Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-04
Butte'S Gambling Houses Have
Resumed Business.
PROPOSED GAMBLING LAW
Bill introduced in the House Provides
For Faro, Roulette and Round
u the Table Poker.

The tiger came forth from his hiding
place a few nights ago after a period OF
seclusion of "a hours. Evidently the
someone to whom the gamblers go for
pointers and advice, and whose finger is
kept on the pulse of police sentiment,
told them it was reasonably safe for them
tor open up again, and they did. The
| games in the Combination, NJ. & NJ. and
Silver Bow will be running tonight as
! usual, and it being Saturday night the
play ought to be good. In fact the deal
ers say the play in these days of mock
restriction is much better than it was in
the days before the anti-gambling law
went into effect, and the three houses, be-
ing run by one concern, are said to be
making all kinds of easy money.
However,, the gamblers are tired of
breaking the law 365 days in the year,
and while 1t is apparently not necessary,
they propose, if possible, to secure the
passage of some legislation which will
protect them from the blood-hounds of
the law, ever alert and on the trail of the
evil-doer, and in a measure legalize the
gamboling of the tiger, who must needs
be cautious these day which way he
switches his tail. To this end they nave
employed a well known lawyer of this
city to draft a bill, which has been in
reduced in the house.
This bill provides for the licensing OF
gambling, and When the time comes the
gamblers will be represented in Helena
by a strong lobby, whose business it will
be to push the bill through the legislature
This bill is drawn up with the idea of
freezing out the little fellows and plac-
ing the dangerous pastime in the hands
OF a few. 1t goes a little further than the
old law, and contemplates the licensing
of the roulette wheels. The bill which is
now being considered by members of the
house, provides for faro, round-table-
poker and roulette. Houses running fare
and roulette games will be taxed $500
per quarter, with an additional license OF
$40 per quarter for each faro table OF
roulette wheel, while round-table-poke,
Will pay $50 per month for each concern
conducting the game.
The bill provides that the roulette
wheel shall contain SO numbers and the
Q and 90. There is also a provision in the
bill prohibiting sure thing games. A pen.
atty of from $500 to 81, 900 or imprison
ment for not more than five years is pro
vided for those conducting games, tn,
percentage Of which is higher than ap
pears on their face.
The arguments the gamblers will us,
IN urging the passage of this bill are tina
the Chandler law is a dead letter, becaus,
it is not enforced and they want to con.
tribute to the expenses of the state They
asert that the law is being openly vic
lated everywhere in the state and the
prefer to do a licensed business.
At the same time the ministers of thu
state are not inactive in the matter. Sew.
eral meetings have been held and com,
mittees appointed to take any action they
deem necessary, and when the proper
time comes the pastors will ~undoubtedly
be prepared to make a strong fight
| against the bill becoming a law.