The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-03-18
A BLITHERING FARCE.

The report Of the Special Commit
tee of Five appointed by the Mayor
of Astoria, upon the order OF the
Common Council to investigate the
gambling status of this city and to
report thereon, has been compiled,
submitted, read and ordered filed in
the archives of the municipality,
where, for the credit of the city all
men hope it will remain buried for all
time to come.
1t is flimsiest, most immaterial, in
direct, and candidly prejudiced docu-
ment that was ever sent to the civic
records of Astoria. There are but
two palpable, acceptable, rational
statements in the 1000 words that
were wasted in its compilation; and
we quote them simply to emphasize
the raw vacuity Of the whole thing.
They are as follows: The Committee
says:
"We find that so far as the prohibi-
ton or suppression of gambling in
the City of Astoria is concerned, that
at the present time there is fully as
much gambling in progress in the
City, excepting slot machines and
banking games, as at any previous
time in its history. The order of the
District Attorney and the laws gov
erning the same, being fagrantly vio-
lated. That whereas formerly the ma
jor part of the gambling done in
Astoria was confined to the classic
precinct of Astor Street, it is now
diffused through Commercial and
Bond Streets, the retail and shopping
streets of the City. The business
men on Astor Street, seem to have
implicitly obeyed the mandate of the
District Attorney, not only in so far
as the suppression of gambling is con-
cerned, but also in the matter Of Sum
day closing of saloons. The abject
failure of the proper officials to carry
out the orders of the District Attor-
ney and the provisions Of the laws OF
the State of Oregon, has resulted in a
decided lowering of the moral tone OF
the community, as well as prevent
ing the City from obtaining revenue
from these non-taxpaying gentry,
thus increasing the burdens Of the
legitimate taxpayers to the amount
approximately, of $15,0O000 per an
mum"
Here is candor of a sublime order;
the candor of the hammer" than
which none is more meanly aggres-
sive.
But the pith Of the matter lies in
the following query and answer; in
which the question is asked with an
avid hope that it may damn certain
men and officers, in the answering of
it; and the answer that took the wind
out of the sails" of the committee and
negatives the political animus of the
specials" The Committee asks, and
Judge Thomas A. Mcbride answers,
as follows:
Question Is it the duty Of Sher-
iff, to inquire into and investigate
rumored violations of law, search oui
witnesses, and file complaints or in.
formations before the District Attor.
ney7
"Answer. 1t is not the duty of the
Sheriff to police the County nor town
It is the duty of the Sheriff to do a:
much of this as his other duties will
permit, but no more so than Con
stable, Police officers and other peace
officers. 1t is the duty of all peace
and police officers to use such means
as in their judgement is reasonable
to detect criminals and bring them tt
justice"
The entire work of this committee
is a bungling piece Of political clap
trap, directed boldly and pointedly al
the Offices Of Sheriff and Assistant
District Attorney, with the sole view
Of shielding the police of the city at
the expense of another department