New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-12
ON MORAL ISSUE.
Not Using Witness LGzO against
Western Union and POolrO0mS.

District ATTORNEY Jerome came back to the
CITY from his summer home at Lakevle, Conn.
yesterday and was IN his office for the first
time since Governor Odel signed the Garfield
witness bill It was expected that Mr. Jerome
would tell something Of his plans to make the
new law effective, but he had little to say on
that subject.
'Of course I will move against the gamblers"
he said and I have plans for getting evidence
against them but will not tell now what those
plans are"
Mr. Jerome said he had been misquoted on
the subject Of using the law to compel
agents OF the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany to give information against the poolroorns.
He Will have the power under the law to call as
witnesses against booksellers any official or en-
ploye of the Western Union who knows about
the use OF the company's wires in transmitting
information from the racetracks to the pool
rooms.
1.-THE bill speaks for itself as to the power It
confers on the District Attorney in getting evil
dence," Mr.. Jerome said. but think the West
ern Union argument should be left where it is
now-on the moral issue. There is no use dis
cussng ways and means Of closing the pool
rooms until the Western Union people show
some disposition to help the authorities. II the
Western Union management is sincere the SUI
perintendents of lines could readily find out
RpNA'oSAA'@'
cut It off and make known the facts TO the au-
thorities. OF course, it would be easy under the
law to find out If they were cooperating with
the authorities with the poosellers. 1t isn't
up TO at this time. It's up to McAdoo and
the Western Union people now but guess I'll
get around to it some time
Captain F. Norton Goddard said he thought
Mr. Jerome might stir up the Western Union
directors to action. If they were not moved by
ton Of the connection between the poolrooms
and the Western Union and calling the direc-
tors and inspectors of the company wit
nesses. While some of the directors probably
were too callous to mind, he said. others OF the
directors were likely TO have nervous prostra-
ton If the company kept abetting the opera
tons of the poolrooms. because they would feel
uncomfortable being stared at and pointed at
persons in league with criminals
There a report, which could not be
verified last night, that the question of the
Western Unions support of poolselling by
furnishing racetrack information to the pool
rooms would be brought before the Chamber OF
Commerce at the June meeting by means Of a
motion TO have the chamber give aid IN the sup
preston of gambling in the city. 1t was said
that there had been some discussion among
members OF the chamber on that subject, be-
cause sixteen of the Western Union directors
are members Of the chamber. One of the
directors is Morris X. Jesup president Of the
chamber, and the other fifteen are J. Pierpont
Morgan, John Jacob Astor. Chauncey NJ Depew,
William L. Bull. Thomas T. Eckert, Henry NJ.
Flagler, George ]. Gould, James H. Hyde,
Charles Lanier, Jacob H. Schif, Samuel Sloan,
Samuel Spencer. James Stillrnan, John T. Terry
and John J. Mitchell
Albany. May Il (SpeciaD.-District Attorney
Jerome to-day made written application to tho
Secretary Of stats for certified copies Of the
Garfield Witness bill. which the Governor signed
on Monday. This IS believed to indicate his in
tention to proceed against Garfield and other
QTplN In
Of States office were busy to-day getting out
the certified copies for Mr.. Jerome.