The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18
SHOPS
PLUCK GOLDEN
HARVEST HERE
Wiles of the Bunkomen Are
Practiced Under Guise of
Brokers' Offices

While the federal government has
been crushing the bucket shops in the
east and middle west, the sentiment
has been gaining headway that these
outlawed companies should not be al
lowed to make San Francisco their
haven. A number Of these places have
been firmly established here for many
years and have operated extensively
and with profit TO themselves without
interference. 1t is now feared that,
driven from the large eastern cities,
the bucket shops viii attempt to but
tress themselves in San Francisco.
Although federal agencies have been
evoked to expel the bucket shops from
Washington, New York and Chicago. it
Is felt that San Francisco should CO.
operate by driving them from this
city. In this way it is felt that the
concerns no won the run can be de-
prived of another location and that
this city may be freed from this form
Of commercial piracy that now in
tests it.
FICKERT TAKES UP SUBJECT
The number Of bucket brokers in
San Francisco today is less than earlier
in the year. but enough remain to form
q powerful syndicate that fieeces an
abundant clientele. In order to drive
them out and to keep them out for all
time it is felt that a strong municipal
ordinance viii be required. The ma
chinery with which the government is
waging its campaign is clumsy at best
local law viii accomplish its pur-
pose quickly and positively.
The subject has already come before
the city administration, but only in a
general way. It is known that Dis
trict Attorney Fickert and Chief of
Police Seymour have given some at
tention to the matter. There is reason
to believe that concrete action will be
forthcoming in very short time.
NO LAW AGAINST THEM
There is at present no law in Cali
fornia under which bucket shop owners
can be prosecuted. The state constitu-
ton, however, provides the necessary
enactments. An amendment tackled to
the constitution in 1907 contains the
following:
The legislature shall pass laws
to prohibit the fictitious buying and
selling OF the shares of the capital
stock Of corporations in any stock
board, stock exchange, or stock
market under the control of any
corporation or association. All
contracts for the purchase or sale
of shares of the capital stock of
any corporation or association
without any intention on the part
or one party TO denver and of the
other party to receive the shares
and contemplating merely the pay
ment Of differences between the
contract and market prices on
divers days. shall be void and
neither party to any such contract
shall be entitled to recover anv
DANA ges for failure to perform the
same. or any money paid thereon.
in any court Of this state.
Under this provision there is ample
authority for any statute that the leg
islature or the board of supervisors
may enact to put an end to bucket
shopping. In Los Angeles It was found
advisable TO cover the subject through
municipal ordinance. That is the view
that is now being taken in San Fran
cisco.
SHOPS UNITED HERE
Several of the eastern states and
their principal cities have spread dras-
tic laws their books that make II
dangerous for these pirates of trade to
attempt to operate. The adon+fon
Of the municipal ordinance enabies
community to strike the moment an ~
legal concern endeayors to set IN IN
business.
The local bucket shops are unttad
forming a single syndicate with nm
merous branches. The head Office IA in
lower Montgomery street and the whole
scheme is manipulated from that CEN
ter. Into these Offices runs a telegram
wire that brings the latest quotations
From this office the figures are teIa-