New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-06
THE GITTINS BILLS.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The friends of the Gittlns gampnhg
bills keep trying to divert the attention Oh
the pubJic from the great evil Of the pro-
posed laws by saying that all that they 90
Is N repeal the directors liability la"
and that they do not repeal any other Sec
ton of the anti-racetrack gambling laws
There f. no directors liability law anu
therefore it cannot be repealed. But there
IS A law, Section 913 Of the Penal Law
which forbids an individual or corporation
or its officers keeping ROOM pullulnS'
shed or any other Enclosure or place used
for gambling. AMI says that any owner or
agent who knowingly lots or permits the
same to be - used is guilty of mis-
demeanor
One Of the Gittins bills cripples this law
by repeating as much of il as applies 10
racetracks and all open air Enclosures. IL
does so by emitting the words amy other
Enclosure and place and thus permits not
merely directors but any individual or cor
poration 10 keep an open air Enclosure 10
be used for gambling. Why should open
air gambling establishments be permitted
and similar indoor gambling business he
lOrDluucH DJ law - ~ h't "PS~i0'' iN9''
lation?
Why should the law be so constructed
that a rich person who owns park or
racetrack can collect the profits and in
come of an outdoor gambling establish
ment and the punishment be visited only
upon those who actually do the gambling?
But the falsity Of tho claim Of the
friends Of the Gittins bills IS exposed when
it is understood that there IS no law which
fixes A punishment. for bets, wagers or
games Of chance which can be inflicted by
a criminal court.
Section 991 declares wagers. bets and
stakes unlawful, but finds no penalty. Sec
tons 900 and 900 provide that the punish
ment for betting or playing games Of
chance shall be a liability TO pay fine Of
five times the amount won or lost, If the
overseer of the poor sues for II in a civil
suit for the benefit of the poor. But It IS
not made tire duty Of the overseer of the
poor to bring such suits or TO enforce the
law, and II he desired TO do so he has no
police, detectives or legal counsel, such a
would enable him to bring such suits
effectively.
Therefore, if tine Gttins bill passes,
which permits open air gambling establish
ments there Will be no effective way OF
Furnishing the professional betting. games
of chance and gambling. which will imme-
diately open everywhere in the state with
in such Enclosure The bill also helps the
poolrooms by inscribng the words Ito be-
before used for gambling" and thus
allows a pooroom to exist in connection
with restaurant, cigar or liquor saloon
without fear of punishment
The other Gittins bill violates the state
constitution by pretending 10 define book
making, which the Court Of Appeals has
already defined (New York Reports, $50
pJ. but does so in language so loose and
broad as to permit bookmakng without
writing, provided it is engaged in by
slightly limited number to the public, or IS
confined to members Of certain clubs.
In my opinion, the law proposed by Sena-
tor Gittins would inaugurate an era of
public professional gambling such as New
York has never seen, and draw the gam
blers of the whole world 20 New York, and
give them permission TO fleece the weak
the young and the gullible public. to turn
many OF our clerks and bank officials into
thieves and embezzlers, and also to rob
many wives and children Of food and cloth
ing, which, otherwise, Industrious husbands
and fathers would give TO their families.
WILLIAM SHEAFE CHASE.
No. 4sl Bedford avenue. Brooklyn. July >.
1911