The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-11

debt Is $40 Dilllon ana tne CObtS of the defense effort are estimated at from $50 billion to eco billion more. So what happens? So the Senate spends nearly two hours debating whether the tax on slot machines should be reduced from $2O0 to $50 a year. A&H"
 History Is Indebted for this spec. tacle to a statesman named Ser. keley, I. Bunker Of Las Vegas, Nevs and his address and remarks to the Senate i'm opposition to rais- Ing the tax on slot machines nre worthy of inscription in all fifth grade readers right along with Pat rick Henryss immortal words to the Virginia House of Burgesses, George Washingtoti's farewell to his troops and Abraham Lincoln'sy Gettysburg address. T fN 'E.'
 Generations Of unshaekled gam. blers - their strong right arms swinging freely as they face the one. armed bandits unafraid; their eyes aglean with the light ot pa triotls1l as they defend their home and fireslde by stalking their last dime on the turn of three bells or couple of plums; the whlr of the wheels of chance and the tinkle Of the Jackpot turing them on to Crl- dure greater hardsiiips for their Fa- cred rights to go broke--these are the free men who will rise, to bless the name of their savior and cham. piop, Berkeley Bunker. For 2 na- ton which can stand fearleSsly Dc. fore slot machines will never with. CT before the stuka or blltzkrieg Of Hitler and his lfilniorS. GAMBLERS AND BANKERS
 Before quoting from Senator Bunker's magma chafta on slots, 1t might be well to explain who the senator is. He is most moral man, 6 bishop in the Mormon church, and he was appointed to the Senate by his governor: to suc- ceed the late Key Pullman. I would not want anyone to think that the gamblers In Nevada are immoral people, as may pc sug- gested," Senator Bunker said at the close of his remarks. Many of my friends are gamblers. One of them in particular isia former banker!V
 Senator Tohey Of New Ramp. shire interposed here to ask If bankers and gamblers were the same thing, and while tho remark got 6 laugh from tho floor and the gallery, Senator Bunker replied, "Nol"
 To explain why Senator Bunker thought q $200 federal tax on slot machines was too high, u Is only necessary to quote from his Euclid" Ian arguments:
 "A slot machine Is . mechanical device" he explained, "and can pc fixed SO that the customer playing the machine can get IS, 20 or even as high as 30 per cent. Slot ma chine gambling Is legal in Nevada, and where the machines are legal" !sed the teGe Is fixed at l6 per cent. We in Nevada derive. a rev. enue In the subdivisions and in the state of $iS2 per slot machine. No person under age Is permitted to play a slot machine, and they ore carefully inspected 50 that the customers get back the legitimate percentage. or the i6 per cent to which he is entitled. There is that protection provided. You could not win or lose a sum of any conse- uuence on slot machine in our state If you played all day. ..."
 AND CENTRALIZED VICE
 To continue Senator 5unker's Tn the state of Nevada the $2o0 rate. added to the SiS2 which we legally collect for 2 slot ma chine, would make c tax of $S52 which would eliminate about 30 per cent of the machines a1 d would therefore eliminate about 90 per cent of the revenue which we receive from such machines. It would not eliminate the vice. It would centralige the vice in cere tain localities"
 well, no one could possibly want the Senate to centraiiSc vice in certain localities so it was on that basis that Senator Bunker's amend ment was passed-yeas. 90, nays p. not voting 34. And by SO voting, they kept down the taxes on one item, at least, and isn't that just what you elected them forT