Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-20
POOL SELLING SHUT OUT.
THE CITY PASSES AN ORDI-
NANCE PROHIBITING IT.

u
NANCE PROHIBITING 1T.
Selling Base Ball Combinations
Made ap Onense Punishable by
Fine and imprisonment - Some
Doubt Whether the Ordinance is
Legal-How the Aldermen Voted
A Lively Discussion in Council.
The City Council spent a good deal Of
last nights session in discussing Alder
man Myers ordinance against pool sell
| ing on base ball. The ordinance was in
/ troduced at the last meeting OF Council,
and was laid over under the rules. 1t re-
! quired every person who sells pools or COM
binatIons on base ball games to pay 5000
license. The penalty provided was fine
OF not less than $50 or more than 800, or
not less than 10 days or more than 30 days
Imprisonment for every day the ordinance
is violated. When it came up last night,
Alderman Thomas moved to amend by
making the penalty for violation 500 or
30 days Imprisonment, which is the Sc
verest penalty that can be attached TO the
ofense. After some discussion the
amendment was adopted.
THE LEGALITY OF THE MEASURE.
Alderman 0ConnOr asked the opinion
Of the Corporation Attorney as TO the le
gality of the ordinance. The Attorney
stated that there is no State law against
pool selling, and the question might arise
whether the city has any legal right TO
authorize the business by imposing tax
upon it. He did not consider thaU the
city has any right to exceed the prOvi-
sions OF it's charter in licensing any bust
ness. There is a question, he SAID,
whether the Supreme Court would sus-
tain such law. He was not prepared to
give positive opinion whether the ordl-
nance would be sustained or not.
Alderman Wells thought the city has
no right TO license a gambling house of
any kind, and if it has the right be did not
believe it policy TO exercise it.
DISSEMINATING AGAINST BASE BALL.
Alderman Nichols objected to the ordi-
nance ON the ground that it singles out
base ball, without including boat racing,
horse racing and other sports upon which
pools are sold and betting is done in the
same manner.
Alderman Myers took the ground that
the base ball combination business is a
nuisance, and that it ought TO be done
away with at once. He urged the pass
| age OF the ordinance. Something was
! said about high license, and Alderman
Myers remarked that he was willing to
| vote for prohibitOry ordinance ii it was
! thought best to substitute a prohibitOry
| clause for the high license clause. What
! he wanted was TO do away with pool sell
ing first and last.
Some discussion followed as to the best
means to accomplish this. Alderman
| Thomas suggested that the ordinance
offered by Alderman Myers be Withdrawn
and that new ordinance prohibiting
pool selling altogether be submitted.
This, it was afterwards discovered, would
cause delay of two weeks, as the Ordi-
nance would require a second reading,
and it was pretty evident that unanimous
| consent would not be gwen for second
reading last night.
PROHIBITED UNDER A PENALTY.
Half dozen or more amendments were
offered by as many different members of
the Council The general idea was TO
make the ordinance prOhibitory.
Alderman Myers finally fathered an
amendment suggested by some one OF the
board making 1t prohibitOry so far as
base ball is concerned, and atfiXing the
| penalty prescribed In the amendment al
ready passed-$l00 or 80 days ImprisOn-
ment. The amendment was carried by a
vote of to-.
Alderman Duncan did not think the
| Council had any right, in justice, TO pro-
ton bucket shops and speculation on fu-
| lures in cotton and stocks.
Alderman Thomas said that the CITY
had already licensed the bucket shops and
they had paid the license fixed on the
| business.
ABOUT OTHER FORMS OF GAMBLING.
Alderman Duncan replied that on that
very ground he was opposed 10 an ordi-
nance against pool selling on base ball.
In one instance the city licensed gambling
and in another 1t seeks to prohibit it. lie
tailed TO see any justice in the measure.
The ordinance was finally passed by a
vote OF ! to >. AS the matter now stands
the selling Of pools on base ball is prohib-
tied under a penalty of 500 fine or 80 days
Imprisonment. or both, for each offense
The question was pretty thoroughly de-
hated in the committee before vote was
reached. The equity OF the ordinance
was questioned, as well as It's legality.
THE BULL STREET PAVEMENT.
A number of matters of very little pub
lie interest were discussed. The Street
and Lane Committee reported that it 10
unable 10 contract with the Warren
Scharf Asphalt Pavement Company for
the paving of Bull street between Con-
gress and State streets, as authorized by
the Council. The company is unable TO
do the work this summer, not having
sufficient material here to so ahead with.
The question Of paving with stone was
discussed and will be decided at an ad-
iOurned meeting Of the Council, to be held
ut - O'Clock tomorrow. Bills against
the city amounting TO $50, 90S OS were Or
dered paid. OF this amount $1,000 20 IS
charged TO the Street and Lane Commit
tees account. The Committee on Ac-
counts reported adversely upon bills
amounting to $40 for decorations con
tracted for by the Chief Fireman for the
Fire Department headquarters during
the Centennial. The Council, however,
voted TO nav the bills.