Evening star., 1950-02-13
The tert of the Snecinl Grand

The teTt OF the special grGnd
jury report on gambling, as re-
leased today, tollo10S:
Whereas, the members of the
additional grand jury of the
United States District Court for
the District of Columbia, were duly
empaneled and sworn on May IT.
1948, for the purpose of inquiring
into violations of the gambling
laws of the District of Columbia
land other crimes resulting there
from: and
Whereas, evidence presented to
this additional grand jury has
been of such a nature that it is
|deeemed necessary and appropri-
late to bring to the attention of
this honorable court it's conclu-
sions in connection herewith;
Now, therefore, this additional
grand jury respectfully presents
to this honorable court the follow
ling:
The members Of the grand jury
are of the unanimous opinion that
organized gambling exists. in the
District of Columbia to degree
that indicates complete disregard
flor law and If left uncurbed con-
Istitutes a serious threat to the
Isafety and welfare of this COM
munity. y
Interstate in Nature.
This threat exists by reason of
the following facts:
a. Professional gambling in the
District of Columbia is large,
lucrative and well organized bust
ness which in recent years has
become interstate in nature and
difficult to control. It is impos-
sible to accurately estimate the
volume of this business. How
ever. it appears that in the metro
pol1tan area Of Washington. in
one year, the numbers business
used more than 65 million slips to
record this type of bet. While
nominal bets of five or ten cents
are accepted, many players daily
bet from $1.00 to $500 on the
numbers. Moreover, those in
authority estimate that the
amount wagered illegally with
bookmakers is from two to three
times the amount bet at the
tracks.
b. Professional gambling is a
breeding ground for numerous
other crimes. particularly crimes
OF violence growing out of efforts
by professional gamblers to gain
or retain control over gambling
operations in this community. It
necessarily follows that the more
profitable such gambling becomes,
the greater will be the Indictment
to the criminal element to seek
control by force and violence.
C. Professional gamblers drain
large sums of money from this
area and pay little or nothing in
Federal and local taxes.
d. Many professional gamblers
IN this jurisdiction have criminal
records indicative of a complete
and incurable contempt for law
fully constituted authority. Their
possession of large sums of money
gives them the means whereby
they constantly seek to carry on
their illegal activities with a mini
mum Of interference.
Telephone Facilities Vital.
Accordingly. we have found:
F i. Professional gambling in the
District of Columbia is not. local
in character. Gambling head
quarters are maintained in ad-
joining States and the business is
actively stimulated by and con-
Quoted in alliance with large pro-
fessional gambling syndicates OPP
Grating on a Nationwide scale
throughout the United States.
The safety afforded professional
gamblers by State lines has made
it impossible for local police au-
thorities TO-. effectively control
their operations. This results
from the fact that the gambling
statutes now in effect in the Dis
trict Of Columbia have lost their
efficacy due to changed condi-
tions. The statutes were written
to meet a purely local problem
which at that time had not
reached it's present financial and
geographical proportions. AS a
result there is not. at the present,
sufficient legislation to adequately