New-York tribune., 1907-01-19
SLlCER ON GAMBLING.
Says Jerome's Bills Do Not Provide
Sufficient Remedg.

Inc rev Thomas r. Slieer. In speaking yester-
Gay OF the measures proposed by District ATTORNEY
oefOine 70 abolish betting at the tracks said that
uhey became laws the decent men now at the
mead OF the racing associations would be driven
Iro1n the sport and the racetraehs would become
mere annexes 10 the poolrooms
AlF' Jerome and have had conference on this
matter said Mr. Siieer 'and want # understood
U'iat am not antagonistic him. But the in
evtiabe result Of an anti-betting law sucb os ba
proposes, would be 10 drive men like Belmont from
racing and cause them send their stables abroad
Mhat we want to get after the poorooms'
eOh'ihued MI slieer. Belmont and men like him
Oieoa horses for racing purposes. II they gave
up the sport the pOoiroom men would get control
OF the tracks and race horses for poolroom plr-
poses The size of the crowds at the tracks vouId
De OF no concern to these men They will be con-
tent 10 MI the pooirooms with men and bovs vvbo
WIZ plunge on any kind of horse the poolroom peo-
pie would send TO the tracks
Al present the racing game is at least con-
troned by responsible and law-abiding men. If
theS were toreed out the very worst elements would
tupplant them in the sport. There would he crook
eohess ana robbery and no bettor would be as
sorea OF square deal. The poOroom keepers
must oe fought the same way the policy men were
aOushl' sDy making possession of the implements
tor playing the presumptive evidence Of guilt
ana prison offence To be effective bill against
the poOlroom keepers must contain such a clause"
MT. sAcer said he did not want TO appear de-
AeHoAnB Dettng at the tracks but that he believed
the poolrooms should be taken care of first. His
Ideas In regard to fighting the evil are embodied
IN bill which he hopes to have presented to the
Legislature II seeks 10 restrain telephone compa-
MES from transmitting racing news their lines
he called attention TO the fact that the contract
which has been drawn up between the Atlantic
Telephone Company. whose franchise is now pend
ing, ana the city contains sections making II in
cunbent upon the company 10 prohibit and prevent
tne transmission OF Illicit news MIR. SHcer de-
clAred the law IN this respect should be made more
stringent and should include telegraph companies.
. MI Slicer said he in favor of a law making
misoemeanor for the newspapers 10 print the
Ocds on the races or any other information regard
ING theEn beyond the simple announcement that
they to be held
Undoubtedly the small hettors" Mr. Slicer said
such as office boys, boOtbacks. walters and other
classes OF men who have little money and who
nave suffered the greatest harm by the existence
OF the poolrooms have been stopped from betting
put the big bettors continue TO place wagers, and
the men who bet on credit and over the telephone
have not been stopped
Mr.. Slicer said he had heard that many minis
rs IN this city intended 20 aid In the fight against
the poOlrooms
According TO a report received st the District
Attorneys office late yesterday afternoon from
the Police Department there are no pooirooms
open In the city, and only few gambling houses.
The report was handed to Assistant District At
torney Murphy. who is in charge of the gambling
bureau and work Will he started Immediately 10
close up the suspected places
II Is nnaeTsfood that the first work will be done
evidence has been collected recently. and Mr.
Murphy has Issued subponas for many persons
who u Is saio, are connected with gambling houses
in that district