New-York tribune., 1909-12-15
TO STOP GAMBLING
ASK CONGRESS- TO AID
Bill to Forbid Sending of Odds
by Telegraph or Telephone.
From The Tribune Ruresu-1 l

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Dec 1.-THE Senate Com
mittee on Judiciary gave a hearing to-
day 70 the representatives OF various re-
form organizations which are interested in
the suppression OF poolrooms. The prfn-
ctpal argument was made by Henry Bro
laski. a reformed racetrack bookmaker
who described the poolroom system in New
York and other cities.
Senator Nelson, who knows all about con-
servation. public lands. the tariff on lum-
ber and many other things frankly con
fessed thar he was absolutely ignorant on
poOlrooms and boOkmakers. How does a
bookmaker get his money!" Mr.. Nelson
asked When this had been explained he
asked, What is a poolroom7" Mr. Bro
laski went into details in his answers 70 Mr..
Nelson's questions. describing the tricks OF
racetrack gamblers and those who operate
hand books
The hearing was given on Mr.. Burkett's
bill Ito prevent the nullihcation OF state
snti-gambling laws by international or
interstate transmission OF race gambling
bets or OF racing odds" The penalty for
violation OF the proposed law is irnprison-
ment of not more than two years or a fine
of not more than loo. OF both. for the
first offence, and by such Imprisonment
only for second or subsequent offences
Senator Burkett appeared in behalf Of his
BILL and introduced a large number OF dele
gates 10 the reformers' conclave which is
now being held in Washington These dele
gates represent various organizations. such
as the Young Mems Christian Association.
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
and other societies
in New York City there are az least one
hundred thousand handbook and poolrOom
players. He said that the percentage
against player winning in a handbook is
from 5 TO Is per cent. while in poolroom
play IL runs from 25 70 $50 per cent
Handbook proprietors accept bets from
minors of both sexes" Mr.. Brolaski said
Messenger boys are used 10 a great ex-
tent in this business. There is only one
remedy for the suppression of this evil. and
that is 10 enact a law prohibiting the
transmission Of poolroom and track in
formation over telegraph or telephone
wires. either openly or in cipher. and by
having this law enforced when II is en-
acted Also. there should be a law pro
hibiting the use OF the mails 10 news
papers that publish racetrack prices or re-
suits
Mr.. Brolsski explained that there is "a
thousand times more gambling away from
racetracks than at them He said that
the great evil OF the poolroom and the
hand book business is the employment OF
solicitors. who go into the office buildings
and department stores and take money
from the clerks He estimated that in New
York City there are fifty poolrooms AMI
FIVE hundred handbooks. and connected
with them are TWO thousand solicitors.
Others who spoke for the Burkett bill
were Wilbur F Crafts. president OF the In
ternational Reform Bureau: G. l. Tufts
superintendent OF the bureau on the Pa
cihc Coast, the Rev @ l. Miller and the
Rev. A. S. Gregg. Of New York. Mr. Miller
said that there is a plan on foot 20 make
Havana the Monte Carlo OF the Western
Hemisphere.
A syndicate. he explained intends 10
make Havana a centre for racing and other
gambling, and 10 send the betting odds
and the results 20 the United States by
telegraph. Messrs. Miller and Gregg spoke
OF the efforts made. in New York 70 abol-
ish racetrack gambling. They said that
Governor Hughes's victory was largely null
lifed by the fact that telegraphic gambling
on races in other states was still possible.