The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-24
WILL CHECK GAMBLING
HAVANA AUTHORITIES WILL AT.
TEMPT TO PURIFY THE CITY.
Cuban Capital Overrun with "Sports"
from the United States and Mex
ico-ReIief Farms.

prominent Cuban lawyers appointed by Gen.
Ludlow TO decide on and report as to the
best methods 70 be adopted for checking
public gambling, recently made a complete
report which was referred to Mayor La
coste. 1t seems that the old Spanish law
was perfectly able to cope with the entire
matter, but that it was rarely enforced
owing TO the large revenue received by the
government for hospitals and other charita-
BILE institutions from the proprietors of
gambling establishments. Occasionally the
Governors would enforce the law and all
gambling would stop for few months, only
to break out again and be carried on with
more freedom than before. The committee
recognizes the fact that gambling has now
assumed proportions which it is desirable to
check and sets forth in its report that the
Spanish law only requires the cooperation
of the police to bring about the desired re-
form, but General Ludlow. the Military
Governor, insists that the fault is not with
the police. who, on several occasions, have
made arrests and seized gambling outfits,
only to have the judges Quash the proceed
ings and return the outfits to their owners.
The committee suggests police interference,
particularly with a certain class of clubs, So
called, which are mere gambling bells and
not consider. however. that it would be adj
visable to interfere with the legitimate
clubs, where whist and other games are
played merely as a pastime, but only with
those which are run gambling bells and
for the profit only of professional gamblers.
General Ludlow referred the report to
Senior Lacoste, who is enthusiastic in his de-
sire to suppress the evil, believing that it
has had bad effect upon the morals of the
citizens The mayor declares that he will
exercise to the full the powers vested in
him. Consequently, it is expected that many
arrests will shortly be made, not only of the
native gamblers, but of others who are in
the field with the sole object of fleeing
Americans. Many gamblers with unsavory
records are in the city, among them being
Americans, Mexicans and men of other
nationalities. If the judges do their duty, it
is expected that the city will shortly be
purified.
William Willard Howard, general man
ager of the Cuban industrial relief fund,
speaks hopefully of the work being done at
the two relief farms at Cieba Mocha, twelve
miles west of MatanZas, where the man.
ayers have more applications for employ
ment than they have funds enough to pro-
vide. Mr.. Howard says that crowds of des-
titute persons come TO the farms at day
light and beg for days work. None of
them beg for food and never ask for it with
out expressing a desire to pay for it by
working. Mr.. Howard also says that num-
erous small farmers in the neighborhood are
anxious to obtain loans for the purchase of
animals and implements with Which to re-
to pay for such loans at the rate of IL per
cent. According to Mr.. Howard, many who
applied to General Wilson for assistance
have been referred to him. General Wilson
is a great friend and helper Of the fund
and Is strongly in favor of aiding with cat
tie and agricultural implements the small
farmers In fact, II was at his instigation
that Governor General Brooke recently
called meeting of all the governors Of the
except General Wilson objected to the plan
proposed. believing that 1t sayored too much
OF paternalism.
cities there is little progress being made in
the cultivation OF land but that farther in
the country the evidences of the devastation
wrought by General Weyler are as plain as
ever, thus showing that there has been no
change since April when the correspondent
of the Associated Press. crossed the island
from Santiago, on horseback. The difficulty
is. Mr.. Howard says, a lack of funds. The
small farmers have not been helped except
by the issues of army. rations. The society
desires to increase its funds in order that it
may enlarge its sphere of usefulness.
An organization is being formed by some
Of securing American Citizenship. The o ofS
inators of the movement claim that in this
way their property and interests Will secure
pay $500 each TO become citizens of the
United States.
American banking methods are becoming
extremely popular with the merchants of
Havana, there now being on deposit with
the North American Trust Company fiscal
agents of the United States in Cuba, over
100000, exclusive of the government funds.
Several alleged counterfeiters have been
arrested on the charge of issuing spurious
silver dollars. The COINS which it is assert
ed were made by the prisoners, were pro-
duced by primitive methods, being cast in
plaster Of paris molds
The local papers unanimously complain of
Mayor Lacostes order directing the closing
of the stores at 6 O'Clock in the evening.
Owing to the intense heat which prevails
In the afternoons, ladies, the paper asserts
find 1t impossible to do their shopping be-
fore the hour named for closing in the order
They advise that the hour set be changed to
10 o'clock for the summer months
The Society of the Congo has petitioned
Governor General Brooke for permission to
hold a ball at which African dances will be
performed. The request has been referred
to Mayor Lacoste.
There was an extremely heavy rainfall
this afternoon and the lower portion of the
city was practically flooded
The Havana Chamber of Commerce has
voted to send a special commissioner to the
Philadelphia exposition
the maximum temperature today in
Havana was 81 degrees. the highest reg
istered this year.