The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-07
UPSTAIRS OR DOWN
Gambling on the Ground Floor Dis
cuSsed in the Council.
ALDERMEN EVENLY DIVIDED
Mayor Thornton Decided Tie
vote-John Mcguire Talks Tor
Lower Warning
to Fast Drivers.

ture entirely unsupported was sprung
and made very lively meeting Inc
aldermen seem to have been making
resolves on New Years day ana the
reforms were launched on the hrst OPP
portunity. 1t was after the routine
business and Alderman c. III. Williams
Is the author of the chief event or the
evening. which was the Introduction or
n resolution prohibiting gambling
games on the ground floor and the sun
day closing of all such games. Inc
resolution is in the nature OF reguia-
ton and is couched in very stringent
terms. The resolution evidently does
not represent the entire Fourth ward,
for Alderman Walkup did not walt for
the document to reach the clerks desk
before he was on his feet to move that
ii be tabled Alderman Williams
moved its adoption and Alderman COX
seconded the motion.
Alderman Lesser moved as an amend
ment that the resolution be referred
to the judiciary committee, which was
seconded.
A hot debate followed, in which all
the forensic talent participated AID
erman Cox maintained that 1t is a
good idea and that gambling should
be removed from the sight OF women
and children. Alderman Walkup OBJ
jected, saying such a regulation would
work a hardship on men now engaged
in this business, positively prohibiting
many who now have places on the
ground floor from engaging In IL, be-
cause they could not find second story
rooms in which to conduct their games.
Open gambling permits employers ana
policemen to keep n watchful eye on
who is gambling and what is being
done in the gambling houses. which
could not be done II gambling Is sent
up stairs and behind closed doors.
Alderman Williams favored the re-
moval because the gambling houses
and the hangers-on are, he said.
nuisance on the public streets, that the
crowd congregating In front OF the
gambling houses annoy and insult la
dies who are passing to and from the
depots and the theater. He held that
in all other cities where gambling Is
allowed IL is not permitted on the
ground floor.
Alderman Shovlin hailed the reform
with Joy and said he was in favor of
it two months ago, when the license
ordinance was being prepared. He ia
vored ii for reasons similar to those OF
Alderman Williams and for the further
reason that many men who are not
gamblers are led to the gambling table
by the convenience of II to the bar.
where they get few drinks and then
risk their change on the faro table I'M
favored going further and closing all
saloons at midnight The man who Is
not satisfied with doing business be-
tween o'clock in the morning and
midnight ought to be regulated by law.
The all-night saloon harbors and en-
courages the chair sleeper. the bum
and the men who give the police so
much trouble and cause a majority Of
the cases i'm police court for petty lar
ceny, hold-ups and burglaries
A parting shot came from Walkup,
who thought DR. ParlShurst ought to be
sent for and a fence built about the
city.
Then the resolution came to a vote
on the amendment to refer to the jul
dietary committee which was as fol-
lows: Aldermen Walkup, Lappen.
Morris and Lesser. aye; Williams,
Shovlin, Rom and Cox. no. This left a
tie vote and Mayor Thornton settled IL
by voting with the opponents of the
resolution. saying aye. He explained
his vote by saying that he was unalter-
ably opposed to upstairs gambling"
that concealed or half concealed gam
bling is a greater evil than when 1t is
conducted openly. He had seen the eff
fects of IL elsewhere and he believed
that the greatest aid to the suppression
of IL was to make IL as public as pos
sible.
Inc IndIleT elueu IneTe last night,
but IL will come back again at the
next meeting. The judiciary commit
tee is composed of Aldermen Lesser,
Shovlin and Cox. and a favorable re-
port is certain on this resolution and
possibly upon one more sweeping in its
restrictions. Alderman Lesser was
chairman of the Committee on Inter
nal improvements" in the house of the
state legislature. which made a favor
ms
law, since declared unconstitutional
on a legal technicality. From his
course last night ii is evident that he
has some change in contemplation for
the resolution, else he would have IA
vored 1t, as II accords with his WELL
known sympathies.
Alderman Lesser asked the city at
torney how far the city could be hell
liable for injury sustained by any citi
zen from being run over by those guilt,
of fast driving on the streets IL IL wa,
shown that no attempt had been mad.
by the city police TO stop such conduct
Colonel O'Leary stated that he coulC
not give definite opinion but off-hanC
II Is his judgment that no damage,
could be recovered from the city. II,
was willing to file proceedings at an,
time against violators of the ordinanc,
for fast driving and would prosecute il
the courts.
Chief White said he had cautione,
many fast drivers repeatedly. but as /
rule they got started on unfrequente,
streets and would drive past so fas
that he could not stop them.
Mayor Thornton gave il out that m
instructions to the police were neces
sary in the premises. He had heard o
the incident mentioned i'm the Standar,
and thought the officers should do thei
duty without further orders. The ton
of the officials in this matter was nut
ced" to the owners of the speed
horses. and racing on the streets is un
popular In official circles and the wis
viii undoubtedly govern themselve
accordingly.
ID. Cohen. ST.. presented bill for 81
for repairing a skylight destroyed b,
wind. which he said had been loosene,
by the city officers who occupy the cit,
hall The bill was referred 10 the fin