The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-04
Butte Department.

4
and county attorneys, the judges OF
| the lower courts and Judge Speer OF
the criminal department OF the district
court. These have all given US much
valuable assistance. and owe my sim
cere thanks to their kind and gentle Cd
dealing with this class of criminals.
The results are most apparent, no.
| uceable decrease of offenses of this ma
| ture.
Regarding gambling / would respect
| fully recommend that no change be
made in the resolution adopted by the
outgoing council. under which that line
of business Is confined to the second
floor. My reason for this is obvious to
everyone who has observed the condi-
tons of our city prevailing since the
rule was adopted; and, to my mind. at
least, the appearance, at present, OF
the west side of Main street, between
Broadway and Park streets, is a very
potent argument in support of this rec
ommendation. In the days when gam
bling was conducted on the ground
floor that block above referred TO was
almost entirely occupied by gambling
houses and saloons, and the sidewalks
were the resort of loafers. drunkards
and hangers-on of these places to such
extent that " was practically impassa-
BILE to ladies and more respectable per-
sons. But since gambling has been
moved to the second floor. there has ap-
peared quite a transformation. Re-
putable business houses have taken the
places of the gambling resorts, and
that block. one of the principal ones
OF our fair city, is now quite as re-
spectacle and clean as any other in
Butte. 1t is no longer Stunned by la
dies, and the appearance Of the prin-
cipal business section of our city has
been improved to such an extent that
10. .t- e. n L.. l@.~. aIlI
to learn, are solidly opposed to any
Orange being made. Butte now, in its
business portion, has an air of respect
ability which IL has never before as
sumed, and which is decidedly pleasing
to those who are inclined to peace and
good order. At the same time, the
proprietors of the gambling houses
suffer no inconvenience, and 1t Is also
a fact that they are almost unanimous
ly opposed to any change in this re-
spect The rest of the citizens could
not possibly advance any good rea-
son for a change. This offers no par
ticular check upon the business OF
legitimate gambling, for those who de-
sire TO indulge in these hazards have the
opportunity almost as near as before.
The general Improvement which has re-
suited from the removal of the gam
bling houses to the upper floors. has
been felt TO its fullest extent in the po-
lice department, and the pronounced
change has occasioned great deal of
favorable comment. When this bust
ness was conducted on the ground
floors fights and unseemly disturb
ances were of nightly and most fire.
quent occurrence, and aside from the
protection furnished by the police,
nearly every establishment was COM
PEELED to employ a special officer to pre-
serve comparative peace and order in
their houses and quen minor disturb
ances Now, however, such services
from special officers are no longer
necessary, and disturbances which re-
quire arrests are of very rare occur
renee I'm these places.
believe l am safe In saying that not
one arrest is made in gambling houses
at the present time where at least
dozen were made when they were on
the ground floor. The police records will
bear me out i'm this statement, and an
examination of them might prove of
interest to any who are inclined TO
doubt my assertions. The alley in the
rear of the gambling houses was for
merly a scene of numerous fights and
disturbances, and a resort for hoboes
and, generally, tough characters. Now
II is quiet and orderly. Another advan-
tage and benefit of this second floor
plan is, that while the gambling house
doors were swinging open before be
lated and foot-sore travellers, who ex-
aggerated the distance between them
and their homes. IL was n very easy
matter for them to wander or be en-
ticed into these houses, where they
eventually lost their money. Now, this
does not exist, and the num-
Der of drunken visitors to these houses
has been greatly diminished
In all, the gambling houses at present
require but little attention from the
officers of adjacent beats, whereas they
occupied the greater portion
of such officers time.
Butte is graduating from a mining |
camp to a city. and IL seems only prop |
er that the business of gambling, |
though permitted by our laws. should |
occupy a less prominent position than |
Il did at the time when everything was |
free and easy" and wide Open" With |
the business confined TO the second |
floor. they antagonlze no one and the |
as they now exist, seem to |
be satisfactory to the entire population |
Of the city.
During the past year there has been |
by the honorable mayor, in |
to the police department what is known |
as the police daily report. making II |
necessary for each partolman to fill out |
Dne of these blanks when he reports |
from duty, giving a run ana detailed |
statement of all arrests made, lights |
put, excavations. buildings. new and re- |
conditions of streets. alleys |
and sidewalks. etc. This report has |
now become a necessity. and is looked |
upon as helping each department to |
perform it's duties Immediately and |
without so much difficulty.
In opening the stockade. this depart |
nent is much indebted TO the honorable |
mayor. We are compelled to contend /
With a certain element of Migrants. !
petit larceny offenders and common I
wo even dread the word /
'stockade." At present this element |
has either left the city or found honest |
For. as shown by our /
records the arrests of these classes of |
Offenders have been very few I'm COM |
Darison to former summer months. |
when the stockade was closed. Before |
he opening OF this source of employ |
nent, this class of offenders would COM |
nit Soma offapca for the pnrnOSa ~ he /