The Washington bee., 1899-07-22
GAMING IN MONTREAL
The City Is the Lottery Center OF
North America

Montreal is the Monaco of Canada
Sot that IL Is cursed with many more
regular gambling houses than has any
other city on the North American con-
nnent but on account OF q peculiar
provincial law which, without actually
permitting them. prevents interference
win the extensive lottery and policy
establishments that flourish there
The French Canadian element. which
comprises twO-thiris of the population
Of Montreal. is passionately fond OF
any game Of chance. and there never
Is hazaar. picnic Or any kind OF a
'etc ar which there is nOt some >'rt
Of lcttely, tombola or wheel of for
tune. Even the regattas aud horse
races and moonlight excursions that
are held throughout the province
would be considered incomplete unless
there were some device for trying one :
luck In many Of these cases the pro-
vincial police interfere and close up
the games. bur from time immortal
IL has been the law that AZ any charity
table entertainment 2 permit can he
obained from the authorities 10 hold
lottery or tombola. or 10 have any Of
the thousand and one devices whereby
money is coaXed out Of the visitor :
pockets with promises Of chances to
win things worth several times the
money invested
About six years ago some enterpris-
ing individuals came 10 the conclusion
that if the law permitted this sort Of
thing on small scale there was no
reason why il should rot he permitted
wholesale. says the Chicago Record.
Therefore they laid their plans 10 OBJ
tain charter from the legislature Of
the province Of Quebec for the holding
Of a charitable lottery. Money was
freely offered for votes. and all sorts
Of combinations were made 10 have
the scheme succeed. A large amount
was offered To the party in power for
campaign expenses. and il is said that
the money was actually paid before
hand When il came 10 a vote. how
! ever the scheme did not pass. The
! lottery was TO have been in connection
with a free art institute. where in
| struction was 10 ha given 70 INDECENT
| but talented persons Afterward. how
| ever the charter was granted by an
order Of the lieutenant governor in
| council
This was the forerunner Of the five
! similar institutions which now exist in
| Montreal. and which thus far. nOtwith-
| standing the efforts Of the Citizens
| League. have fiourished openly. The
| reason for this is that the provincial
| and dominion laws clash on this point
OF gambling and lotteries. There
| seems to be little doubt. however. that
| at the next session Of parliament a
| bill will he introduced 10 abolish the
! establishments. At present there are
| FIVE Of them. all Of them actually pay
/ ing a percentage Of their receipts TO
! charitable institutions. Their places Of
| business are large and beautifully
! fitted up. The two which do regular
| lottery business offer prizes Of paint
| ingS. These paintings are valued at so
/ much. and A certain place is pointed
out 70 the prize winners where the
| paintings may bc redeemed at a reduc-
I ton Of about 3G per cent on their face
| value. These two places hold weekly
and monthly drawings. For the week
! ly distribution they have two drawings
day. and tine tickets can be bought
! not only in all cigar stores and bar
bers' shops. but are peddled broadcast
/ on the streets by men, women and chill
| dren.