The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-03
GAMING ATWASHINGTON.
THE sO-CALLED MONTs CARLO IS
CHEAP AND FLIAISY.

Driven Out OF the Capital, the Keep
ers Of Pool Rooms and Games
Across the River Are Threatened
With Extinction-Clerks and Small
Tradesmsn Demoralized.
From the Neig York Sun.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %. "A bill has been
introduced in the Virginia legislature that
is designed TO prevent gambling in any part
Of the Old Dominion on horse races, boat
races and all games of chance. II the bill
becomes law it viii break up the flourish
ing games that are run by gamblers at the
south end of Long bridge, on the Virginia
side Of the Potomac. and not more than half
q mile from the line Of the District Of
Columbia. In fact. the bill is aimed
at these men, who for nearly three years
have run their games without fear of legal
prosecution. Feeble efforts have been
made to break up the place. Their presence
was tolerated at first; then unsuccessful
efforts were mace TO drive them out They
remained undlsturbed and continued TO
spread Generalization among the poor
farmers and woTkmen in the neighbOring
brick kilns. The people in the Senate dis
u NV ~ NblNh EAA6A LuEl1 HISS D6ChLD6 Ill
dignant and its representative in the state
Senate was elected with the pledge that he
would use every effort 10 pass q bill which
would break up gambling at Jackson City.
When pool selling was begun in Wash
lngton about six years ago Jones Bros
and Lynn q Wall opened rooms in E street,
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets
The location was in the most central part
of the city and in the row known years ago
dam hlara1 Dippa Tor
tie rooms were run in full blast, and rich
profit was made by the bookmakers out of
the government clerks who would drop in
at lunch hour, make their potts. and then
go back reluctantly to their desks
One Of the bookmakers, Lundray Jones,
made enough TO enable him to start for
himself, and last summer he was one Of the
most successful bookmak9rs at Morris Park
and in and around New York. The de-
moral!zing effect Of the pool rooms on the
government clerks, messengers, young
lawyers and other men was too great TO
permit the police to tolerate the running
of the pool rooms in the limits of the cor
pOraton. They were closed up, but were
ofened soon Rfterward just outside the
limits, and there they were permitted to
run in full blast until about three years
ago. In the. meantime congress had passed
bill aimed at closing the places, but
it was vetoed by President Harrison be-
cause it did not include within its provisions
the race track at Ivy City. Meetings were
held on that track twice a year and pool
selling was permitted. 1t can be said,
properly, that among the chief patrons Of
the track were senators and representatives
who were ready and willing to have the
pool rooms in the city closed, but expressly
framed the bill which was vetoed so that
pool selling on the track would not be re-
stricted. However, another bin was passed
which met some Of the objections of the
President, and he signed it.
With the pool rooms in the city closed
and those in the outskirts Of the city her
netically sealed the citizens OF Washing
ton congratulate themselves that the fasci-
mating form Of gambling could not be in
dulged in except periodically. But within
a week after the pool rooms had been closed
In the District of Columbia others were
opened in jackson City, in Virginia. Not
| only were the pool rooms opened in full
blast, but side games, which had not been
played in Washington for many years,
were revived, such as faro, roulette
A., chuck~a-luck, and craps. 1t was
| quick awakening of the old
time jackson City, which had been laid
off, on paper, into regular squares and
broad avenues by President Andrew Jack
! son. For many years it never got beyond a
| single street, 2story inn and grist mill.
| In week after the pool rooms had been
closed in the district, jackson City known
now rs Monte Carlo, blossomed into viii
| lage of six 1-story buildings on one side Of
the street and another in the marsh On the
other side Of the street and across the rail
way track. Improvements have been made
| since then, and now Monte Carlo has in
creased to eight novels, two 2-story build
ings and the same old grist mill. 1t has
neither flower gardens, playing fount-
aims nor tiled walks with marble
capp!ngs. 1t has Mother gided pail
aces, so called, nor princely potentate, but
1t has, however, several potentates who at
tend strictly to business. They are not
great stlcklers on ceremony, aud they evil
IDENTIFY do not care for outward appearances.
They SLOUGH around in yachting caps and
blouses. Ordinarily they are good natured.
They have had reason to be, for never since
the days of the reconstruction period in
Washington has gambling in all its forms
been so open and Unrestricted. In those times
Joe Hall, Parker, and the Jones brothers,
who now run ons Of the pool rooms. carried
on their games at an enormous profit They
served terrapin lunches, their rooms were
splendidly furnished, and their chief pat
rons were senators, representatives, officers
OF the army and navy, and lobbyists.
But good natured as the followers Of Hall
aud Parker have been, free and unrestricted
as their games have been. great change
has taken place recently in the temper of
those who visit Monte Carlo. There is
likely to be a repetition on their part of
the unrestrained anger which was exhibited
by them three years ago. In fact, it is more
than likely, for there are deep mutterings
now. due to the fact that the bill which has
been introduced In the Virginia legislature
will deprive them OF livelihood II il be
passed. Senator Masbback of Alexandria,
In whose Senate district jackson City lies, is
the aggressor. Ge is the man who is charged
by the gamblers OF Washington with ring
ing in a cold deck' on them. They can't
get drop on him, bat il be could be in
duced to visit the outskirts of his dis.
trict in the direction of Monte Carlo, he I'M
Questionably would get something which,
under the most favorable circumstance,
would not be to his advantage As it is
the proprietors of tie pool rooms and the
bankers of the faro, roulette and other side
games are not going to give up their fran
chise, as they term it, without struggle.
They are going to send a lobby to Rich
mond and an appeal is to be made TO the
sporting instincts Of the fine old Virginia
gentlemen. The members of the legislature
are to be reminded that from the good old
colonial days of Virginia down to the
present time restrictions have never
been placed on the right of gentle
men to chase Dame Fortune over this
green baize cloth. They will assert that
the bill is an outrage on their "honah :"
that no true Virginia gentleman is allowed
l.