Evening star., 1932-01-25
Rover Asks Action, Planning
to "HarasS" Patrons and
Paddock Resorts.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
TO REVEAL REAL TRUTH
Situation Here Is in Bad Shape
He Tells Senate Committee
in Appeal for Measures.

Two bills to put more teeth in the
gambling laws of the District, which
were considered at the last session, will
be reintroduced in the Senate today
or tomorrow by Chairman Capper OF
the District Committee, at the suggeS-
ton of District Attorney Leo A. Rover
who declared in letter to the COM
mittee that the commercial gambling
situation in Washington is in bad
shape"
The District attorney said in his let
ter that, while the Police Department
and his Office "are formulating certain
plans, which, of course, cannot be
given publicity, which plans we hope
will be successful, until they can be
worked out, the passage of these two
bills will be of immeasurable benefit to
the authorities, who are now coping
with this crying evil"
In concluding his letter, Rover offered
to appear before the committee at any
time, preferably in a closed session,
wherein 1 can frankly tell the COM
mittee the real truth about the gam
bling situation in the District of Co.
lumbia."
Would "Harass" Gambling Patrons.
The District attorneys letter described
the two bills as follows:
The first bill increases certain pen
altieS for violation of our gaming laws
and further provides that one who fire.
quents house of leWdness, prostitu-
ton, aSSignation or gaming shall be
guilty of a miSdemeanor and punished
etc, and further provides that whose
ever shall have in his possession or
under his control any gambling devices
shall be guilty of a misdemeaner.
The particular object or value of
this bill is to make it possible for the
police to at least harass frequenterS of
gambling houses by charging them with
a misdemeanor. These houses, of
course, cannot exist without patrons,
and the type of persons who frequent
these places will not relish being ar
rested for his conduct. At the present
time the only weapon the police can
use against persons found in gambling
houses is to require them to post col
lateral as Government witnesses. AS
matter of fact, this act of the police
is of doubtful legal validity.
The purpose of making 1t a misde-
meanor for one to have gambling para
p1ernalia in his possession, with intent
to use the same in violation of our
gambling statutes is to take care of the
situation wherein the police are able to
secure admittance to gambling house,
but find no one actually operating the
gambling paraphernalia, because they
probably have escaped through the rear
door while the police were forcing their
entrance through the front door.
Seek Paddock for Resorts.
THE purpose of the other legislation
n N1Ey Ia,, 60
against gambling houses along the same
general lines as the law now being SO
effectively used against places where
intoxicating liquor is sold 1t has been
my experience that in hundreds of cases
have never had to file petitions for
paddock injunctions in liquor cases, but
only to advise the owner in writing at
the time Of the first violation, where
upon the owner, through landlord and
tenant proceedings, evicts the tenant. l
have tried such letters in gambling
cases, but because the owners knew that
there was no paddock law, my efforts
have been rather fruitleSs.
THE commercial gambling situation
in Washington is in bad shape; it is
most difficult for the Police Department
to secure lawful entry into such a
building, and while the heads of the
department and myself are formulating
certain plans which, of course, cannot
be given publicity, which plans we hope
will be successful, until they can be
worked out, the passage of these two
bills will be of immeaSurable benefit to
the authorities who are now coping
with this crying evil.
Many complaints are made to the
Police Department and this Office as to
the existence of gambling places, and
the makers of the complaints, being en-
tirely well-meaning and well-inten-
toned, cannot understand why the
places continue to run, when the fact
of the matter is, because of reinforced
doors barred windows and electric sig
mails, it is almost impossible to secure
lawful entry upon which a successful
prosecution can be predicated.
"AS l have said before, We are work
ing on certain plans which may have
the effect of permitting us to lawfully
enter some of these places, but do feel
that with the passage of, particularly,
the paddock bill the situation will be
immeasurably improved within 80 days
after it's passage.
Il shall be very glad to appear before
vour committee at any time and fur
ther discuss this matter, preferably in
q closed session wherein I can frankly
tell the committee the real truth about
the gambling situation in the District
of Columbia"