Newark post., 1914-01-14
PEOPLES COLUMN
MIR. Phelps, As A
Private Citizen Discusses
Violations Of The Law
To the Editor of The Post.

As q citizen of this community
have been Interested in and graft
fed over the improvements accom-
pIished and now pending for the
physical welfare OF the people.
Under the present administration
Of Council. We have seen streets
graded and macadamized. new con-
crete curbing and sidewalks laid {:
North College. at one time the
worst street in town. " converted TO
"a thing Of beauty and a Joy for
ever. and a modern sewerage sys-
TEN nearing completion. We ap-
preciate the improved system of
street lighting. And we believe all
this has been done with as little
cost to the taxpayer as was possible
in keeping with a good and sub
stantiaI grade of material and
workmanship.
AII this, be it said to the credit
Of our present Council. every mem
Der Of which We believe has con-
scientioUsly given much thought
and time to these important ques-
tins Of public improvement.
But in the consideration of these
measures has proper attention ben
given to the weightier matters Of
the public veal, such as the moral
gtGJiiity and am pDy0gfme8f Of Our
community.
Council not only exists for the
provision and maintenance of our
material weII-beIng but also for
things of equal. if not greater. i'm
portance that is for the establish
meut and enforcement of laws
looking to moral order and i'm
prOvemeut
In giving 50 much attention TO
material battermeut we have over
looked d situation that was becora-
ing a direct menace to the morals
Of 0ur young people.
There were several places in this
town that had slot machines o.
their premises-a device that Is
condemned by the gambling laws Of
this Commonwealth; and the main
tenanca and use Of sucn a machine
Is peualized with a ERe Of fifty dol
lars or Imprisonment of not less
than thirty days
The writer discovered the ezis-
tance of one OF these machines
while he was making some pur
cnases for household needs: and on
inquiry learned that at least six
stores in Newark had these ma
chiaes on their premises.
Now. We submit that the officials
Of the town OF Newark could have
made TINS discovery rs easily as did
the writer; that they could have
reached the conclusion as quickly
as did he, to-wit, that they were
gambling devices; that they could
have informed themselves Of the
law on the question tif they were
not familiar with the law BIZ OBJ
tanning from the Secretary of
State a copy Of the Gambling Laws
Of Delaware; and that then tney
could have instructed the constables
to have these machines removed
and destroyed
The laws against gambling are
quite explicit and it is certainly
within the province Of Council to
rigidly enforce these laws and to
proceed against those, who violate
them.
In a recent conversation with
Squire Lovett, the writer was told
that there was too much gambling
in this town and that the situation
was becoming serious, and that we
We're acting none too soon. The
Squire is ready at any time to CO.
operate with Council in this mat
ter and will issue warrants when
called upon. So it would seem. Mr..
that the local authorities,
viz, Council, the constables and the
can handle any question
ike this, should it arise again; and
no one need appeal to the Attorney
General or to the Grand Jury.
Happily. the gambling situation
IS being settled by reason Of the ac-
ton of public spirited citizens in
persuading those having the slot
machines on their premises to re-
move them; and others have follow
I'd their example.
But how much better, Mr.. Editor
lad the Town officials, whose duty
t is to enforce the law, taken the .
initiative in this matter and not .
eft it to a few private citizens.
Council would surely have add /