Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-10-07
PLAN OF FINES
FOR GAMBLERS
Council Will Pass an Ordinance to
Control Gamblers as Prostitutes
Are Now Controlled.
SEWERAGE PLANS ACCEPTED
Regular Grist Of City Business Pass
ed at the October Meeting Of the
City Fathers.

When the council met in regular
monthly session Monday night it was
anticipated that President Symmes
would occupy the chair, as Mayor Ed
ridge was supposed to have left town,
but the mayor appeared in due time
and in the miserable shack known as
the city hail." the council, other city
officials and reporters fingered until
lei the midnight hour. There did
not appear to be much business in
hand but it proved to be ample.
The legal fraternity was well repre-
sented in the persons OF City Attorney
Cort, County Attorney Belden and r.
von Tobel. When the three appeared
it was recognized that something vas
doing and later Mr.. Belden was called
upon to explain his presence. He said
he had not come to enlighten the aug.
ust body which he was addressing,
but to talk over conditions in Lewis
town. offer a few suggestions perhaps
and assure the council and law Off.
GERS of his hearty support in enforcing
the laws.
Mr.. Belden first spoke of the neces.
sity of having a vagrant ordinance
passed. if none now existed, and of
enforcing one il there was such on
the statute books. He said he and the
sheriff were convinced the town need
ed a cleansing of hoboes, leeches and
petty offenders and would give their
support to the city officials in getting
rid of q dozen or more now seen
about the streets without visible
lei of support. Being informed
that a yagrant ordinance now existed,
and the sentiment of the council be-
ing expressed to the effect that ii
should be more rigidly enforced, the
county attorney passed to the subject
of gambling.
Mr.. Belden deplored the existence
of the evil and cited some previous
efforts of the county officials to eradi.
tdlt IL, DuI Sdlu tndt ut ptlitNCut VII
sidering local sentiment, the better
course would be to adopt a plan in
effect in other Montana cities and con
troll it through a system of fines,
which would also bring to the city ad.
ditional revenue, as is now the case
in the handling of the social evil.
He said that an ordinance framed
on the lines of the state law and max
ing gambling a misdemeanor, penaliz-
ed by an adequate fine, would in his
opinion, prove the only practical
method, that gamblers who then con-
Quoted themselves with reasonable
propriety and out of the gaze of the
public could be fined once a month
and those who became obnoxious, or
places where the system of rolling
was believed to exist, could be fined
every day, If necessary to drive them
from the city. Slot machines could
also be similarly handled.
City Attorney Cort Followed along
the same lines, deploring the local
feeling upon the subject. but ~fayoring
the proposition advanced. Mr.. Won
Tobel took similar ground and in a
general discussion which followed IL
was apparent that the council was OF
one mind upon the subject. City Clerk
Pfaus opposed the city entering into
any partnership with gamblers, which
would seemingly sanction or license
gambling, but nevertheless said II
was essential that the council be prac'
teal, and il gambling could be forced
into back rooms or to second floors
and there controlled il would probably
be better that the city obtain a rev
enue from it's existence than to have
present conditions continue.
The result of the discussion was a
motion by Alderman Symmes, second
ed by Alderman Hemphill. and car
ried. that the ordinance committee
consult with the city attorney and
have an ordinance on the lines pro
posed presented for passage.
Aside from the gambling PROPOSE
ton the subject of greatest impor
lance discussed and disposed of was
the plan for sewerage.
City Engineer Stafford presented
plans which provide for a main sew
er from the intersection of Third ave
nue. and the stream-near Watson
street-down Third avenu to the
city limits and thence along lines sug
gested by John Crowley. from whom
has been secured a right of way, t.
an outlet in the stream; laterals to b,
laid I'm alleys on either side OF MaiI
street from Third avenue southwes
to Eighth venue. He said that ever
though not more than the lower enc
to the city limits could be furnished
this year 1t would be advisable to be
gin at once. avoiding any difficult,
with Mr.. Crowley, which would Ger
tainly be the case should the worl
be done in the spring, when crops
were growing. The estimated cost o
the system planned was less thai
$4,000. the amount at the disposal o
the city.
The recommendations and plan!
were adopted and the engineer In
structed to prepare the specification
and advertise at once for bids TO
both material and construction.