The San Francisco call., 1897-06-26
OPEN GAMBLING
HAS STOPPED
The Grand Jury Expressed
It's Conviction to That
Effect.
Credit Given the Police for the
Enforcement of the Laws in
That Direction.
The Slot Machine Spoken Of as an
Evil That Should Be Sup
pressed at Once.


big batch of reports from its standing
com mittees, the most interesting OF which
was that of the com mittee on gam bling.
The report, having properly introduced
itself, runs as follows:
Under the guidance of a competent officer of
the police force, who was most familiar with
tue resorts OF the gambling fraternity, they
have been enabled to visit most OF the known
resorts existing in the City for gambling pur-
poses and to investigate the methods en-
ployed.
As regards the white population the investi-
CATION was almost barren of results, as we
were informed by the proper authorities-the
Police Department-that all places of ques-
tionable resort had been closed.
So lar as we can ascertain by pretty thor
ough investigation, those desirous of risking
their money gambling devices resort
openly to the racetrack, puglllstlc encounters,
stocks, and the various methods not amenable
to the law or to private games of cards, hence
beyond the reach OF the law, because per-
mitted.
Your committee would most respectfully
suggest that the racetrack, with its attendant
devices of bookmakinR, pool-seIling and other
methods by which large sums of money are
lost and won, receive particular attention
from this Grand Jury; to the end that the law
be more strictly enforced and greater restric-
uons placed on gsmbling methods in common
use. As vice 1t is too widespread, and its
evils too well known In this community to
cali for more than suggestion at our hands
The attention of this Grand Jury is also di-
EecLeQ 10 the lOrm OF RdmD1nE, IN q small
way, by the device known as the slot machine.
These machines are in universal use and may
be found in nearly every saloon, corner
grocery and ci gaT-stand the City, and from
such observations as we have made they have
superseded many of the other forms of gam
bling and have become most popular. The
results OF this form OF gambling, SO openly
conducted, SO general in its use and so popu-
lar, OH the youth of this City seem to be over.
looked; nevertheless to the City boys, aecus-
toned to the universal use of the nickel it is
a yOndarfuI attraction and affocf on hau
NEST deplorable, for certainly a more perfect
school for gambling could not have been In
vented.
Amember of this committee received a visit
recently from mother who stated her case
thus: II have q young son earning small
wages to help support himself and the family,
but lately he has contracted the nabit of put
ting portion OF all his earnings in the nickel
in-the-slot machine, and he has become so fas-
cinated with the game and the habit is so
strong we cannot break him of it; won't you
Grand Jury gentlemen please do something to
suppress these gambling machines and save
other boys as well, for they are all learning to
play the game"
The influence of this device on the general
public is most pernicious and II view OF the
common good We would most respectfully sug-
gest that the attention OF the proper authori-
ties be directed TO this matter that steps may
be taken 10 correct the evil.
In the case of the Chinese we visited most
or all of the resorts known to the police, or to
which we could gain access, and while we
found plenty of evidence that the resorts
were being used for gambling purposes we
were not able to bring such evidence to con-
meet with individual parties, the occupants
having, by reason of freq uent raids of the Do
lice, become too wary and cautious and have
devised too many methods of eluding capture
or conviction.
The Chinese act on the principle that "eter-
nal vigilance is the price of liberty" Senti-
nels are always posted to alarm the inmates
and the utmost ingenuity is displayed in in
venting means of escape and avoiding cap
ture by means of trap doors, secret panels and
n hxrx
the occupants spirited away but all evidences
and gam bling devices are removed before the
otnCers OF the law can gain entrance.
In conclus ion your committee would most
respectfully state as the result of their invest
igation the conviction that to the enforcement
OF the laws prohibiting gambling by the po-
bling resorts such as the law contemplates no
longer exist J. w. CUDwoRTH
II. w. HANNEMANN.
JAMES FoGARTY.
The committee on iails reported they
were ell well kept, but that Jail was old
and should be replaced by new building:
branch should have an electric light
plant, which could be supplied for $1,000,
and would effect saving of $40 per week
number of prisoners were kept there
who ought to be in the home for feeble
minded. The most pressing need there is
that OF employment for the prisoners
The committee calls upon the phiIan-
thropicsi to suggest some means by which
they may be kept busy.
A committee investigating the Record
er's office reported a leakv roof and the
plaster falling off. The needs of the office
were presented in q long Communication
from the Recorder, in which a new steel
safe was named as of the first importance,
and after that an electric light system
and heating apparatus. The Public Ad-
ministrator and the Registrar were COM
mended on the conduct of their offices.
The parks and squares COMMITTEES made
several recommendations, among them
being closets sin every square of the City
and County, particularly for the use of
children who play in these squares"