The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-23
TAX ON SLOT MACHINES.
An Alderman Who Didn't Know There
Were Any in Raleigh.


Were Any in Raleigh
There was likewise not a little spice
in the slot machine debate.
These small-scale lotteries had been
omitted altogether and Mr.. Ray. of Ma
con. amended section i16 by adding ION
each slot machine $780,"
TO this the objection was raised that
some slot machines simply act as sales
men, that You put a coin in and g,
your moneys worth.
TO overcome this objection Mr.. Win
ston amended Mr.. Rays amendment to
read: .'On each slot machine 500,
where the return is uncertain"
Mr.. Bunch of Guilford. wanted to
know if this wasn't discrimination
against brains-putting a machine up
to do a clerks work.
Mr.. Gattis, of Orange. feared that
such tax would run the machines out
Of the State. He thought the tax ought
to be made lower SO as to get some reve-
nue..
MIR. Winston said. he sent up his
amendment only to make Mr.. Ray
amendment accomplish the end desired
and not include in the provision IF the
bill things that ought not to be in it. He
was, however, opposed to the whole
amendment.
''These machines are gambling, pure
and simple, and I'm opposed to licensing
wrong in any form. As well put a tax
on a game of seven up, where a quarter
is at stake"
Mr. Ray didn't take any stock in such
sentiments. He was opposed to gamb-
ling; to let the gambling device go scot
free was not the way to discourage it.
'.You can as easily legislate brains
into a boys head as you can legislate
out of his veins the desire to gamble.
The boy that is going under will 20 I'M
der anyhow. + don't think we'd better
begin now to try to legislate morals into
the boys of the State.
Mr.. Boushall said the same argument
used by Mr. Winston been used before
the committee and it had prevented the
very Amendments proposed being put in
the BILL 3an
Mr.. Gattis said to operate these ma
chimes was now misdemeanor, and he
wanted to know whether anybody had
ever been indicted for operating one.
Mr.. Boushall said there had been such
indictments and the parties indicted had
been conyicted.;AsThese indictments had
been against Raleigh people.
'"The board of aldermen tried to tax
them ont of existence, but finding they
could not do so{under the law. they had
those operating them indicted"
Mr.. Ray-'They are still running, amt
they?"
Mr. Boushall-'If they are it's in
places where we don't see them"
Mr. Ray-'.Why, they are running in
the most prominent saloons in this
town" Qaughter.t
Mr. Boushal-"H do you know"
Mr. Ray-"I've been there and seen
them
Mr.. BoushaI-"I don't go there"
Mr.. Ray-''I don't think you are any
better off, and you are "a little more ig
norant.''
Mr. Boushall-"Im perfectly willing
to be ignorant on that side
Mr.. Gattis-"What are we here for
TO run these madchines out of exist
ence or to run money into the State
Treasury? If we make the tax too high
it will do the one. If we fix it right
it will do the other.
Mr.. Bunch wanted Mr.. Rays amend
ment adopted.
If it raises revenue all right; if il
runs them out of the State all right"
The amendment was adopted by bis
majority.
Mr.. Boushall amended to make the
tax 81 900. He said he was only put
ting the machines on the same footin.
with lotteries. The only difference il
them is one of size and not of kind.
This amendment was lost.