The Washington times., 1921-05-09
G.P.O. hive Of
G|RLPLUNCERS,
QU|zREvEALS
Fair "Touts" Abandon Work
When Ponies Hit Barrier,
Declares Rumor.
SCORES FACE DISMISSAL
Mystic Taps on Office Doors
Said to Be TeIegraphic
Code to Bettors.

Two women have been suspended
and many more are under sur
veillance as a result Of the order
Of George H. Carter, Public Printer,
forbidding horse-race betting in the
Government Printing Office, it was
learned today.
The women, together with more
than dozen men, are suspended
pending completion of an invosti-
cation by the Public Printer. 1t
was indicated today that a score or
more Of suspensions would be made
before the week is over.
WOMEN HAVE RACE MAMlAss-
TIE eRiee d ,hvpyss.1AeA Win
women ganbIers. zekoratng4 fe reli-
able employees whe to-day revealed esn-
dittsns at the bix prfntery. Many
women. II is said, spend q good part
OF the morning in discussing the merits
OF the various horses scheduled to
take part in the days races and In
selecting the ponies on which they
will bet their money.
There Is feverish activity in the
early afternoon, Just before the start
OF the races, according to reports.
Young women scurry about to get in
touch with those employees who place
their bets. Frequently, IL IL reported.
messengers are employed to gather the
women's bets and rush them to the
bookmakers. Some. OF the women are
intimately acquainted with the book
makers and place their bets direct"
"GAMBLERs' NEST,
The mems lounging rooms at the
printery are said to present q scene
Of track-side activity just before post
time. These rooms take on the ap-
pearance OF full-nedged betting
ring, with messengers rushing in with
last-minute bets. touts extoiling their
sure things" and bookmakers wear
ing away pencils on their little pads.
Rumors were current today that q
telegraphic system of communication
was in vogue in the print shop be-
tween bookmakers and employees
wishing to place bets. This method
of communication. IL is said, is one
OF the means used to conduct betting
in secrecy.
By means OF series Of taps on
doors, G. p. o. employees are said to
communicate to bookmakers the horse
and the amount that is to be played.
The money transaction is said to take
place outside of the printing Office.
after office hours.
OFFICIALS SUSPECTED.
While 1t is known definitely that
| officials of the print shop are
| suspected Of gambling connections, il
could not be ascertained today
whether any officials were numbered
among those suspended.
The campaign OF the Public Printer
against gambling and the subsequent
investigation has caused stir among
Government Printing Office employees.
Fear of suspension has led many men
and women to discontinue their prac-
tice of placing race horse bets in the
print shop.
The Public Printer, IL was learned,
has received many letters from wives
OF employees indorsIng his campaign.
Many Of the writer's declare that the
| craze for horse race betting has struck
some employees so hard that they
betting, and have little left to bring
/ home to their families.
| WIVES FORCED DISCLOSURES.
| The appeal from the wives of EN-
ployes was one of the reasons which
| led Public Printer Carter to conduct
his Investigations.
No dismissals have yet been an
nounced, but 1t Is only a matter of
few days before the public printer
| will finally discharge some of the
| employees under suspension
Every day he interviews those said
| to he connected with the gambling
| scandal and the results OF the In
vestigation will be like q bombshell
| to Washington.