The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-06
MAY DOWN THE GAMBLERS.
Pool ROOMS, AT LEAST, WILL BE
WIPED OUT FOREVER.


stood 10 Have Some Wen Defined
Idea About Amending the Laws SO
As TO Check the Gambling Evil In
savannah and Elsewhere In GeOF-
gia - Representative Mcmillan
Wei Pleased with the LegisIa-
ture.
Within month there will probably be
no pool room, or turf exchange, in Savan-
nah. Before the end of November 1t is ex-
pected that the bill introduced by Hon.
John J. McDonough prohibiting such gam
ing establishments. will have passed the
legislature, received the Governors sig
nature and become the law of the state.
THE bill will go through without oppo-
sition,, said Hon. T. II. Mcmillan, who
came down from Atlanta yesterday morn
ing. THE Chatham delegation, of course,
will support it unanimously and there is
no reason to look for any objections to its
passage from any member Of the legisla-
ture. The bill is one that commends itself
to every right thinking man. There is no
explanation that can be given for allowing
one form of gambling under license any
more than another Mr.. McDonough Is In
earnest about the matter and it is a case
where the pool room must go.
mot only this form of gambling, but
some others will get severer treatment
hereafter in all probability" continued
Mr.. Mcmillan. THE bill goes further
than prohibiting the running of a pool
room; it imposes a severe penalty on any
property owner who allows a building TO
be used for such a purpose. Out
side of this l think there may
be expected legislation that will reduce
gambling to a considerable extent, If 1t
does not succeed in wiping it out by max
ing ID too dangerous to conduct such
places"
Mr.. McDonough Is expected down from
Atlanta this morning, and it is believed
will bring a copy of the anti-pool room
bin with him. From the Introduction of
this bill, the fact that Mr.. McDonough
has stated his opposition to the gambling
places now being run in Savannah, and
what Mr.. Mcmillan says, the idea may
be obtained that Mr.. McDonough contem-
plates some radical legislation against the
gambling evil. 1t is intimated that there
may be an amendment to the present gam
bling law which will have a disastrous
gamblers are fined. pay the fine, and go
back to their places of business as a rule,
in a short time, and go on as though
there were no laws on the statute books
against such places. The law may be
changed so as to make it obligatory to
send the proprietors of such places, as
well as their helpers, to the chain-gang on
a second conviction for a term of
not less than six months. The
gambler who is making money does not
object to paying fine occasionally, re-
garding it in the light of a license tax,
but to put on stripes and work on the
canals or roads is a punishment that would
tend to drive them out of the city. Mr..
McDonough is believed to have some defin-
lite ideas about the best way to break up
gambling and may express himself more
on the subject to-day.
When he was Mayor Mr.. McDonough
took almost as decided a stand against
gambling as Sunday liquor selling He
succeeded in holding down gaming places
to some extent.
Mr.. Mcmillan is satisfied that the pres
ent legislature will develop into a hard
working body. intent on serving the best
interests of the public.
The legislature looks to me like a pref
ty solid body of men," said he. II was
agreeably surprised with its composition.
one satisfactorily. There is a desire to
leave some legislation behind that will be
monument TO this general assembly. 1
believe there will be some legislation on
the line of ballot reform, but whether II
will take the shape of the Australian ball
lot law 1t is too early to say A
special committee goes to Nashville to
study the practical operation of that sys-
TEN there on next Tuesday. The legis-
Iators are earnestly DESTROYS of doing ex-
actly what is best for the state, and will
carefully consider any plans that are pre-
sented. The feeling is undoubtedly in favor
of some Improvement of the present laws"
Referring to local bills, Mr.. Mcmillan
stated that it was the opinion of the Chat
ham delegation that if any of the COM
missions were 10 be abolished all of them
should be. This was the position original
~ assumed by Mr.. McDonough. Mr. Nc
MILAN does not regard commissions at all
favorably. and believes the city can get
along well without them. He looks for the
bills to be ready for Introduction next
week. committee of five has charge of
the preparation of the bills.
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