VOLUME LXXXV-NO. 97. SUPERVISORS DEAL A DEATH BLOW TO A GIGANTIC EVIL Adoption of a Law Prohibiting Book=Making and Pool= Selling in This City. Ten Members of the Board Deter= mined to Save the People of San Francisco From the Curse of Ingleside. WHEREAS. The practice of horse-racing as formerly car ried on in this city and county was intended to and did encourage the breeding of fast horses, and such emulation so engendered was of some material benefit to the State; and Whereas. While the same reason is given for the continuance of race-meetings, it now appears, and the results show, that the great success of these trials of speed of different horses is because of the interest taken by the young and old of both sexes in the purchase of pools and in the making of bets and wagers: and Whereas. The evil results engendered by the hope of gain on racetracks are apparent in the disruption of homes, the dissipa tion of savings, recklessness as to moral and social relations, and ultimately to crime and ruin; and Whereas. The continuance of this pernicious custom for many years of pool-selling, otherwise gambling, being permitted on racetracks has led to a deterioration and loss of character of young men. whose desire to participate in this gambling has led them to be dishonest, in peculating from their employers, and is a potent factor in debauching young girls and women who, atisc would be honest, virtuous and reputable mem bers of society: and Whereas, This board, in the interest of morality, cannot per mit such a debauching practice being pursued, as not alone the participants suffer, but the inno cents have to bear the wide reaching influences and conse quences of this gambling; and Whereas. This board owes it as a ]p of San Francisco, through their of- j ficial representatives, the Board of Su pervisors, have rebelled against the crime and death-breeding influences of the race course and have taken the first j Her toward closing the terribl* «.vf>- I The San Francisco Call. The Ten Supervisors nue that so many rtifn and women of this city have traveled to dishonor and death. At the mectine of the Board of Su pervisors yesterday afternoon a reso lution of vital importance was passed to print. Another vote of a majority of the hoard will kill the evil that has thrived at the expanse of so many homes and lives in this city. By their votes yesterday the Supervisors incor porated into the organic law of San Francisco an absolute prohihition against poolsellin^ and bookmakins within the limits of this city and county. The horsemen may, under this law, race their horses ;is they please, but ' they cannot legally hazard a cent on th>^ outcome of a race. The ordinance that was passed to print yesterday places no restriction upon hors^ racing. j If the masters of [ngleside fare to d< so, they may keep their gatos open ev ery day In the year, hui they will be placed under arrest if they hazard a dollar or permit a dollar to he waK'TKI on the issue of any contest in which they are interested. More than this, the Supervisors have officially decreed that no <>ne in this city may gamble r>n any hor.-e race whether held in Ban Francisco 01 anywhere else. The resolution thai was adopted yes terday Is sweeping In its consequences, but the Supervisors believe that des perate remedies are the only cure fur a desperate social disease. The prohibi tory resolution was introduced by Su pervisor Perrault and nine of his asso- I elates voted with him to close the ne farioos business of the bookmakers .n ; San Francisco. Two members of the ; board, HOWARD BLACK AND W. !H. PHELPS, balked at the resolution. SAX FRANCISCO, TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1899. These men listened to Dr. Perraulfs arraignment of Ingleside. They heard him tell of the destruction and death that the gamblers of the race course have brought to San Francisco. They listened while Dr. Perrault told of homes wrecked, young men led to dis honor, suicide, prison or flight. These worthy members of the board heard the story of young men ruined and women debauched and then they voted to protect the scoundrels that have made this city their field of evil. Supervisor Perrault repeated the ftory as The Call had already told it. The grewsome records of the Morgue, the registers of the State penitentiaries, the history of recent crime in Pan Francisco and the silent testimony of wrecked lives and homes tell the story of Ingleside. It was this story that Dr. Perrault told yesterday to his as- Bociates and then begged them, in obedience to the duty they owe to the people of the city, to destroy the evil. The vote upon the resolution was ten to two. The new law was started well on its way. Another vote will be neces sary before the resolution becomes operative. This vote will be taken at. the next weekly meeting of the board. If this vote is in the affirmative, and there is hardly a possibility that it will be anything else, the bookmakers will havp to seek a new field after next Monday or fight their way through the courts out of jail. The resolution was presented late in the afternoon by Supervisor Perrault. After it had been read by the clerk Supervisor rhelps asked why it could not be referred to the Health and Police Committee of the board. Dr. Perrault then ma.de a determined ! stand that it be passed to print at once. Ho scored the racing as now promoted, saying: - 'I think every member of this board knows the dire consequences and the blighting influences that surround i the racing at Ingleside. Our young That Are Determined girls and boys become dissipated and drfrr-nerate and resort to petty larceny to get the money with which to bet. This evil may and sometimes does lead them on to murder and suicide. 