Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-03
Gambling in Washington,

Investigations by The Star. now oeins
conducted. show that gambling estab-
lishments of varying scales of operation
are fourishing in Washington. Some OF
them are plain poolrooms, where bets on
horse races are taken. Others are small
card clubs. where games Of chance are
PLAYED. Others still are larger clubs,
with regular memberships. where extern
Sive play is conducted The poolrooms
are patronized by the public at large,
with little or no scrutiny Of those who
venture into them TO risk--and usually
loSe-their money. The small promiS-
cIous clubs are virtually open to the
public, with but thin camoufiage of
membership. The larger clubs safe
guard themselves against intrusion by
= form of membership election that en-
ables their managers to reduce the dam
ger of police intervention to minimum.
With all this gambling in progress,
there is very little effective prosecution
or the law which forbids the mainte-
nance OF gaming tables and Furnishes
those engaged in the practice. Prom
time to time raids are conducted upon
poolrooms, and occasionally upon some
or the so-called clubs, the promoters of
which are hailed to court. there TO stall
on prosecution and trial by various ex-
pedients of delay. with the result of a
negligible percentage of convictions.
In a report submitted yesterday by
the grand jury attention was called to
the fact that most of the cases sub
mitted to that body are OF a petty nature
and that the larger operators are not
caught in the police net, and the cases
aKainst them are not effectively pre-
pared by the police The grand jury
proceeds to suggest that police officers
be schooled in properly working up
. their cases and instructed to do so in
'order that they may be able Ito supply
helpful information when called upon
10 testify"
4 This gambling evil ramifies through
IAN groups OF citizens It is pernicious
Influence IN the community, taking
Enormous sums out Of their proper uses.
hard in countless cases depriving fam
ilses OF their needed means Of support
las long as opportunities are so freely
nHered for the wagering Of bets, large
Ind small, upon the performances OF
hnrses and upon the turn Of the cards
Dr the spinning of the wheel. immense
srfns win be squandered In this wise.
1t has been well known for long
lime that these facilities for the wasting
bf money are offered TO those afdicted
nth the gambling habit. The police
have piled up cases by the hundreds,
fmIy 10 find the majority OF them lapse
hrongh lack of effective prosecution.
NJ some instances the subordinate oper-
tExes have been caught. their principals
Dfng free, the latter compromising their
h9ents for time lost, perhaps In jail, and
ksirine others to run the establishments
bending their return TO freedom. The
lame is SO profitable that extraordinary
Expenses can be met and still leave a
zrxe margin Of winnings for those who
Operate the pOolroonls and the gambling
Establishments.
This Is a shameful condition. 1t can
Boz be regarded as incurable unless the
suIt OF the Law is ineradicable. That
be law is faulty is evident. In provision
u in execution It's amendment or its
nore rigorous application is demanded
d the interest Of public morality.