The San Francisco call., 1903-01-13
POOL SELLERS
MUST DESIST
Los Angeles City Council
Passes Strong Law
Against Them.
Ordinance Prohibits Bets on
Any Contest in City
Limits.

LOS ANGELES. Jan. I2-Pool selling
and the making Of books on horse races
within the corporate limits Of Los Angeles
was altogether prohibited by an ordinance
passed by the City Council to-day, al
though the fact was not definitely known
TO outsiders until this evening BY the
provisions of the ordinance as passed all
persons are forbidden to conduct the busi-
ness of making books or selling pools on
races or other contests in the city of Los
Angeles. The measure has not yet be-
come a law, as it has not been passed
upon by Mayor Snyder. who may or may
not veto the ordinance.
As originally drafted several weeks ago
the pOOlroom ordinance contained the fol-
lowing section which was intended 70
protect the business of pool selling and
bOOkmaking at such horse races as are
held within the city:
Nothing in this ordinance shall be con-
strued as prohibiting or applying to the
making of books or the selling of pools
upon any horse race run or conducted
within the corporate limits of the city of
Los Angeles
The ordinance after introduction in the
old Council was referred TO a committee.
where it remained until brought up be-
fore the recently elected City Council 40
its meeting to-day. 1t was presented from
passed by a unanimous vote Of the
COuncilmen present.
II was not known until later that the
section above quoted had been omit
ted from the measure before pre-
sentatOn to the Council. and that in
its present form the law if approved. will
prevent all pool selling and bookma king
on Los Angeles racetTacks. Mayor Sny-
der is absent from the city. and acting
Mayor Bowen refused to pass upon the
proposed law. The ordinance as adopted
is as follows:
Section lit shall he unlawful for any per
son as principal. agent emplOye or other wise
in the city of Los Angeles 10 conduct. carry
carrying on a pooIroom, the business OF
making books or selling pools on races or other
contests.
Section PIT shall be unlawful for any per-
son so 1Ir as principal eli agent emPloys R or othsrwiss
assist IN conducting or carrying on the busi-
ness Of receiving money. or anything Of value
or any representative Of value. upon the under
or 5S sa 6 % or sr ships 0
as bets or wasers on any Face or contest, or on
the result OF any race or contest, or are re-
Ceived to be bet or wagered, or placed dep0s-
tied. as bets or wagers on any race or contest.
Section at shall be unIavTful for any per-
son as principal agent. emplOye or otherwise.
knowingly to permit any house. room. apart
ment place owned by him, under his
to be used in whole or IN part pOoiroou.
as place for conducting carrying on
any business mentioned in sections 1 apd OF
this ordinance.
Section 1T shall be unlawful for any per
principal. agent. emplOye. otherwise.
TO let or lease any telephone or telegraph wire.
knowing that IL Is 10 be used for the purpose
Of conducting or carrying on a poOlrOOm or
any business mentioned in sections and a.
This ordinance; or TO transmit any message
over any telephone telegraph line wire
owned, controlled or leased by any person en-
gagged In conducting or carrying on a pOOlrO0m.
any business mentioned in sections / and .
of this ordinance. knowing that such message
is to be used in conducting or carrying on such
poOlroom business.
Section "a poOlroom Is defined to be a room
or place where betting or laying Of wagers upon
the results OF races contests is carried on
business.