The morning call., 1891-11-30
COMMISSION ONLY.
The PO0l.ROoms to Reopen on a
New Plan To. Morrow.
New York's System o. Betting 10 Be II
troduced Here-The Book-Makers Be-
heve They Can Do So.

Early last spring the Board of Supervisors
passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale OF
POOLS, or the making of books, on any horse
races except at the track where actual
racing was going on. This law, which was
strongly contested before il passed to print
by the several book-makers who were con-
Quoting the many pooi-rooms in this city,
stopped their quite remunerative business.
To make test Of the validity OF the ordi-.
nance, one of them, after the law had been
passed, offered himself AS a voluntary sacri-
fee, made bets on races run in the East and
wagered on in his pool room, and by a
mutu al understanding was arrested by the
police. He gave bail and appealed his case
to the Supreme Court, claiming that the
ordinance under which he had been arrested
was illegal.
After a consideration of the merits of the
case lasting several months, the higher tri-
bunal sustained the validity of the ordi-
nance and the arrested boOk-maker had to
enrich the city's Golfers by quite round
fine.
WENT TO OAKLAND.
In the meaptime the botk-makers, after
being closed up here, moved their effects and
chattels TO Oakland, where they opened new
pool-Toons. They defeated strong oppO-
sitiOn from many Of the residents of that
city and also action inimical 10 their bust
ness by the City Council of Oakland, be-
fore whom ordinances tending 10 the closing
OF their rooms were introduced.
But although they were not compelled to
close their rooms. the business transacted
by them in Oakland was comparatively
nothing TO what they did in this city. Ever
since their removal to Oakland they have
been considering the possibility of Reopen
Ing here.
on Co,russrov oNry
After consulting many LAWYERS the book
makers resolved that they would follow the
plan under which the pool-rooms Of New
York are now being openly conducted.
The scheme. there is TO do the wagering on
the commission plan. Any one who wishes
to bet gives his money TO the bonk-maker,
and for a Scent (So-called) commits sion is
handed a contract, 10y which the book-maker
agrees to telegraph the amount he desires to
wager on the horse he selects to the track
where the actual race is going on, and
further ngrees to accept whatever odds can
be had al the track against his selection.
This scheme seems to be working salts
| factorily 10 the boOk-makers in New York,
| for there over eighty OF these commission
| pO0l-iOUms are now in full blast. Every
| now and then the police raid the rooms, but
no convictions have been obtained. OF
| course the different races. with the starters,
| weights, jockeys and odds, are posted in
| the rooms, and, as in the past, Geographic
| description of each race is given. WEether
| bets are telegraphed 20 the track OF not has
| been the Ringing point in the East, but so
| far no convictions have been had on the
| point that they were not.
1t is on tits commission plan that the
| bOob-makers propose TO reopen their rooms
| in this city tomorrow. They do not intend
| to claim that they will telegraph the bets
| made with 81 EN- to each Eastern track, but
| they do assert that they can wire the wagerS
! from this city 10 their Oakland rooms,
! where they are not prohibited by law from
| betting. OF course the main point of their
| present position rests on the stand they take
tliat they are not acting as laying the odds
| themselves, but simply as commission agents
| for others outside of San Francisco.
THE POLICE MAY INTERFERE.
Whether Chief of Police Crowley will
! view the matter from a purely commission
| standard or not will probably be determined
| Tomorrow when the new commission pool
| rooms are 10 be opened
| The returning wanderers, however have
| got another string TO their bow for the ex-
| iStence of their rooms. They propose TO
take no bets on races themselves, but, be-
| sides the commission method OF wagering,
| Will tlnu customers for all bets offeI ed either
| on or against any horse in any race listed in
| their rooms. They propose to charge 8
per cent commission for their work in this
| scheme.
Schwartz, Whitehead & Co.'s rooms, at
| ALP California street, are being fixed up in
| grand style for Tomorrow. If the commits
| sion plan succt eds the numerous other
rooms closed last spring will no doubt at
| once reopen.
| PooL-RooM PLAY EAST.
AS an example OF the heavy betting in the
| New YOrk poOl-rOoms on the winter races
at Gutenberg it may be stated that on the
| Goth inst. q no less welLknown leading
! race-horSe owner than Michael F. DIVER
| placed $4,000 on his horse Houston IN the
rooms. The odds were from to to to 8,
| and vet Houston din not win