The New York herald., 1922-04-23
NEW BILLIARD LAW
BENEFIT TO SPORT
Rooms Must Close at Midnight
and Cannot Be Used for
Gambling.

Gov. Miller has signed the Pitcher
Westerbeke bill regulating billiard room
in the State of New York and 1t will he
In force on September i. An appro-
priation OF $500 is provided for it's en-
forcement. 1t does not, however, apply
to cities of 100000 or more in popula-
ton. which means that New York and
Buffalo billiard resorts will continue to
be governed by the law now in force.
It will apply on the north to the cities
OF Yonkers and Mount Vernon. adjoining
New York city and on Long Island from
Mineola to Montauk Point. Among the
most important cities it will affect are
Poughkeepsie, Albany, Schenectady,
Utica Syracuse, Rochester, jamestown.
Elmira and Binghamton.
One provision Is that licenses will be
granted by the State Commissioner of
Taxes. This is opposed to home rule.
1t removes the granting OF licenses by
my town" officials. who were in the
habit OF building or bolstering local po-
litical machines by giving permits TO
operate billiard rooms to persons OF un-
savory repute and by refusing permits to
deserving persons who at elections sup
ported losing candidates, Investigation
revealed that such conditions not only
prevailed, but that interested officials
were lax in enforcing the law on the
subject in fact. permitted gross viola
tion of it by individuals who were In
right"
Under the Pitcher-westerbeke 1t is
mandatory that the Commission OF
Taxes shall not grant licenses to per-
sons who have been convicted of a
felony, nor to aliens who have not de-
clared intentions to become citizens. nor
= r;of nr of
any member Is an alien or one who
has been convicted of felony. Other
wise he is absolute and may refuse a
license for what he deems sufficient
cause. Applications for licenses must
be accompanied by a fee of $5 for each
table and before license will be is
sued the applicant must file a bond Tor
$500, such bond to be supported by a
surety company, real estate. Liberty or
Victory bonds, stocks listed on the New
York Stock Exchange and of charac-
ter that will comply with the investment
laws of the State.
One-half of the license fee will be
given to the fiscal representative of the
town, village or city in which the room
licensed will be located. The other half
will be turned into the State Treasury.
A first violation of the law will incur
a fine of $3.50. thirty days in prison. a
forfeiture of the bond and revocation
of the offenders license.
Some of the stipulations OF the new
law are
Unless accompanied by parents or
guardians. minors, defined as persons un-
der Is years of age must not be al
lowed in billiard rooms.
Billiard rooms must close at midnight
and not reopen before Z the following
morning.
The word pool is outlawed. All signs
must read Billiards or Pocket Bill
liards."
Lotteries. craps or any other form OF
gambling must not be permitted In any
billiard room, adjoining room. booth
garden or any other place appertaining
to or connected with such billiard room.
Any billiard room conducted as a
public place OF business must not be
used between closing and opening hours
as private club.
Distilled, malt. spirituous or vinous
liquor containing more than one-half OF
one per cent. of alcohol, must not be
dispensed in any billiard room adjoin-
ing room. booth. garden or any other
place appertaining to or connected with
such billiard room.