The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-11-22

Governor Potts of Guam is in town,
as a through passenger on the Korea,
en- route to Washington. Potts bears
the distinction of being a real absolute
governor,-one of a few, if not the
only one. America has had in time OF
peace. He is the whole thing,-legis-
lature and all, and when he wants
new law he doesn't write a message to
a special session. He simply posts It
up and it goes.
Apparently both the morals and the
revenues of the island of Guam need
improvement, and to this somewhat
doubtful task Commander Templin
Morris Potts, naval governor of the
little dot of land that forms portion
OF Uncle Sans domains belond seas,
is now giving his serious attention,
says the Washington Post. Gov. Potts
is also commander of the naval ship
Supply, stationed at Guam, command
ant of the naval station, and general
United States pooh-bah, with supreme
authority to make and enforce laws,
punish their violation and reward
faithful public service.
From copies of his most recent Off
cial orders received in Washington it
is noted that gambling has became a
vice needing suppression, and Com
mander Potts proceeds to suppress it
through a proclamation which states
that 1T is hereby ordered and de-
creed" After ordering and decreeing,
the proclamation informs the inhabit-
ants that "all laws or parts Of laws
inconsistent Herewith are hereby re-
sclnded."
According to this official document
the favorite games in Guam are tan
gano, faro, moute, roulette and fan
tan. These and other gambling games
are prohibited and those found pres
ent, even though not playing, are held
to be guilty of a misdemeanor, pun
ishable by fine of not less $25 Mex
lean, nor more than 500 Mexican, or
Imprisonment. Having due regard for
the tender age of minors less than l6
years, the fines in their cases range
from $15 to $50, assessable upon the
parents or guardians of such minors.
Cockighting holds a unique place in
the gambling sports of the island in
that it is regulated and not prohibited.
Minors of less than Is years are for
hidden to witness such unseemly exhi-
billions, and their, parents Or guar
dams are liable for Hhe fine imposed il
boys allow their sporting curiosity to
get the better of their discretion.
Commander Potts excise laws seem
to have been in bad working order
His saloons operate under a license
system, but somebody seems to have
been selling after the prohibited hours
| and the latest requirement is pattern
led after the Washington law, which
provides that all bars, during the
times they are supposed to be closed,
shall be free from obstruction and in
plain view of the police authorities,
The Templin Morris Potts internal
revenue laws have recently been
amended to produce more revenue
through the imposition of a tax ON
vehicles intended for hire. Inasmuch
as the white population of Guam, all
told, outside of the enlisted men of
the navy does not aggregate 100 and
the natives do not enjoy incomes that
ordinarily would permit them to ride
for pleasure, this tax probably will not
cause any sensational surplus in the
federal receipts at the end of the fis-
cal year, However that may be, Com
mander Potts imposes tax of So on
Iall carriages, wagons, wagonettes and
Iother vehicles plying for hire. Lights
are required after night on all such
cOnveyances except bull carts, anC