The San Francisco call., 1898-03-19
The Fact That POOErOOmS Exist Where Women
 Gamble.
Citizens, Public Officers, and, in Fact, People of All Ceilings, Wonder at the Law
 Breakers.

l selves, ana l can show no more proof
 of the untiring efforts to bring those | who violate the law before the courts 1 where We have hoped for speedy con- 1 Victions.
 POLICE COMMISSIONER WILL | LIAM ALVORD-The matter of sup- pressing the innumerable poolroorns l now said to exist in this city is one of the most dlflcuIt undertakings yet at- tempted by the authorities. Many ar rests have been made by the police ] and seemingly the courts have done thtiF Quly Tn endeavoring to punish the guilty persons. So far, however, but few convictions have been secured, as the aCcuseo acct, invariably demand trial by Jury and the jury as often brings in verdict or not guilty. From my un- derstandlng of the cases the only req son why conviction has not been had iies altogether with the jury system of ouI once courts. The course pur- oueu py me Cal IS commendable one ana am ready to do all in my power as Police Commissioner to aid l lHe paper Tn suppressing this, as we'll as any other evil which may exist would be pleased to have the opinions oI persons familiar with the law and M3Ihlhgs t; or the booksellers, and will bring the matter before the Cornrois- sIohers next Monday evening. In the meantime l will familiarize myself with thS SupJect so that I may have an in
 te!ilgent understanding thereof
 60L1CE COMMISSIONER RICH ArD that & J. IOBIN-I am pleased to see that The Call has taken uD the maj ter or suppressing the poolroon evil U IS most commendable move and may De the means of assisting the au- ! lHoIitles 10 overcome the great dfffi | Gulues surrounding the question which mas been agitating the commission for ] some time. Up to the present day h1lt lew convictions have been secured a1
 though the police have made many ar- rests or booksellers. The fau1t saar3s 1 10 lie with the juries, who are m oouptedIy influenced by the arg11n,er+ made Dy counsel of the accused that if pooIselilng is allowed at the raca track It should be allowed at other nIacas 1 inc ordinance permitting poolseIIing | passed by the Board of SunerviSo1.s l was evidently intended to allow inc pools 10 be sold at the race track only me pooIrooms are such a menace to the morals of the city that I hope we will find some way to suppress the evil. o'' elie POLICE COMMISSIONER M GONST-There should be no more diff
 iculty Tn suppressing the poolroorns eIssa sheIe IS ln Keeping faro and clock games closed. The authorities have attempted to suppress the booksellers through the medium of the courts b1,t nave been unable to obtain the desired
 IeIleA A there, so why waste any more
 tune m that direction? If the police i are able to keep faro and clock games i cIosed they are equally as able to SUD- press poolselling. If I was Chief of Police Of San Francisco I would close : every poolroom in the city within Iorty-eight hours, and I would see that tney were kept closed. Under the ex- lstlng law they have no right to exist This being true it is the duty of the no- nee to see that they are suppressed The law Is defective on the drawing l Of Juries in the Police Courts" said Assistant District Attorney Black last evening, and it is for this reason that 9e Se many acqulttals are brought about 1T PoI1ce Courts acted as they do in the Superior Courts in regard to the lmpaneling of juries better results in bringing law breakers to justice YOuld prevail, Where an officer is given the power es he is in the Police Courts to Drlng any one or anybody for a juror us nara to expect that a verdict will De gwen in accordance with the evil dence, as friend of the man on trial can easily get in the way and he placed on the jury. The poolroom proposition is indeed regrettabIe. but It VIII pc nara matter to suppress, although 1t will be a good thing to keen trying. Arrest the men from time to time and in the future things may take best" 'Ai0
 Mrs. E. B. Pond says: "I was very much surprised when I read The Gail this morning to see that such dens of vice existed. It Is a most terrible state or affairs, and The Call is doing a wise thlng in trying to expose them. It is terrible to think that such a state of afairs exist in California and in the heart of a Christian community. T think It must be the middle class more than any other that spend their money or at least gamble 1t in this foolish way It has nearly always been my experience with the poor that the wives seldom get the money, as the husbands generally spend it before they ever think of giving it to the women.''
 Miss Jessie Alderman of the W. c. T. U. indorses The Call In it's move against the pool rooms for women She says: 'I am so glad to see The Call work in the cause of right and suppress such crying evil. I hope that it will not stop until the last one of these places of gambling is suppressed
 Assistant District Attorney Black said: Tt is surprising the way these pool rooms violate the law and then es- cape without any punishment what ever. The law on the matter is plain enough, and should be enforced It is the pool rooms. and on this line if ar rests should follow much good might be done for no person wishes notoriety where gambling is concerned"
 
 Rheumatism. kidney & liver diseases cured. Dr. Gordn sSanita rum, nr. Kearny. s. F. Gal