'Homes are wrecked and the live? of innocents ar" blighted by this rapidly spreading evil. I do not believe in re ferring this matter to a committee. If you do the only person who will appear before that committee is 'Colonel Ma mma.' " Mr. Phelps ninv^ to amend to include dog racing or coursing and the amend ment was at once accepted by Dr. Per rault, the maker of the original motion. Chairman Collins of the Health and Police Committee was indignant at the suggestion of "Colonel Mazuma" ap pearing before his committee. "I don't know Colonel Mazuma," he said. "I suppose, however, he is a gentleman ! like ourselves. I want a printed copy of the resolution, so that we may read It and understand the question UDon which we are voting." This ended the discussion. The vote was then on passage to print and was adopted. Those voting in favor of the resolution were: Supervisors- Holland, Kalben, Perrault, Lackmann, Byington, Collins, Heyer. Deasy, Attridge and Aigeltinger. The two voting in the negative were Black and Phelps. Members of the board showed their interest in the measure which they had adopted by expressing freely what they know of Ingleside and its many evils. Supervisor Holland, at the conclusion of the meeting, said: "I have visited the Ingleside track twice since it was opened. The last time I was there a girl of nineteen approached me and said: 'How do you do, Mr. Holland!' "I did not know her at first until she told me her name. I knew her family well and was shocked to see her there. After a few moments' conversation she left me saying, "Don't tell my mother you saw m Jhere!' "Wher *; ye left me I saw her give money to.: Stout to bet for her. That is the way iemoralization spreads from the race fcra.sk. " Supervisor Aigeltinger has a story of the wrecking of a home caused by the track. A man and wife had $3400 in bank and intended to build a home for themselves. The husband had reason to look at the bankhook. which was jointly in his name and that of his wife. To his horror he found every dollar had To Save the People ENGLAND AND AMERICA OPPOSE ITALY'S DEMAND been drawn upon the signature of his wife. When taxed with it she could only say '-Ingleside." The husband took his wife's duplicity so much to heart that he separated from her, their home being wrecked. At the conclusion of the meeting of the board each Supervisor was asked to express his opinion of the resolution which had been adopted. The inter views that follow illustrate what the Supervisors think of the evil they in tend to suppress in San Francisco: Supervisor Deasy — I believe on general principles that horse racing should be regulated. The town has gone mad on the sport, and the time has come when a halt should be called. Horse racing is all right, but it should be restricted and not al lowed to assume the proportions it has assumed here. The time has ar rived when a check should be put to both it and the coursing. It is dis graceful the way women visit the tracks and parks and bet openly. Supervisor Perrault — In addition to the corrupting influences of the race track on our social life, it is even worse on business. It diverts money from the proper sources and gives nothing in return. It is time a check was placed on these bunko steerers who have fleeced the public so long and so fearlessly. Supervisor Heyer — Horse racing has gone beyond all reasonable bounds, and, in justice to the people of this city, should be restricted. Thieves and vagabonds come here from the East to rob our people. It is getting worse and worse each year, : and a stop must be put to it some , time. Supervisor Byington — The resolu- Of This City From the tion is a sweeping one, but some such legislation is required to regulate the sport. I know of the evils that have developed at Ingleside, and it is the duty of the board to end them. Supervisor Aigeltinger — I am in favor of placing such restrictions on racing as will make it a legitimate business proposition. If conducted properly much of the evil could be eliminated from the sport. Supervisor Holland — I favor all sports, provided they are carried on in a proper manner. There should be a check placed on it when it gets to an extreme. When it degenerates into gambling it should be stopped. Supervisor Collins — I have not given the resolution my undivided attention as yet. From a cursory view of it, however, - am impressed with its significance. Horse racing and its accompanying evils have certainly But Uncle Sam Is Not Ready to Engage in War Over Chinese Territory. Humbert's Government Sounded the Washington Authorities Before Proceeding to Forcibly Take San Mun Bay. O PEKING, March 6.— Owing to the insulting manner in which the O © Chinese Government has refused the request of the Italian Govern- © © mem for a lease of San Mun Bay, Province of Che-Kiang. as a coal- O O ir.g station and naval base, Signor Martino, the Italian Minister, de- O O clines'to hold direct communication with the Tsung Li Yamen. O O LONDON, March 7. — The Peking correspondent of the Times O O says: The Tsung Li Yamen's rejection of Italy's demands was Q © couched in studiously contemptuous and minatory terms. I find that O © the French Minister, a fortnight ago, warned the Tsung Li Yamen O O that Italy was about to present a demand, and counseled its rejec- O O tion. Signor Martino's dispatch used the very words "sphere of influ- O © ence," which, owing to difficulty .in translation, were rendered "pro- © © tectorate" in Chinese. O © O O According to a dispatch to the Associated Press on Sunday the © O Tsung Li Yamen has returned to the Italian Embassy the dispatch O O containing the demand for the concession, accompanying it with a let- O O ter declaring that the Government was unable to grant the