The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1948-06-17

Mr.. md Mrs. Montunu Toxpayer-
Before you decide for or oguinst Legal control of gom-
bling, study this over
One Montmu Sheriff reports thot there is no sem
bldnce OF low enforcement against gambling in most Mon
tond cities. Violence Committees ore complaining to the
Attorney General ond dsking for low enforcement.
The situoion is almost exactly analogous to the boot
legger" situation in 1888. AT thot time law enforcement
ogoinst bootlegging seemed to hove broken down entirely.
Montana gambling lows, os they now function, ore
shrouded in uncertointY ond based on worrying court de-
cisions. The truth is thdt because OF poorly drawn lows,
smoking Of Gloss legislation, unfdirness, uncertainty. even
the tavern keepers wish something could be done about it.
These men ore also in q highly competitive business, ond
if their competitor runs q game omd othocs trade, ulmost
in self preservation, they stcGt up. This promotes tdvor-
itism from friendly local officers, ond brings disrespect md
disdcin for the entire ldw set-up. Sherits report thdt it Is
q hopeless tdsk to determine who is right ond who is
wrong md enforce onY kind of restraint.
In the neon time let us toke q look at our neighbor-
ing stute od see how Idoho, (who seems to have been
aroused by the possibilities Of tGx relief thru licensed gdn-
bling) is handling the situoton.
Pocotello Tribune. June LIST l948.
Twin FdIls: (Assosidted Press Releuse).
Iduho slot machines ore turning out q Jackpot for city,
county ond state treasures.
The Stute leguized the machines Morch l9. l947.
Since then the state hos received $751;, 58l.N in license
fees. Counties hove received holt thot sum. =.
But the city of Twin Fols hos hit the bonanza. 1t
adopted q licensing system thdt is expected to net the city
$350.000 for the fscdl YeT.
Twin; Falls hos 2l2 licensed slot machines. During
the first three months Of the Yeor they brought 100000
to the city. In the first two months the "toke" nerlY
equolled The entire l947 income from q fot license fee
system then in effect.
If the Twin Fulls slot machine profits mdintuin their
first quouter record. each Of the citYs 2l2 machines would
| oyerode more thon $1,000 q yeor for the city. Thot meons
the GROSS receipts of each machine exceeds $4,000 q year.
IF the hmdles on other machines in the stde were Ydnked
os often they would produce $l2O0OOO gross income to
slot mochine owners dnnudlY.
Thots q lot of nickels-md lemons. End Of press re-
lease)
The State Treasurer of Idaho reports there ore 5000
mochines operdting in the State Of Idaho.
In Montno, the best estimates qvoildble show there
ore 5000 machines (dbout Is Of this number pdY q state
tux because of the half-heorted lows under which they
ore lcensed).
So ONE TOWN in Iduho mokes more on her 200 slot
machines than THE ENTIRE STATE OF MONTANA with
5000.
And this uticle in the Idoho paper shows the enor-
nous returns from slot machines. Why should four or five
fuvored persons in Montana get rich from this source Of
revenue which could be canneled into state. county onds
city treasures. - & II
As for other comes and devices we need not 90 as for
as Neyddd in lequlizinq gambling but the licensing ond
control Of q few tdbles. limited in number. will put the
clipjoint operators out Of business.
Leuulized qomblng isn't going to bring gambling 10
our stdfe. It's dlreddY here. SO why not control it and Gosh
in on ii as THE GREATEST TAX RELIEF MEASURE WE
CAN VOTE2
GEORGE M MELTON
Democratic Candidate for Governor.
MELTON FOR GOVERNOR