The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-13
TO LICENSE POOL ROOMS.
THE CITY REDUCES THE TAX FROM
$1,000 TO $500.

Col. Garrard Objects 10 such n sud-
den Change of Sentiment on the
Part of the Board, as IL Was In
tended to Make tue Tax PrOhIb-
itOry when the Tax Ordinance Was
Framed I'm December-The Vote :
10 2-AIdermen Lester, Hudson.
Watson and FaIIiEant Urge the
Adoption of the Ordinance on the
Grounds That Pool Rooms VIII At
tract business to the city.
The tax on pool rooms was reduced from
5000 to 500 by the city council last night.
It is understood that as a result the pool
rooms will be opened up here shortly. The
license stood at the latter figure for two
years. but when the tax ordinance for the
present year was framed it was placed at
S2.OOO. the understanding being that the
tax was practically prohibitory.
The ordinance reducing the tax was
introduced by Alderman Watson. The or
dinance was about to be passed appar-
emily without comment, when Alderman
Garrard announced that he felt constrain-
ed to explain his vote on the question. He
said that when the present tax ordinance
was framed the license on pool rooms was
placed at s., 1000. He was not present when
this section was passed upon, but his idea
was that il was the intention of council
to make the tax prohibitory. Since the
ordinance was framed, he said, the su-
preme court has rendered a decision i'm
which IT stated that the conducting of a
pool room or place for the sale of pools
on races, is contrary to public policy. 1t
is true, Col. Garrard said, that the same
opinion has been expressed on the sale of
cotton futures, but the sale of cotton fu-
lures, as conducted under the rules of the
New York Cotton Exchange, is recognized
as legitimate business and differing great
~ from the sale of pools on races. The
council having taken this stand, Col. Gar
rard said, and the supreme court having
expressed the opinion stated he was at a
loss why the council should disturb the
present situation. The license would not
be prohibitory If reduced, whereas with
the IN license at 5000 it is practically pro-
Alderman Lester interrogated Alderman
Garrard on the decision of the supreme
court. As he remembered the case Al
derman Lester said, the case was that
or a broker who claimed the right to
conduct a business of selling pools on
races in connection with his business as
a commission broker.
Col. Garrard replied that he did not re-
memDer the case in detail, but his re-
membrance was that the case was that
or man who was attempting to do u
Il ;
license, claiming that he was simply con-
uuctlng commission business, and that
the supreme court ruled that such BUSH
ness could not be conducted under a
brokers' license, and further expressed
the opinion that the business Of selling
pools on races was contrary TO public
Alderman Watson said that he saw no
reason why pool room should not be
liceihlsea, as the business had been carried
on Defore in the city without complaint
Alderman Hudson said that there lis no
state law against licensing a pool room
People coming to the CITY are attrs s.ti ~;
by 1t. The business is legal, and there is
no reason why the city should not get a
Alderman Falligant took a dual positio,
1 do not see anything puritanical in he
ing opposed TO gambling" said he. sIf
there is one vice more than another win
which this city is cursed that vice is cam
bling. If prohibition would prohibit 7
would be IN favor of prohibiting it entirely.
t ~. YOU p caInot STOP gambling by prohibit
tlon, feople VIII not only gamble in
places conducted for it, but in priva 70
houses as well. As prohibition will NOT
prevent it, and as the licensing Of nooI
rooms will result in bringing a number 81
FLOODED horses here, turning loose money
IN the city. and as pool rooms will in
pany, which employs a large number of
people, and as the business will he cor,
Quoted under legal supervision, 1 shall
vote E, IN favor Of reducing the license"
Alderman Lester expressed himself IN
the same line. He said that he knew Sa-
Vannah is being considered as place for
welnterriing hne horses. and if the business
OF selling pools on races is prevented. as
II would be by a prohibitory tax, the
horses VIII not be brought here While
opposed to gambling, he said, he did NOT
know. of any immoral influences which
would originate from the pool rooms.
When the vote was taken Alderman
Garrard called for division. On a show
of hands Aldermen Garrard and Tiedeman
We're the only two voting in the negative,
the other seven members present voting
for the ordinance.