Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-11-18
GAMING in MONTREAL
The City Is the Lottery Center Of
North America.


Montreal is the Monaco Of Canada.
Not that 1t is cursed with many more
regular gambling houses than has any
other city on the North American con-
unent, but on account of a peculiar
provincial law which, without actually
permitting them. prevents interference
with the extensive lottery and policy
establishments that flourish there.
The French Canadian element. which
comprises two-thirds of the population
OF Montreal, is passionateiy fond of
any game of chance, and there never
Is a bazaar. picnic or any kind Of a
'etc at which there is not some sort
OF lottery, tombola or wheel of for
tune. Even the regattas and horse
races and moonlight excursions that
are held throughout the province
would be considered incomplete unless
there were some device for trying ones
luck. In many OF these cases the pro-
yincial police interfere and close up
the games, but from time immortal
II has been the law that at any charity
table entertainment a permit can be
obained from the authorities to hold
lottery or tombola. or to have any Of
the thousand and one devices whereby
money is coaxed out of the visitors
pockets with promises of chances to
win things worth several times the
money invested.
About six years ago some enterpris-
Ing individuals came to the conclusion
that IL the law permitted this sort Of
thing on a small scale there was no
reason why it should not be permitted
wholesale, says the Chicago Record.
Therefore they laid their plans to 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 an sorts
Of combinations were made to have
the scheme succeed. A large amount
was offered to- the party in power for
campaign expenses, and it is said that
the money was actually paid before
hand. When IL came to 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 to be given to 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
Montreal, and which thus far. notwith-
standing the efforts of the Citizens
League. have flourished 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 n
bill will he introduced to abolish the
establishments. At present there are
five of them. all of them actually pay
ing percentage of their receipts to
charitable institutions. Their places Of
business are large and beautifully
fitted UP. The two which do a regular
lottery business offer prizes of paint
ings. These paintings are valued at so
much. and certain place is pointed
out to the prize winners where the
paintings may be redeemed at a reduc-
ton of about sc per cent on their face
value. These two places hold weekly
and monthly drawings. For the week
" distribution they have two drawings
a day, and the 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.