The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-21
POLICY SHOPS ARE WARNED.
OFFICERS DIRECT THEIR REMOVAL
FROM PRESENT LOCATIONS.


and Jefferson Streets-Here the
Main Offices of the Savannah and
Chatham Lotteries and the Branch
Offices of Others Were Installed.
Mohr bros. Said to Have OBJ
iected to Their CONFERENCE.-The
dus soon TO Take Place.
Despite the averment of city officials
that they were without personal knowi-
edge of the existence or Whereabouts of
single gambling room in Savannah, several
of these places have been notified by rep
resentalives Of the city that they must
leave their present habitatons ana seek
others, less obnoxious to their neghbors
The gambling rooms principally affected
are the Savannah and Chatham policy
shops that for some time have had their
main offices in Congress lane, between
Barnard and jefferson streets. Besides
these sufferers by the acton of the city
fathers are others of the policy shops, who
maintained branch Offices where tickets
for the drawings were issued, in he same
vicinity These were embraced in the gem
e; al anathema and were directed with
equal force and power that they would not
longer be endured in the chas.e and repu-
table neighborhood, they had chosen to fIe-
quent. II is said they were to be allowed
only one other drawing, but two days have
passed and yesterday the drawings went
on as usual. Nevertheless, il is understood
and reported that this is the Fast day of
grace, and that unless the gamblers vacate
grievous ill-fortune in store for them
Recently NIessrs. Mohr Bros. erect
ed on Broughton street new building
for the conduct of the business of the
firm 1t was equipped with all modern
convenlences, and well adapted for its in
tended purpose. Still more ~ecently the
removal of the business from the old quar-
ters on Congress street has been in prog
ress, and the firm is now almost ready
to open up at the new stand.
Then the members of the firm began
to look over the ground aud in the course
of their inspection discovered that in the
rear Of their building, in Congress lane,
were situated the main and branch policy
shops whose removal has been directed.
In the employ of the firm were a number
of young women, and they were quite prop
erly unwilling that these and other of their
employees should be exposed to the annoy
ance incident to the twice-a-day congre-
cation of a crowd of not very reputable
whites and negroes. They did not believe
that their business interests would be con-
served by conniving at such practices ana
tolerating in such close proximity to their
offices such fragrant violations of the
law.
The story is that Mohr Bros. filed with
the city government an earnest and soulful
protest that evidently has not failed to
have its desired effect. The city was
urged to remove from the neighborhood
those whose presence was not congenial to
good supporters OF the administrations and
-voi.a-it was done
The policy proprietors and their friends
say that they received notice, either per-
soDally or through their employees, on
Tuesday. According to their story, the
notice was given by one or more of The
city detectives. The proprietors were in
structed that only one other drawing
would be permitted, after which they were
told they mist get out and find another
place 10 run the business. Nevertheless.
they had not moved last night, though it
was reported that the drawing that then
took place would be the last
The gamblers are indignant at the way
they have been treated by the city. They
are not able to understand that their bus
iress is not as lawful as any other and
are Offering up most strenuous objections
to the procedure by which they are 10
be bundled from pillar to post. Although
they are forced 20 confess that they can
do nothing, they cannot but feel that they
have been made to suffer material wrongs
and are altogether unable TO underst land
why they should be forced to get out just
because two or three business men file OBJ
jecions TO their continued presence.
1t was too late last night to
admit of an interview with Messrs.
Mohr Bros, so that their side of the story
III > 49,
must be left to bear the load of injustice
and personal wrong that the aggrieved
gamblers heap upon their shoulders.
City officials, who were asked about~the
matter, refused 10 discuss it or to have
anything to say in connection with 1t.
The Mayor could not be seen and others
fell that it would be his right and privi-
lege to state the position the city occu-
pies. Minor officers were unwilling to
commit themselves one way or the other.
Neither would they affirm or deny or lend
either their sanction or Their disapproVal
to the course that had been followed.
But the action of the authorities in this
matter effectuaiiy disproves the old cam
paign slogan that has lately been SO much
in evidence 1t is the old talk that has
been 80 often made that it wear.es in the
telling 1--WE don't know anything about
it, If somebody else will do the work that
we are sworn and pei 10 do and rut these
offenders on the DOCKET OF pflDS them lOiO
court we shall try TO gather courage to do
the rest. In the meanwhile, don't worry
US"
A well-known gentleman in discussing
this defense the authorities make, said:
THE hing is as wearisome as a thrice
told tale. To my certain knowledge, il
has been in constant use in Savannah al
most, since the time when the memory of
man runneth not to the contrary, and l.
for one. would be glad to hear something
else, Surely the political ingenuity of the
past quarter-century has succeeded in de-
viaing something a little more Plausible,
that bears at least the outward appear
ance of a real desire to suppress the
evil.
1--WE have all heard it so often and we
are oil SO tired of hearing it repeated. 1.
has been refuted so many times that Ii
is hot necessary TO say anything about
ii and 1t is so patiently erroneous in prin-
ciple that it is a waste of time to dis
cuss ii. Ii may be said, though, that it
is not the duty of the private citizen TO
enforce the laws. The private citizen en-