The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-03-21
WHAT THEY SAY
Opinions Concerning the Gambling Or
dlnance and the Council

Interest continued unabated yester-
day In the matter between the police
commission and the city council on
the gambling question. a reporter in
tcryiewcd several OF the more promi-
neni citizens. the most OF whom un-
rauyocally supported the city council
DR. ~ NJ Walker. when asked oy
the reporter what he thought Of the
action of the police commission In clos
Ing up the gaming houses, said: Since
you have asked me. win give my
opinion frankly. and In very nearly
the same words in which | gave II
to one of the police commissioners las,
evening Any man who is capable OF
such petty spite work Is unworthy OF
any position OF public trust or respon-
sibillty have read the report Of the
mayors statement. made 10 the city
council last evening. and | agree with
him entirely"
When the Hon. c. W Fulton was
seen. he was on his way to dinner. but
stopped long enough to answer the
question as 10 what he thought Of the
gambling ordinance introduced In the
council, 10 say that he was heartily
In favor of the action OF that body
and the mayor. II have always be-
lievcd that an open and above board
system OF licensing these social evils
which apparently viii always be with
us In one form or another. Is the only
true and successful way TO keep them
under control. When this matter Is
handled openly and above-board as IL
lls In some Of our own cities, and In
Germany and France. no one dare in
terfere with an officer in his duty in
regulating the conduct Of these places
the city knows Just what IL Is getting
| In revenue from such sources. There
is no opportunity for stealage and the
amount Of crime and disease is reduced
to a minimum. AS to the action taken
! by the police commission. | can only
say that Astoria for years past has
been practically under "a license sys-
tenn. SO far as gambling Is concerned
and II is strange that so very suddenly
the commission which has been in pow
er for so many months should discover
that II was acting contrary to law.
Mayor Taylor certainly expressed the
correct sentiments In his speech tc
the city council last night"
Mr.. John Fox said that the action
Of the city council in introducing an
Iordinance to license gambling was, in
his opinion. the only solution Of the
difficulty. THE passage Of such q
Ilaw. as has has been shown by expert
ence in other countries, will not in
crease the evil, but will very largely
aid in the control of 1t, and will en-
able the city authorities to suppress
and prevent its spread. Certainly the
cleanliness of the city in such matters
can be better attained
Mr.. C. w Lounsberry thinks that
the action of the police commission
was really a good thing, and in the
interest of the city's morality and
finance, as 1t would keep money al
home which is now going abroad. III
YOU want gambling, arrange it some
way to keep the money and profits al
home"
Judge c. II. Page said, concernlng
the action Of the police commission
that they had done exactly right con
siderlng the character of the commits.
sion. The only thing I have fault
10 find with is. that they did not &C
far enough. They should have passed
some sort OF law or resolution
TO make all men and women virtuous.'