The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-03-19
A THUNDERBOLT
STRUCK HOME
Police Department Closes Gambling
Houses Without Warning.
CITYLAWS MUST BE OBSERVED
khat those Interested Nave 20 Say About
the Nattsr-N Mayor Taylor Issued
No Instructions.
CITYLAws MUST BE OBSERVED

Like n clap of thunder from clear
sky came the announcement. yesterday
aftcrn lan. that ~ gambling houses IN
the city had been clossd. Chief Hal
lock served notice and not IA game
was running last night.
when asked the cause N the sudden
starting OF the moral wave by the
city officers. chief HalIock said that
hc had no instructions from the mayor.
but had simply decided 70 carry out
the ordinance against gambling. which
In very arict one and was passed
in 1888. Il covers all manner of gam
bling devices. but Tor two years has
been n dead letter. az the propictors
OF gambling places have simply walked
up and paid a nne monthly Of SO in
the winter and $50 In the summer sea-
son. Thirteen houses were closed yes
terday. Including Chinese lotteries and
fan tan games. or which there were
seven. Commencing next month. the
fines would have been $50 each. which
now means q loss to the city treasury
OF $3.50 a month.
The news Of the action of the police
department was received with various
comments by different classes of people
Those most Interested. the sporting
men, were for the most par, quite In
different. and many Of the saloon men
said they were glad that the officers
had taken the action that they did,
/, is generally understood. also. that
today chief Hallock will close out the
machines and dice aud
card games played Tor drinks and ci-
gars. II Is thought that, TO be consist
ent the officers must and viii take
this latter acton.
II was rumored in certain quaters
that the whole scheme was an cmana-
tlon Of certain councilman TO get
Mayor Taylor under his thumb. and
that the police commission had simply
chlmed in with the movement in order
TO vent It's own spleen In an inter.
View with Mayor Taylor however. last
night his honor said that he was to-
tally unaware Of any cause for any
member OF the council to quarrel with
him. and that. In signing the ordinance
for the reduction OF salaries In the po-
lice departmet. and other city offices
he did so after dellberation, and be-
cause he saw no good reason TO veto
the bills while I have not In all
things agreed with the council as 70
the exact method OF reduction, a tenn
porary curtailment Of expenses was an
absolute necessity The majority IA
vored the present ordinance, and |
have signed Il. am convinced that
when Astoria develops. as she will In
the next few months. and business im-
proves, the council will raise Wages.
As TO the anImus OF the present move
ment on the part OF the police com
mission. there is probably but one
inference to be drawn"
Mr. Alex Gilbert said, In discussing
the closing of the gambling houses,
that he was only sorry that the action
had not been take years ago. 81 would
like to see gambling Of every nature
put down, II has no business In
saloon A man can run n saloon on
proper principles and do an honest
business, but when minors are enticed
into drinking place. and young men
and old ones are invelgled into gam
bling away their hard-earned wages,
while their grocers', butchers and tai
lors' bills remain unpaid, the matter
becomes public crime and calamity,
which should be stopped by the most
vigorous measures"
Mr.. Sam Harris, OF the White House.
says that he does not care rap about
the matter. and will only do as Others
do. II only wish they had commenced
on the nlckel-in-the-slot machines
yesterday Ii would have saved me a
S25 loss. l have a new machine here
which | think was made by a preacher
In Indiana. You can't beat 1t, but It
has beat me-"
Amongst the police force the action
of the chief is viewed as a means OF
making the council realize the source
from which a large part of the city
revenue has come. Many think that
It would really be better for the city