Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-03
GAMBLING BANNED
AT BOULDER CITY
Sagebrush Craps Promote1
Loses in Plan to Found New
"Monte Carlo"
BY LEMUEL r. PARTON.

NEW YORK, April 3.-Nick Lefnngn
well. sagebrush promoter of chuck-aN
luck, faro, fan-tan. pangingi, roulette.
Klondyke and craps, is nursing here In
New York q headache transmitted
under Government seal from Washs
ington.
Mr. Lefingvell has Just been politely
but explicitly informed that, REGARDLESS
of Nevada's new law legalizing gambling
not a wheel will roll and not q cube
will gallop In Boulder City, the mcdel
Government town to house the worka
men building Hoover Dam.
The visitor from Reno. Rhyolite and
Windy Gap was almost jolted loose
from his gold nugget stickpin when ha
got the bad news. He had come to
New York to promote a company and
prepare plans and equipment for glit~
terlng desert Monte Carlo right along.
side Uncle Sans big new pay roll He
had readily found New York backing,
said to have included big slot machine
bankrcI. mistakenly proceeding on the
idea that II the Nevada State Leais-
lature said gambling was legal 1t would
be legal.
Cramton to Enforce Ruling.
Mr.. Lefhngwell and his associates
learned today not only that the De-
partment of the Interior would forbid
gambling, but that 1t had hired former
Representative Louis c. Cramton OF
Michigan to enforce its ruling Mr..
Cramton, prohibitionist and one of thu
authors Of the Michigan Warner-Cram-
ton liquor law. has been named special
attorney to the Sc >retary of the IN
terror to keep watch and ward against
gambling. bootlegging and other such
diversions at Boulder City.
Telephoning to the Department Of the
Interior today this writer learned that
the Government will supersede the
Nevada statute by organizing the con-
struction area as a military reservation.
entirely subject to Federal regulation.
At the Bureau of Reclamation, IL was
stated on behalf o. Commissioners
Elwood Mead:
Boulder City WIN be governed a.
Federal territory. A United States
marshal already has been appointed 70
enforce the Federal laws. Lots will Be
leased for specified purposes and subject
TO certain conditions II gambling,
bootlegging or other illegal practices
contrary TO the leases are engaged In,
prosecution and election VIII follow"
Commissioners Statement.
Commissioner Mead issued the fol-
lowing statement:
"A limited number Of leases will be
granted to other than the general con-
tractors for the operation Of certain
types Of business enterprises. including
| stores, shops, laundri.s, hotels. restau-
rants and amusement places. For the
operation Of these. suitable blocks will
be set aside within the zoned area Of
the town site located on Government
Owned land Lots will be offered for
lease for periods not to exceed 20 years.
Ownership Of all tracts will remain in
the Government the continuance Of
leases to be contingent upon satisfae-
tory conduct on the part Of the lessces
The Government does not plan to erect
buildings for commercial purposes Tire
plan is to provide the sites, and tie
lessees, after conforming to certain re-
CURED building restrictions, may pro-
coed TO the erection Of suit.bIe
buildings"
Legal opinion here was that the Gov
eminent was entirrly within its rights
in imposing sumptuary laws. within the
reserved territory. regardless Of the
Nevada statutes.
(copyrisht. 1917