Evening star., 1949-06-03
Voters Approve
PrinceGeorgeS
Slot Machines
6,325-to-5,405 BoIIot
LegoIizes Devices
Paying OFF in Gosh


Prince Georges County has
Joined three other Southern Mary
land counties in legalizing slot
machines that pay of in cash.
In a referendum yesterday, the
proposal was approved by vote
of 6,325 to 5.405, according to un-
official totals from all Of the
county's> 46 election precincts.
The counties Of Anne Arundel
st. Marys and Calvert previously
had legalized the devices. Charles
County, the last in the Southern
Maryland block of counties, will
vote June 81.
Proponents of the issue in Prince
Georges have claimed its adoption
would bring to the county approx
imately $3.50 900 annually in added
revenue.
Board to Discuss Use.
Whether this money will be ear
marked for some particular project
has not yet been decided, accord
ing to Harry w. McNamee. presi-
dent of the Board of County Conn
missioners. He added the COM
missioners will discuss the matter
at their meeting Tuesday.
Yesterdays vote brought a
statement by Walter F. Mulligan
president of the County Civic
Federation, which had opposed
legalizing the machines. that
''The people responsible for pass
ing this bill and those backing 1t
are shortsighted and lacking in
vision, because while 1t may bring
in some revenue, the county will
lose in the future many times that
amount"
This was promptly denied by
Fred w. Monaghan. president
Of the County Hotel and Restau-
rant Association, a leader in the
fight for the proposal.
Promises to Back Law.
"The result of the referendum" "
he said. showed that the people
did not believe the fantastic tales
of the opposition"
He also pledged himself and his
association in seeing to 1t that
"the letter of the law is carried
out to the best of our ability"
These machines have been here
for IL to Is years." he asserted.
"and we didn't have racketeers in
the county. There's not going to
be any change. There will be the
same type of operators and a few
more machines"
Mr.. Monaghan estimated the
present number of all types OF
amusement devices in the county,
including pinball, claw and con-
sole-type slot machines. at be-
tween 700 and 800.
30 Per Cent Slot Machines.
Approximately 80 per cent are
slot machines, he said. adding
there probably would be an in
crease of about 80 per cent in
the total number Of devices.
Although Police Chief Ralph w.
Brown had opposed legalizing slot
machines on the ground he does
not have enough men to enforce
the new law, he refused to COM
ment on the result of the refer
endum.
A study Of the vote, described
by election officials as one OF the
smallest in county history. showed
that the rural election districts.
almost without exception, gave the
proposal a large majority. Only
the Melwood district voted against
1t, 43 to 26.
The suburban area was split
with three districts voting for the
question and three against.
Seat Pleasant Support Heaviest.
Heaviest support was given the
proposal in the suburban area by
voters in the Seat Pleasant elec-
ton district, which includes Capt.
tol Heights. Unofficial totals
from the five precincts there gave
the question TOO votes to 224
against 1t.
The vote in the five precincts
of the Bladensburg election dis
trict, which includes Colmar
Manor, was TIL for to 576 against
it. In the Chillum election dis
trict, which includes Mount
Rainier, unofficial totals from the
five precincts gave the proposal
soe votes to 1872 against it.
Suburban area opposition was
centered in the three precincts OF
the Berwyn election district.
which includes Greenbelt. Here,
the proposal lost by vote OF ssS
to 353.
The two other suburban dis
tricts voting against legalizing the
devices were Hyattsville. with a
vote of 588 to 454, and Riverdale.
with q vote of 535 to $40. The
latter district includes University
Park.
Also showing a majority against
the proposal was Laurel, 407 to
246.
s. 10 GET Diplomas