The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-22
MOVING OF THE POLICY SHOPS.
MAYOR MYERS ON THE GAMBLING
HOUSE CRUSADE.

simply Ordered the POiice 10 But
Stop to Disorder in Congress
Street Lane at the Request of
MOhr BrOs.-POIicy shop People
Were Not Ordered to Move, He
Says, But simply Found 1t Advisa-
bile TO Do sO-The City's Way of
Putting a stop to Nuisances Com
planned of by Citizens.
The action of the city fathers in direct
ing the removal of policy shops that had
adorned Congress lane for considerable
time found ready commendation yester-
day among the many by whom it was dis
cussed. If surprise we're mingled with
the commentator, it was expressed in a
minor key.
A business man, by whom the matter
was discussed, expressed his sentiments
and opinions with much freedom. When
asked what he thought of the action that
had been taken by the city. he applauded
it highly and went on to discuss the new
questions it has brought into being. In
this connection, he said:
THE ability of the officers of the city
government to abate, at least in part, the
gambling nuisance has been clearly dem
onstrated by the events of the last few
days. There was complaint from business
men Of the existence of these places in
certain locality, their proprletors were in
structed TO seek green fields and pastures
new, and almost though not quite, in the
twinklng of an eye, the thing was done"
The drawings that were wont 90 take
place in Congress lane, between Barnard
and jefferson streets, were to-day con-
spicuCus by their absence and the crowds
of negroes and the poorer class of whites,
that had come twice daily to see the
sights and learn if they We're mum bered
among the fortunate. gathered elsewhere,
in localities where the neighbors are more
complaisant The city's imperative order
had been obeyed. the birds had flown,
their nest resembled one of last season.
No one would have recognized the Con-
gress lane to which Savannahians have
grown 50 accustomed and have been In
the habit of referring to, with becoming
civic pride, as one of the sights of a great
city. The responsibility that there lived
and reigned and had its being verged on
stupidity.
From this now wel-known and undis-
puted fact it seems it might be reason
ably deduced that the city has under
rated It's power of accomplishing the long
desired. The city fathers have said. with
commendable mOdesty, that they could do
nothing, the ordinances Of the city. that
they make at the rate of two a week be-
ing wOefully deficient. With every dispo-
sition to meet the gambling evil and every
evil on its own ground and fight it to a
finish they were compelled to confess that
they were powerless to prevent it, Their
hands, they averred, almost with tears in
their eyes, were too securely tied"
net han he
md that they have been mistaken and that
they all along possessed the power with
out being aware of il. II must bring a
sense of consolation to learn that 1t is
in their grasp that they hold the whip
hand and that ali they have to do is to
crack the whip and start the team. That
TINS power could be exercised without their
being aware that il was anywhere nearer
than the state courts. is but another Illus
tration of The tTfte Old saw that has ref
erence to matters not touched upon in any
system Of philosophy"
If it is objected that there has been
no complaint of the existence Of these
places. where games of chance are played.
the columns of the newspapers. in which
the actions of the grand jury of the Supe-
rtor Court and the sermons of ministers of
the gospel have been reproduced and com
mented upon at length, afford sufficient
refutatiOn. Surely, it is not necessary
tHdl tue compartments SnOuld assume tine
duties and responsibilities of officers of the
city and designate the open door of every
place where gambling is carried on nor is
1t necessary that the compiainants. to be
entitled to a hearing, should be residents
of the immediate locality or carry on bust
ness therein or bear any other badge OF
special favor"
The evil. if any is done, is not TO these
few, but to the many; not to the neighbors,
but to the public. 1t cannot be necessary
that an officer of the law, before ne pro-
ceeds against an individual or a house 10
suppress lawlessness, should have personal
knowledge of the guilt of the individual or
the disorderiy character of the house II
is were so there would be no other Wit
nesses in the court of justice"
Mayor Myers contends that the removal
of several of the policy offices and shops
from Congress street .ane between Bar
nard and jefferson streets at the instance
OF the police department does not imply
any knowledge on the part of the city au-
thorides or the police of the existence of
such places in Congress street lane or else
where or any liability or their part 10
cause Il wholesale removal of such places.
Il gave no orders for the removal Of
any policy shops by the police in Congress
street .ane or elsewhere" said Mayor NY
ers yesterday. THE facts in the case are
simply that a complaint was made by
Messrs. Nohr Bros. that disorder.y crowds
congregated i'm the lane in the rear of their
place on Broughton street, and that they
were afraid 10 leave their rear doors open
on account OF danger of theft and other
annoyances. A member of the firm called
on me ana made the complaint personally
He said that ne had reason to believe that
the crowds congregated in the lanes be-
cause of the existence of policy shops
there l told him that if he knew that
policy shops were being conducted in the
.are that | would be glad TO have him put
them on the Information docket and that
| would see that the parties were brought
uo in Police Court, and if sufficient in
formation could he obtained, turned over
to the state courts. Mr.. Mohr said that
he did MOI desire to prosecute the parties.
All that he desired was to be relieved of
the annoyance. | accordingly gave in
structi0ns that the police should see TO il
that the disorderly conduct in the lane
should cease and that the crowds should
not be allowed to congregate there. This
was the extent OF my Instructions"
You did not instruct the police to see
that the nDliPV mon rpoVa1 oleou,nrn