The San Francisco call., 1899-03-08

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MENTO, March Dan Burns and his
gambling partners are not to have the
exclusive privilege of rCbbing the peo-
pie of the metropolis through the me-
dunn Of the racing game at Ingleside
and Oakland racetracks. This much
was decided to-day in the Senate by
Rvote that not only killed the poolselling
bills, but also demonstrated the idleness
OF the Mexican's boast that he controls
the majority in the Legislature and can
kill any bill that displeases him or pass
any measure that he favors.
This was d field day for gamblers.
and the war that was waged fer and
against the passage of the bills affect
ing their business was as bitter one
as has been seen here for many day.
It was dog eat dog from start TO finish,
and when the smoke of combat had
cleared away there was not enough left
of Dan Burns, Ed Corrigan and their
hackers TO hold an inquest on.
Tonight the booksellers who came
here yesterday with the determination
not TO allow Burns and COrrigan to Sc
cure for themselves an exclusive priVl-
lege for fleeing the public are celebrat-
ing their victory. As their victory was
Burns defeat the Mexican finds his
dream Of a gambling trust, the prOhts
OF which would have been shared by
him and his immediate associates in the
racing game at IngleSide, so badly
shattered that there is no hope of its
future fulhllment.
There were two bills before the Sen
r ate. one by Senator Sammy Braunhart
TO limit racing TO sixty days and the
other by Assemblyman Atherton to
prohibit the selling of pools on any
sporting event except within the nmltS
Of racetrack Enclosure. This last Dill
was the most Objectionable TO the pool
. sellers as il was so WOrded that had
It become a law, the sporting resorts
where pools are now sold on prize
fights and other sporting events Would
have TO shut up shop. In other words
the racetracks were given the exclusive
privilege OF ffeecing the public, their
trade in that line being legalized by
legislative enactment
.Overtures were made to Burns by the
booksellers to have the bill Killed, the
argument being advanced that they
had supported him in his political nights
and he should now return the favor by
assisting them. They had, they said,
done all that lay in their power to elect
him Senator and it was an ungenerouS
act for him to seek to monopohze the
gambling industry to their great detrI-
Tnen+ To these pleas Burns turned q
l..
ill then. that the booksellers pooled
their issues and declared war on the
Mexican.
Burns issued orders to his followers
gn the Legislature but not all Of them
vvould obey him. Some of them were
under more obligations, politically, TO
the pool room men than they are to
RuYsns and they elected to vote aganae
the Mexican Other legislators who
have been voting for other senatorial
candidates than Burns saw in the oc-
casiOn an opportunity TO dlsproVe
Burns assertions that he controls the
LEGISLATURE, so they sided with the pool
sellers These legislators said that II
the law as ii stands on the statute
. hooks to-day is not what it should be
& certainly would not better conditions
TO pass other laws giving to the few
the privileges that are now possessed
bv the gambling fraternity in general
So II was that when the bills came up
for action in the Senate to-day Burns
found himself opposed by formidable
array of votes Still he refused to sur
render and in desperation called to his
Gid all Of his henchmen who are still
YovaI to him. Among these was his
faithful servant, Assemblyman Wright
of Alameda. Wright left his seat in the
Assembly to lobby for the pool bills on
the floor of the Senate, but he is dis
graced ana discredited and his support
Of the bills worked to their disadVant-
age rather than to their good. 1t was
not until the pool room men threatened
IL support an amendment that would
prohibit pool selling on every foot of
california soil that Burns finally dis