter are mostly ex-members, and
those who are wealthy and have sporting incli-
nations. The club plays faro exclusively
They have for dealer young man who has
been at the business for q number of years. He
is also interested in the pool selling business
here, and when Congress is not in session spends
most of his time in pool room not far from
Wizards Hotel. The mem ers of the club
thought they would avert suspicion by changing
the base OF proceedings six times a week and
now they have their game one night at the cor
of Sixth street and Pennsylvania avenue and
the next night at the Corcoran building and
on at different places every night. To defray
the expenses they each contribute a sum rang
ing all the way from SIS to 800 per month.
This amounts to considerable, even after paying
the rents of the several rooms The surplus is
expended in choice liquors and cigars, which
given gratis to the members. The dealer of the
game has. by some mysterious influence, been
appointed to sinecure on House committee,
to which, by the way, the interests of Maine are
closely connected. The chairman is q promi-
nent member of the club. The nobby pensioner
of the sinecure draws Sc per day as modest
salary. The most startling part of the whole
affair is that there about four prominent
pool sellers in Washington, and last session
bill was introduced in the House of Representa-
tives for the prohibition Of all manner of betting
on horse racing. such pool selling, book
making, etc. 1t was obvious that the bill
would have to be choked off in the Senate.
So the pool men made up a sum of So, 700, to be
divided among the four Senators who could pig
con hole the bill. OF course the job was given
to the four members of the club. They took a
retainer of goodly size, and succeeded in killing
off the bill, much to the qualification of their
clients, who believed their business was serious
ly endangered. The bill died an unnatural
death, and has never been called up, and prob
ably will not be until next session This prob
ably is the most crooked piece Of work that has
been perpetrated at this capital for many a day
From certain existing circumstances it can be
surmised that the real instgators of the order to
shadow Congressman 30 as to blackmail them
knew of this club and what is more have been
guests at its seances. 1t is not at all improbable
that the club was in the minds of those who or
ganZed the scheme to compel Congress to vote
a large appropriation for the extension of Mass
achusetts avenue. Had this club been raided it
may be safely stated that the ring could have
secured enough votes to carry their point
When this matter is as clearly ventilated as was
the police unpleasantness, then look out
Watch the sparks ayl