request. O O O oooooooooooooooocooooooooooooooooo worked disaster to the young and old of our city. I have never in my life seen v horse race. My impressions have simply been formed by the many sad cases resulting directly from the betting ring that are daily published in the newspapers. At the present time I can hardly say that I am in favor of total restriction of gambling on horse racing. The rac ing season should be limited. That would remedy the evil. Supervisor Phelps — At the present Shame of Ingleside. time I cannot say anything in regard to my position on this resolution. I have friends on "both sides. Supervisor Black — Dr. Perrault's resolution is too far-reaching. I am in favor of restricting the privileges of the rare track people, but I am not in favor of total restriction of gam bling on horse races. Bwperriflox Kalben — I do not care to state my position. Supervisor Byington — I am in fa- I vor of restricting gambling on the nee tracks altogether. It works a great harm to the morals of our city. I sincerely trust that this resolution will be passed by the board, but I . have small hopes that it will be. The race trpck people have plenty of capi tal to back up their schemes, and I fear that they will use it in this case. Supervisor Attridge — I am heart ily in favor of Supervisor Perrault's resolution to put a 'stop to gambling on the race track. I coincide in all the views expressed in the resolu tion. The Dreyfus Revision. PARIS. March ti— The United Courts of Cassation met to-day under the presi dency of M. Mazeau and appointed M. Ballot de Beaupre, who succeeded M. Quesnay de Beaurepnir.^ as president of the civil division of the court, to report upon the application for a revision of the Dreyfus trial. Putnam Will Acept. BOSTON. March 6.— Herbert Putnam, librarian of the Boston Public Library, has s-iirt that he will accept the post of Librarian of Congress, previously tendered to him by President McKinley, In case the offer la renewed. PRICE FIVE CEINTS. NEW YORK, March 6.— The Herald'a Washington correspondent sends the i following: In making her demand on China for the cession of territory and I sphere of influence surrounding it, Italy | has the support of France, Germany | and Russia and the diplomatic opposi tion of the United States and Great Britain. I learned to-day from a high diplomatic authority that before mak ing her demand Italy sounded all the , powers of Europe and then submitted i a note to this government detailing her i purpose and asking what action would | be taken by it in case her plans were I put into execution. The reply of Sec retary Hay, formulated after careful consultation with the President, depre cated the proposed course of Italy, and was in the nature of an objection to its adoption. But Italy has taken no heed to the wishes of the United States, though she was careful to ask before hand how far this government would go in opposing her pretentions. Infor mation in possession of the authorities confirms the press reports of the land ing of Italian marines at San Mun Bay, despite the refusal of the Tsung Li Ya men to comply with the demand. In refusing the Italian demand the Chinese Government is supported by Great Britain, notwithstanding the re ports to the contrary which have been published, and the British Government would like the United States and Ja pan to join with it in strongly protest ing against this invasion of Chinese territory, even to the point of making a display of force and engaging in hos tilities to compel Italy to withdraw. But the administration has no inten tion of engaging in a European war, or of making entangling alliances. Of course, it has under serious considera tion the policy it shall adopt. As told to me to-day, there are two courses that can be pursued. One is to make a diplomatic representation to Italy de claring that her acquisition of Chinese territory and of "sphere of influence" surrounding that territory is injurious to trade interests of the United States, and that this Government would be in clined to see abandonment of her pre tensions. The second contemplates the submission of a remonstrance and then protest against such acquisition, and preparation to hack up such protect with a display of force, and if neces sary to engage in war. It is needless to say that the admin istration, while appreciating the inter ests involved, will not adopt the second course, certainly not at this time. Min ister Conger at Peking, under instruc tions from Washington, is sharply watching developments in the situation and keeping this Government informed, but so far as I have been able to learn he has made no direct representation to the Chinese Government against the granting of the Italian demand, though the Peking authorities undoubtedly un derstand the attitude of the United States. WASHINGTON, March 6.— There is a mass of information on hand in both the Navy and State Departments rela tive to the encroachment of foreign powers on the Chinese coast, but it is in such shape that a concise statement of the situation is difficult to obtain. The fact is, however, that the oceupa- Uon ef available ports along the coast has gone to such lengths that the ma jority of the desirable harbors, both in value as roadsteads and for communi cation with the interior, are in the hands of foreign governments. With England in possession of "Wel- Hai-Wei, the Russians at Port Arthur, the French at Anam and Tonquin, the Germans holding Kiaochau, and with the additional ports of Hongkong and Singapore in the hands of the English there is but little left in the way of de sirable ports on the Chinese coast. Shanghai is nominally in control of the Chinese Government, but really is con X -^ Continued oa Fourth !'««•.