Evening star., 1939-06-14
Permits Edict Held
Giving Gamblers Rein
In Prince Georges
County Boord Acts Under
New Low-Woys Studied
To LeeoIize Devices
~ . Stan Correspondent of The Star.

UPPER MARLBORO, Md, June
14.-Prince Georges County gam
blers today held carte blanche per-
mits to play any sort of game they
choose until June 80, despite the
efforts of States Attorney H. VIM
ship Wheatley, jr., to stop games
OF chance.
Such was the Interpretation put
on an order passed by the Board
of County Commissioners at their
meeting here yesterday by local at
torneys.
On a plea by Majority Leader
John S. White of the Maryland
House of Delegates. the board
passed an order which authorized
Clerk James S. Heal to issue blanket
permits for the operation at any
time Of outdoor or indoor carni-
walls, fair, picnic, dance, card party,
bingo party. bazaar, concert, con-
test, exhibition, lecture, barbecue
or dinner" for the next 16 days.
Attorney White did not identify
his clients before the commission
ers. Delegates also appeared for
the Mems Club of st. James Cath
ohc Church and the Bladensburg
Volunteer Fire Department.
First Action on New Ban.
The order represented the first
official action taken by the board on
the law passed by the last session
Of the Maryland Legislature and
recently signed by Gov, O'Conor.
The bill was represented In the
House and Senate as authorizing
games of chance for the use of
churches and other organizations in
raising funds for charity.
Prior to the appearance Of the
delegation at the commissioners
meeting, it was understood that
plans were being made to open up
games in several liquor establish
ments with members of the local
fire departments in charge to COM
ply with the law, which specifies
that all games must be supervised
by such organizations holding them.
The action of the board was taken
against the advice of Ogle Marbury.
counsel to the board. Mr.. Marbury
told Mr.. White, during the course
of the discussion, that Il think you
have passed bad law"
Mr.. Marbury advised the commits
sioners to issue permits only for
each individual game. Mr.. White
first asked for blanket permit to
be valid throughout the year. When
this was refused, he asked that per-
mits good for a month be issued.
Slot Machine Plans Made.
On the heels of the action by the
board, it was understood that one
of the biggest slot machine opera
tors in the county had made plans
for putting his machines into opera
ton. It is planned, it was learned,
that this would be done in accord
ance with the law by putting q
fireman or member Of some other
organization In charge of the gam
ing devices.
Meanwhile John j. Fainter, Sec
retary Of the Prince Georges County
Volunteer Firemen's Association,
said that group would meet in
Hyattsville tonight to discuss divid-
Ing the county into precincts so that
each fire company would have spe-
cif1c territory to draw from when
benefits are staged.
Asked for an expression Of opinion
on the action of the board, Mr..
Wheatley remarked:
Il have nothing to say"
All slot and pinbal machines
were removed from the county un-
der orders of Mr.. Wheatley, but on
the request of the Board of County
Commissioners, the Legislature
passed bill legalizing slot machines
to be played for money. The States
attorney is credited with bringing
about the bills veto by Gov O'Conor.
Under the law, as interpreted by
attorneys here yesterday following
the boards action, any sort of gam
bling can be carried on provided
the tokens or prizes have a cash or
merchandise value of mot in ex-
cess Of $50" This would allow q
card game to be played with chips
ranging in price up to $40.
Had Called for Strict Action.
Although the States attorney
would not comment on the action,
1t was known that he was highly
displeased, since he has repeatedly
urged strict gaming law enforce
ment.
The permits to be issued by the
clerk to the board will read that
any of the games mentioned in the
law can be played at any time at
any place in the county.
To clarity this, it was explained
that there is nothing in the law
which prevents any organization
from holding its gambling games in
any saloon and place in the county
SO long as the met profit" goes to
the sponsoring organization or group
OF citizens. In other words, 1t was
declared, an organization can al
low a restaurant or saloon pro-
prietor 80 per cent of the profits
for the use of his establishment
and still comply with the law by
giving the organization the 10 per
cent remaining as met profit"
William A. Carson, president Of
the board, said after the meeting
that he did not feel that any one
Is going to take advantage" of the
blanket permit being issued. Asked
II he had been told Of the plan to
operate slot machines, he said he
had not heard of it.
Figs shipped from Turkey to other