The Topeka state journal., 1899-02-06
In Bucketshops, While Members
of the Legislature
ARE PLAYING POKER
Every Night in High-Up Rooms
in Hotels.
Why Does mt the Legislature
Go After Its Own
Lawbreakers Before Plucking
the Mote Out of Others Eyes.

Inc mouse went INTO CO11H1AIlee OI IAAC
whole at IL o'clock this morning to con-
slider BenefiePs anti-bucket shop bill.
Mr.. Benefel himself made the motion
to consider the bill.
AS soon as the bill was before the
house Adams of Sedgwick moved that
the enacting clause be stricken out, and
the motion was seconded by Hallett Of
Rush. Mr.. Benefiel at once went to Mr..
Adams and held a whispered conference
with him. during which time the house
waited. Some one suggested that the
house better take recess until the two
got the matter adjusted, but Mr.. Haines
of Lyon, who was in the chair, ruled
that the house would have to wait
Mr.. Adams insisted on his motion and
the discussion began. He was against
the bill, he said, because he was op-
posed to regulating all the private
affairs of men.
Mr.. Fairchild of Kingman supported
the measure. Out in my town." he
said, 1--WE had a young man in a bank.
No one doubted his integrity and hon
esty, but today he is a fugitive from
justice, all because of a bucket shop,
and the bank is short $4,000 on account
of his operations. 1 am against bucket
shops because they ruin young boys.
Mr.. Benefiel then took the floor and
said: II had not expected that this
measure would meet with any opposi-
done so. Bucket shops are sometimes
referred to as gambling houses, but
that is a mistake. They are not en-
titled to the dignity Of gambling denS.
If they were 1 might not be so strong
ly opposed to them. The business is
deliberate stealing. Out at Russell a
bank has failed and the president is
fugitive from justice. A short time
ago he was wealthy, and he can point
to the bucket shop as the cause of the
change. Only per cent of the money
tod elaz e-fea tn
Kansas. The rest all goes to Kansas
City and Chicago"
Mr.. Grattan at this point asked a
question concerning the wording of the
bill, Objecting to some of it's provisions.
In reply Mr.. Benefiel said: when
this bill was introduced the Kansas
City bucket shop decided to kill it in
the courts, because they thought it was
framed as the gentleman from McPher-
son suggests, but when they found just
how it was, they set to work to kill it
in this legislature"
Mr.. Babb also opposed the bill. ''I
was under the impression" he said,
that bucket shop operations were
gambling, but it seems that they are
ement of chance, but it seems in bucket
shops there is no chance except for the
other fellow"
Mr.. Elder of Stafford spoke for the
bill andMr.Adams made another speech
against it.
Mr.. Johnston of Kearney asked: :"Does
the author of this bill know that it will
throw 1,200 telegraph operators out of
work?''
mo, I don't know any such thing,''
replied Mr.. Benefiel, but I do know
that it will take $4,000 a year away
from the Western Union Telegraph
company, which refused to pay it's war
tax, and don't care if it does" Gap
plause.)
The motion to strike out the enacting
clause was voted down by an over
whelming vote, and the bill was taken
up by sections. 1t provides that not
only the bucket shop operator, but also
the man who patronized them shall be
guilty of a felony and sent to the peni-
tentiary for not less than five years.
Adams of Sedgwick and Seaver of
Ellsworth opposed the penalties and
tried to make it a misdemeanor, but
they were voted down. After several
sections had been adopted Mr.. Grattan
opposed making the owner of a build
ing where a bucket shop was operated,
a felon, and Speaker Osborn also spoke
along the same line.
Il am in favor he said, "of the law
as applied to the men who run bucket
shops to filch money from the pockets
of people, but I don't believe a poor
devil who goes into a bucket shop and
loses ten dollars in it ought to be sent
to the penitentiary for five years. If
this law is to be enforced the evidence
must come from this sort of people, and
they will not testify if by so doing it
will send them to prison.
Mr. Grattan moved that the house
adjourn and the motion prevailed with
the understanding that the discussion
will be taken up later.