The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-25
TO BE MADE A PROFESSION.
Attempt to Legalize Gambling-Billings
Merchants Stand Divided.

If a bill that Senator w. E. Tierney
will introduce becomes a law the
profession Of gambling will be
created in Montana. It is an act to
legalize gambling in the state and pro-
poses to license not only the keepers of
gaming institutions, hut the players as
we'll. The bill does not contemplate a
%prohibitory license, but those who IA
vor it say it is the best medicine they
know of to prevent the increase of
gambling among the members of the
rising generation. It aims to cure by
its feature of publicity given to all
persons who gamble, subjects them to
arrest and the penalty Of a fine or i'm
prisonment if they do not comply
with the law, and is a source of reve-
nue. to the state.
The names of all licensed gamblers
shall be kept in a register by the
treasurer of each county, as we'll as
the dates Of issuance, and expiration
Of licenses and the occupation of the
persons who obtain them. These
licenses are good only in the counties
in which they are issued. Any person
who plays without such license is
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, the
penalty for which for the first offense
is not less than $l5 nor more than
$25, or not less than $25 nor more
than $500 for each subsequent offense.
Keepers of games who do not obtain
satisfactory evidence that their pat
rons are legalizeu gamblers are sub
ject to a fine of not less than $5U MOI
more than 5000 for each subsequent
Offense.
ANY person who plays faro, monte,
roulette, l~ansquenette, rouge ct noir,
tan, fan tan, stud poker, craps, seven.
and-a-half, any banking or percentage
game or any game of chance played
with cards, dice or any device what.
ever, is a gambler under the provi
sions of the bill. If any trick or de.
vice is used for the purpose of cheat.
ing at games the person committing
the act is guilty Of larceny and subjec,
to the penalties Of law provided fo1
such cases. One section gives the coun.
ty attorney, sheriff, constable or police
OL1OCA VA4O 14SuC W O1CaA 1AtO ally
gambling resort suspected Of viola.
tions Of the law, if the keepers refuse
them admittance.
Special professional licenses good il
any county in the state, may be issued
for $40 a quarter. The bill prohibits
the issuance Of licenses to persons
under 20 years of age. In case of the
non-payment of fine in any case the
convicted persons may be imprisoned
in the county Jail until the fine is paid
at the rate Of 50 a day.
Many of the merchants of Billings
favor licensing gambling, but they
think the license should be made large
enough SO that only a few persons and
places would be able to make a bust.
ness Of it. They feel that people viii.
gamble and since such is the case the
county should derive a revenue from
it. Some of the merchants, however,
believe that the law cannot be made
too severe regarding the prohibition
of gambling and think slot machines
should be included in the list.
No action has been taken by the
ministers or church workers of this
city, who are opposed to legalizine
gambling, in regard to Tierney's bill
but they are not TO be found idle
During the next few days a petition
will probably be forwarded to Yellow
stone county representatives asking
them to work against the measure,
They would rest contented should the
present law be allowed to remain il
force, but since the element favorine
the licensing of gambling has stirred
up the hornets nest they will endeavol
to have the law amended making it {
misdemeanor for the officers, botl
county and city, neglecting to enforce
the law. Representative Stull of this
county favors such an amendent anG
is one of the bitterest opponents Of the
measure which has for it's purpose the
legalizing of gambling.