The San Francisco call., 1895-07-18

strong public sentiment, that the Board OF
Supervisors passed the ordinance restrict
ing pool-selling and betting on horseraces
to the track wherein the races are held.
This law. tested and approved by the Su-
preme Court reads as follows:
ORDER NO. 1851.
PROHIBITING ALL PERSONS FROM ENGAGING IN
SELLING POOLS, OR BooKMAKING, OR MAKING
BETS OR wAGERs on HoRsERAcEs WHEREIN
MONEY OR OTHER ARTICLES OF VALUE ARE
sTAKED Or PLEDGED, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN
PLACES
WHEREAS, 1t has become apparent that the
practice of gambling on horseraces has become
alarmingly prevalent, and is the cause of de-
bauching many of our boys and young men,
rendering them unfit for the honorable occu-
pations OF life; and whereas, this discreditable
occupation, with all its vicious results, is al
lowed in all its alluring features to occupy
places in the business portions OF our City, en-
ticing our youths into habits which ultimately
effect their ruin and degradation; and where
as, it is asserted that there is no legislation
prohibitory OF this nefaIious and demorahzfng
pursuit being conducted and carried on, the
present Legislature having failed to pass any
of the bills introduced for that purpose; now,
therefore,
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY
OF SAN FRANCISCO DO OKDAIN AS FOL-
LOWS:
PooL-sELLING PROHIBITED EXCEPT ON RAcETRAcK.
Section l. No person upon any trial or con-
test of skill. speed or power of endurance be-
tween horses, except within the inclosure OF
racetraek where such trial or contest is to take
place, shall
Sell any pool or pools or make up any book,
| list or memorandum for or on which money or
other article of value shall be received or en-
tered up, listed or written, or receive any
| money or other article of value as stake or
pledge upon the happening or non-happening
OF any event;
THE SALE OF PooL-rICKETs PROHIBITED.
Sell, issue or dispose of any ticket, certificate
or other evidence of payment, on which shall
be inscribed, written or printed any number,
| name, word or mark, or anything to designate
the choice selected, received or accepted by
any other person to entitle or enable the said
person holding the said ticket, certificate or
other evidence of payment, to gain or lose ON
any contingent issue;
STAKE HOLDING PROHIBITED.
Receive any money, or anything represent
ing money, or any article of value, as bet or
hazard upon the event in any contest or con-
tingent issue, or as stake or pledge between
two or more parties, and disburse the said
money or any portion of the said money or
anything representing money or other article
of valre, upon any representation or condition,
or in conformity to or with any express or taclt
understanding or agreement.
PRESENCE OF MINORS WHERE POOLS ARE BEING
SOLD PROHIBITED.
Sec. 2. No person shall allow or permit any
minor to participate or be interested In any
book as aforesaid, or be present at any time or
place where the sale of pools or the making mp
OF any book is being carried on or conducted.
RACECOURGF.
Sec 3. No person upon any trial or contest
| of skill, speed or power of endurance between
| horses, except within the Enclosure of q race
| track where such trial or contest is to take
! place, shall purchase or acquire for money, or
anything representing money, or any article
of value or any other consideration, any inter
est in or upon the event of any such trial or
contest or contingent issue, or place or deposit
| any stake, wager, hazard or pledge, between
two or more parties of money or anything rep
| resenting money or any article of value in or
| upon the happening or non-happening OF any
| event or contingent issue.
BETTING ROOMS PROHIBITED.
Sec. 4. No person, except within the places
designated in section 1 of this order, shall
| knowingly lease rent or allow to be occu-
pied or used any building, structure, room,
| apartment, place or any premises whatever for
| the purposes as specified and recited in section
| THE PENALTY.
Sec. 5. Every person who shall violate any
/ of the provisions of this order shall be deemed
| guilty of misdemeanor and, upon q eonvic-
| ton thereof, shall be punished by fine of
not more than $500 or by imprisonment of not
more than six months, or by both such fine
and imprisonment.
| Sec. 6. This order shall take effect and be in
force on and after its passage.
San Francisco, March %, 1891.
! Evidently if these FIVE poolrooms may
flourish unmolested score of others and
lesser or greater ones may also be oper-
ated-or even a hundred or thousand of
them. Why should there be limit?
And if 25-cent bets are taken why should
not 10 cents or cents be taken? As it is
many messenger and news boys find their
way into the poolrooms when they have a
quarter to gamble. 1t will not be long be-
fore a room will be opened where their
nickels and dimes will be accepted. AL.
ready the evil has reached dangerous
| growth, and unless some method is found
to stop it the City may soon be honey
combed with poolrooms again.
True no one has yet discovered way
by which the bookmaker can evade the
| law, but if combinations and straight bets
can be taken with immunity the book
makers can well afford to remain at the
racing-tracks.
| An amendment to the law was suggested
by an enthusiast who wanted the pool
rooms closed once and for all. But the
present law has not been proved inefficient
as yet. No effort has been made to close
| these places. When the old law has been
proved failure then it will be time to talk
about new laws or new amendments.
| Action under the present law is the need
of the hour.
The questions naturally presented by
this state of affairs are these:
| What are Chief Crowley and his officers
doing to enforce the law?
| has it come to such pass that The
CALL must be constantly pointing out
| their duty to them?
| Suit for Maintenance.
| Mrs Josephine E. Amiraux has filed CON-
| plant against her husband ,Gelles Amiraux,,in
1 a suit for maintenance. She says that she was