Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-06
Mr.. RUDoLPH's VIEWS
Scope Of Investigation May Be
Widened if Facts Warrant.
ORDER TO DISTRICT EMPLOYEES
Asked to Identify Man Said to Have
Seen Bookmaking at The
ater Sunday.

Whether gambling is permitted in the
District of Columbia practically unre-
strained by the police will be the SUBJ
ject of an inquiry by the District Com
missioners. This was the statement to-
day of Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph.
According to the president of the board
of Commissioners. there will be no formal
meeting Of the board at present to con-
slider the charges. for the reason. he says.
that no charges have been filed with him.
The inquiry will be conducted in man.
ner believed by the authorities to be most
practical for arriving at results.
If the inquiry should show that the
police have been in any way connected
with gambling interests, the scope or
the investigation will be widened and
doubtless public hearings will be con-
Quoted. Commissioner Rudolph said.
All Charges Investigated.
All charges against District officials
that have vague" origins are investi-
gated, the Commissioner explained. and
in many cases the public hears nothing
of them because the facts alleged are
found to be untrue.
Both Commissioners Judson and john
Ston are out of the city. but in the alb
sence Of the former Assistant Engineer
Commissioner Markham acts as Commits
sioner. Mai. Markham and Commits
sioner Rudolph are sufficient number to
hold a board meeting. Should disclosures
discriminating the police be made in the
course of the informal inquiry it is like
~ that Commissioner Johnston will re-
turn at once to Washington. as the police
department is under his particular juris-
diction.
1t is believed that the return TO Wash
ington at this time of Mai. Richard Syl-
int Of
the purpose of a conference between that
official and Commissioner Rudolph rela-
tive to conducting the inquiry.
Asked to Tell Name.
In line with his announcement that in
quiry will be made to determine whether
there is any basis for the charges that
gambling is permitted in Washington
practically unrestrained by the police.
Commissioner Rudolph this afternoon is-
sued an order to the heads Of all the de-
partments of the local government re-
questing them to ascertain the name OF
the District government employe who IS
referred to in a local morning newspaper
as having witnessed bookmaking at
theater in Washington Sunday afternoon.
The order states that no employe of the
District will risk his job by disclos-
ing any knowledge he may have in the
matter. but that, on the contrary. he will
do SO by remaining quiescent. The order
also says:
"A District official who witnesses such a
ha&rant violation of law as that report
ed should realize that 1t is his duty un-
der his oath of office to bring 1t to the
attention of the authorities"
Says Police Know Of Gambling.
IF the police of washington do not
know that gambling is going on openly
In the city and that games are In opera
ton in more than half a dozen places
every night and all day Sunday, it is sim
ply because they do not want to know.
This statement was made to Star re-
porter today by man who knows wash
ington thoroughly and who says he is i'm
a position to back up his declaration. The
Stars informant. who Is an accountant.
says he knows positively that the police
are aware of the fact that games are
operating, and declares that he is willing
to swear to the truth of every statement
he makes. IL called on to do so.
Policemen in uniform and supposed to
be on dirty have been seen shooting
craps at a regular table. in company
with a number of 'citiZen" crap shoot
ers, II is declared. II the officials of the
existence of these games. ii is said. 1t
is not because of lack of opportunity to
learn that they are running.
The Star was informed today that for
more than a year a gambling room has
been operated over a downtown saloon.
a bowling alley connected with the place,
as well as the bar. being largely patron
lied by policemen.
Where there is so much smoke there
must be some fire." said one OF The
Stars informants today. IF the District
Commissioners really want to find out
about gambling in the city, in which
policemen have participated. they can
easily do so. There are plenty Of per-
sons who know. and who are willing to
tell what they know