Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-28
GAMING FOR MONEY
IS MADE UNLAWFUL.
House Passes Stephenson Anti
gambling Bill by Vote
Of Sd to 3.
BARS EVEN ONE-CENT POKER
Richmond Charter Amendments
Are Offered-Prohibition Bill
Is Expected To-Day.

by vote Of 6, to 3. and wi,hou, a
word OF debate. the House Of Delegates
Yesterday passed the Stephenson anti
gambling bill
The bin provides that il SHALL hc
unlawful for any person to bet. wager
or play at any game for money ANY
one violating the provisions OF the act.
II is provided. shall be guilt az a
'nisd.'ncanor. and upon conviction shall
be fined not exceeding slo0 or i'm
prisor"d in Jail not longer than sixty
days. or both. Circuit Courts and JUS
tices of The peace are given a concur
rent Jurisdiction in the trial Of all
cases under this act
At both the sessions Of lgi; and
1912 the antiEamblirg bill was much
IN the limelight. Both times it passed
tn" House by substantial majoriticS.
only TO die on the Senate calendar Ia
view of it's prompt passage in III.
House this gear. and the asctndancy
Of the reform majority. II is generally
assumed that the bill will this time
escape its usual fate In the upper
house and become law
APPLIES ONLY TO
FLA ING FOX MONEY
In it's earlier forms the bin pro-
hibited also playing for an.. stake OF
value. It promptly encountered objec-
ton from members who feared that the
act would interfere with more or less
harmless games indulged in by society
chief among them auction bridge
played Tor prizes given by the hostess
and similar ar-gambling activities.
hill
gambling for money. The present law
against gambling takes no cognizance
Of the offcnse If less than $40 is lost
by any Individual in the course of
'wcnty-four hours. Under this pro-
vision. extreme difficulty has been en-
countered by the police in securing
CONVICTIONS The Stephenson bill.
which goes now TO the Senate for con-
currcncc, fixes no loss limit, and l-cent
poker VIII under this law he held to
be gambling as truly as roulette on a
Monte Carlo scale
RICHMOND CHARTER BILL.
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED
Early in the day City Attorney Pol
lard brought to the House the omnibus
Richmond charter change bin which
was forthwith Introduced by the Rich
mond delegation The bill provides.
among other things for The abolition
OF the Health and Police Boards and
for the transfer of the management OF
these departments 10 the .\duiinistra-
tive Board and Mayor respectively \
separate bill. Introduced earlier in the
week. is designed 10 give the voters OF
Richmond, through charter commits
sion. wider powers in changing the citv
government.
Foth houses coucurred in tho adop-
uon of joint resolution offered by
Delegate Wiiiis, OF Roanoke. providing
Tor the appointment OF a special COM
mission Of three ncmbcrs-two from
the House and one from the Senate
10 make a study OF rural credits. and
submit report and recommendations
10 the General Assembly of 1915 The
resolution is in line with the recon-
mendation on this point made by Gov
ernor Stuar, in his second message 10
the present General Assembly
PROHIBITION DiIi.
Is ENPECTED TODAY
House and Senate prohibition leaders.
who have held several conferences this
week with authorities of the Anti
Saloon League on the Forthcoming pro-
hibition Legislation. expressed the be-
lief yesterday that the finished pro-
hihition bill will be- ready for presenta-
tion to-day II is understood that
provision for the entire machinery of
prohibition will be made in single
omnibus measure.
The bill, il is stated. Will he intro
duccd first in the Senate II is as
sumed that the act will ignore the
presumption Of protection for wineries
and brewcries implied by the enabling
act that was approved in September.
1914. and thar the overwhelming ma
1ority by which the voters of Virginia
approved Statewide prohibition will
he relied upon as fail Justification for
denying any degree Of protection TO
these industries in the forthcoming bill.
Typists were at work Yesterday put
ting the prohibition hill into final
shape. The measure will he intro
duced as the official bill Of the rccoe-
nizcd dry forces, and will have the
effect of reducing To the rank Of in
smrgency The prohibition bill intro
duccd last week. by Senators Strodo and
Addison. AZ least In 20 far as the pro-
visions of this measure conflict with
or fan short OF the provisions laid
down by the new bill.
"I't f'fi''N 'H'' '''NNS WI
WEST VIRGINIA STATUTE
In a general way. the new bill will
follow the prohibition law OF West
Virginia. taking from il in large part
the prohibition commission feature
for Virginia purposes TO be called the
Commissioners OF Moral Welfare. There
Will be definite restrictions on the
amount Of liquor an individual in this
state will hc permitted to have In his
possession. we'll as on the amount
that he will he permitted to receive in
given time from the express COM
panics.
Delegate Willis's blue sky" bill, on
the calendar on it's third reading. en-
countcred sharp last-minute opposition.
in Difference to which the patron con-
scented To its being passed by until to-