He Swung & He Missed

New Orleans' new, independent, cleanup Mayor deLesseps Story Morrison (TIME, Feb. 4) thought he had something. Since New Orleans would always have gambling, why not legalize it? Besides, a gambling tax would bring in added city revenue.

He proposed to put New Orleans into the slot-machine business by licensing some 3,000 city-owned "one-armed bandits"; to license legal bookmakers (at $25 a day); and slap a 20% levy on race wire services' gross receipts.

Then the howl set in--from churchmen, clubwomen, and from bookies and slot-machine operators, who naturally preferred the present system, under which they pay graft but get a larger take themselves. Mayor Morrison would have given the suckers a better break.

Last week he met defeat. Louisiana's Legislature promptly turned thumbs down on "Chet" Morrison's slot-machines measures, tabled them indefinitely by an overwhelming vote. His legalized-bookmaking measure also faced certain death. Most legislators were less concerned with the dust storm of protest raised by the women's groups and churchmen than with kicking the goose that laid golden eggs for sheriffs and machine politicians.

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