P;- M
Correspondence
Rampart, Alaska, April 12, 1902.
'• Editor Forum: I was somewhat
amused upon reading'an article in the
Fairbanks News of recent date, which
o&ta.edtbat Deputy George Dreibelbis
had announced that gambling will not
be permitted on the creeks in that pre
cinct, and that the deputy said he had
^acced solely on his own responsibility
when he ordered gambKngon the creeks
v to close. ■ The deputy also said he “con
, sidered police surveillence absolutely,
* necessary where gambling was allowed,
and he had neither the men or time to
such things the attention they require.”
This announcement of the deputy seems
vto be in the nature of a threat; that if
the Department of Justice did not allow
the marshal’s office more deputies, he
will be compelled to enforce the gamb
ling laws as they appear , in ' the code.
On the other hand, it may indicate the
deputy contemplates the manipulation
of the same graft at Fairbanks as he
attempted and partially succeeded in
working at Rampart.
I do not understand how the deputy
'marshal can legally take it upon him
self to publicly announce that it rests
with him to permit, or not permit,’ a
.violation of congressional laws. ~ I pre
sume if every citizen in Fairbanks pre
cinct was a deputy marshal then there
would be no restriction on gambling >or
any other violations of the statutes. I
know that this same deputy marshal
tried to manipulate the gambling money
at Rampart by threatening everybody
#who gambled with criminal prosecution,
thereby having it generally understood
that all gambling must congregate at
-the private games where the deputy
marshal personally took a hand. More
than one-man has been put on the bum
\ through gambling with Deputy -George
Dreibelbis at Rampart. The deputy
was very lucky at cards and very little
money., got away from him at these
games... The deputy intimates that the
'law cannot be violated and. gambling
carried on unless he has more assistance
in protecting the violators ; that he has
tuot the time to look after the games
himself. - He well knows that he must
be Johnny-on-the-spot when the ‘joint'
, is carved, would he have the choice ^cut..
Now, if lit is lawful for these 'games
z<to run in-case there an official-stationed
t
IMPORTER*
Tobacco
■£«*. gal,
Z °"Iy Fir* cU
•' An> Seajtj,.
at each table* why is it not legal ' for
them todo business when "the officials
are attending to other duties? Does
the- statutes contain such- a proviso?'
From the deputy’s own ■ statement the
only way to enforce the laws is to cot
down the official force, or in • other
words; cut off official graft: Supposing
the deputy had all the assistance asked
for, has he-tbe legal right to barter and
sell the privilege of violating the laws?
Is it optional with him who shall trans
act legalor illegal business? Is it his
dutytointerpret the law or enforce it
as hefindsit on the statute ‘books? I
have been told by Deputy George Drei
a %
MMMN
ueiuu umi ne was
r
f me mar
shal's office to suit himself, and that.
the people must come and see him if
they wanted todo business’. ' I do not
dispute tins fact, and have- seen suffie
ient ta convince me that .he was :the
court, district attorney and marshal in
one. I am a novice as to the inner
workings, of this organization of official
grafters in thm division, but being per
sonally acquainted with some of tneii
corrupt manipulations, I am becoming
somewhat interested in the -successful
fight made against them. Jussieu.
M. L. Washburn has resigned as gen- j
eral manager of the N. C. Col and has
been elected’ vice- president' ' He is
succeeded-by L. A. Phillips. Leigh'
Jones has been- appointed purchasing [
agent succeeding Mr. Phillips. I
THE t>NLY FIRST CLASS HOUSE
Fine - Wines and Liquors
BILLIARDS POOL
mr BEST ACCOMODATIONS
Furnished Rooms pi,50^!
STABLES For Hones And
A. H. MAYO
t'
WE FREIGHT
Regular .Trip* to Glen-and
Surrounding Creeks Twice
a Week
TEAMING & JOBBING
One Team Always in Town
Cord'Wood Sold and De
Hvered m Any 'Quantity
Jim , McHugh Frank Smith
All -Kind* of Chore Work
- PROMPTLY ATTENDED
CAP. COLLINETTE
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