The morning times., 1896-02-06
EVILS WITHIN An EVIL
Gambling and Unlicensed Bars
Flourish in the DiVis on.
GAMES RUN WITH SAFETY
Quiet Rooms Where Players Are AS
sured There VIII Re No Police I'M
terrence. and There lis Sone-Cru-
sade TO BE Started to Unearth the
Reasons Why.

Manifest corruption. not due to Congress
siOnal sanction so much as TO Congressional
negligence, obtains in some circles of Wash
ington municipal authority.
So palpable have some of the ddenses
againstthe District regulations become that
there is most urgent need for Congress TO
rectify some of The lccal departments of
government which look 10 the greater body
for guidance, counsel and advice
Though hedged about with all devices OF
secrecy, gambling is carried on in some Of
the houses in that portion OF the city known
as the Division The laws against uper
ating gambling places is very strict and
rigid in the District, and it is a hazardous
project to attempt it, except in rare in
stances.
For good and sufficient reasons The
houses in the Division are not raided by
the police. onceupon time a commissioner
said they were a necessary evil. There
are various reasons why it has been
4 found of advantage 10 convert the private
rooms Of, the heads or these establishments
into places for stalking coin of the realm
| on tie tickle and mysterious jackpot.
NO OPEN GAMBLING.
Gambling is not carried on openly in these
/ houses. The landladies are afraid of the
girls The girls have no locks on their
! tongues, ard for fear they might talk too
much an attempt is made ia The houses to
4 keep them ia ignorance OF it il the great
American game is in operation.
a Times reporter talked to one OF these
4 girls Last night and she said.
Il have never saw any gambling in this
4 l.n. la yyninU nn
] They always play in the landlady's room
and only people she knows will get in.
I They are not afraid of being pulled
| is why they come TO places like this to
| play"
/ At another house the pToprietress said:
I'VE never have any gambling here. 1t
wouldn't do. The girls would tell it.
! They're not 10 be trusted. Sometimes some
of my friends play a little in my room,
( but not for large amounts. They buy
drinks and il all helps along for expenses
are heavy
/ A girl was asked how much money
was paid TO keep the authorities away, and
for the sub rosa privilege to deal in
intoxcants. She said: 1T all costs
enough and it has TO be put up every
week"
WHY THEY DON'T MOVE.
! Some weeks ago Ida Bronson ard Nellie
Lester, who have places on Tenth street
not in the restricted confines of the Di-
vision, were ordered to move. They moved
not. Both were asked last night why they
/ had not moved.
One said she was sick ard couldn't,
and the other said she owned her prop
erty. Ida Bronson occupies 115 ard III.
One she owns and the other she does not.
Nellie Testers excuse, that she was i'll.
Tnay be coed. She was in coLdition to
attend her door, aud incidentally tell the
reporter 10 mihd bis own business, last
night.
An official said that it was his opinion
4 that Lieut.. Annss, who had had the moving
Il order against these women, had afterward
been Ordered by tie chief of police 10 not
enforce it,
As an indispatabIe matter of fact, no
such compromise with crime has ever been
authorized. It is one OF the plainest
violations. Fer Ills leason of purchased
privilege, tie quiet little games may pro-
ceed uninterrupted and 30 can the sale OF
injoxicanls.
WHERE DOES 1T COME FROM?
The women pay eEormous rents. They
] must IEANlNG tiiOIlllOuS revenue. 4ItG
necessary evii' iGea il tLus carried TO an
excess not anticipated by the able Com
missioner WHEN he gave a semi-sanction to
the conduct OF Tie places within certain
boundaries OF the city.
Not long ago sixty-two men were seen
10 enter three houses in the Division within
an hour. There are on average five girls
10 a Loose, so that there must have been
%,
act as a magnet on these People.
Surely testimony should be Forthcoming
to the dignified body which shapes the lega
regulations of a vast republic for thei
united action in lighting the fires OF puri
fication in The city they also attempt t.
govern.
CRUSADE Is NOW ON.
There is about 10 be declared war agains
the Division. Congress viii be appea le'
to TO recognize the belligerents The
country win then see what kind of a gov
ernment this magnificent array of states
men gives the city of Washington. as wei
as that which it gives to the country Itself
The Times has given to Congress the tlI
1t can also work up the case for it, if tha
be necessary.
Mrs Barrett of the Crittenton Mission
advances an admirable idea in this regard
She says:
"a city councilman usually can be NJ
better than his constituents. He mus
shape laws TO suit the people who lv
under them. But Congress, which il
practically the city council OF Wash
| ington. does not depend ON a single Wash
| ington vote for election.
Its action. therefore, as applied t.
| In osE- l,a For
OF securing votes. II Congress can max
good laws for the country it can do like
wise for the city The people of til
country viii be called upon to judge Congress
by the manner OF laws it makes for thi
/ Lii