Coin Slot Magazine - #076 - 1981 - June [International Arcade Museum]
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VALUE OF THEIR MACHINES?
In answer to this question let me point out that it is
legal to collect such antiques in 26 states of the United
States, ft is fegal to transport such machines out of the
State of Maryland and into any of the legal states. I
quote from the Johnson Act, Public Law 906 of the
81st Congress:
"It shall be unlawful knowingly to transport any
gambling device to any place in a state, the District of
Columbia, or a possession of the United States from
any place outside such state, The District of Columbia,
CIAL PROCEEDING COMMITTEE WAS OPPOSED
AND THE BILL WAS ALMOST KILLED! You see, if one
member is vehemently opposed on a bill of little
relative consequence such as this one, the entire
committee will vote it down! They don't want him to be
angry and not "go along" with major legislation. After
all this bill isn't important-TO THEM.
tititi ROUNDS 4 & 5 * * *
When I realized that one senator was killing the bill,
or possession:
Round 4 began. I called every collector that I knew.
PROVIDED, that this section shall not apply to the
transportation of any gambling device to a place in any
state which has enacted a law providing for the
exemption of such state from the provisions of this
(The list I advised you to make up with the collectors
and who knows who now comes into play.) I found Dick
L. a collector with a friend who knew the reluctant
senator socially. She (the friend) pleaded for over an
section..."
hour on our behalf. Finally the senator agreed to
abstain. Two days later the bill passed the committee.
So, it is legal to sell the slot machines located in our
State as long as they are sold into any one of the legal
states. Ergo, this legislation does not make the "bad
guys" rich - unfortunately they have sold and are
legally selling their machines now. Each month many
old machines leave this state and are sold to buyers in
"legal" states. And so they make the money with or
without this legislation.
I, however, am not a bad guy.
I must live in fear that I will be arrested and my
collection destroyed.
I must fear for the impact of such an arrest on my
family and my business.
I cannot get insurance for my collection reasonably.
I cannot openly try to buy my antiques.
I cannot, so to speak, "come out of the closet".
I ask you for the passage of this bill, not to in any way
promote, support or encourage gambling, nor to allow
an undue profit to be made, BUT FOR LEGAL PRO
TECTION FOR MY PROPERTY AND MY REPUTATION.
PLEASE PASS SENATE BILL 391"
If you read that testimony slowly, and it must be read
slowly, you will find that it runs about 7 minutes. DO
NOT ALLOW OTHER COLLECTORS TO SPEAK, IF
POSSIBLE. IFTHETOTAL PROGRAM RUNSOVER 12
MINUTES YOU ARE DEFEATING THE BILL YOURSELF.
Let the sponsoring congressman speak for about 3-
5 minutes then the champion comes on. Maybe, just
maybe, one representative of the State Historical
Society - NO MORE!! Be ready for some simple ques
tions. THINK BEFORE SPEAKING and for Pete's sake
rehearse the testimony. You want those on the com
mittee to be so proud that the "country bumpkin" who
was "so out of his element" had taken their coaching
so well and has done such a good job.
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Round D 1 o was the w individual
://w Round 3. Go back to any congress
the hearing, t now
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ft ft ft ROUND
from 3 u ft s ft ft
men who were opposed or non-committed. Work on
them! Find out, NICELY, just what the objection is. If
you still cannot convert them to positive votes your job
is not over. ONE SENATOR ON MARYLAND'S JUDI
© The International Arcade Museum
32-THE COIN SLOT
A week later it had passed the full senate. Now Round
5-The House of Delegates.
By now, if you have waged the first 4 rounds, you will
know the routine for the rest of the war. The most
valuable tool I had were the secretaries. The sponsor's
secretary told me who to see, how to get in, and where
to go next. The secretaries of the committees kept me
posted on who was for and who was against. It was one
of the committee's secretaries that told me that one
senator would kill the bill. I had figured it was 7 to 1 so
why fight it further! The point being one person can
make or break the fight as stated before.
We found among our collectors people who know
the Governor and they are working now. I will be in the
legislative offices of the Governor, literally perched on
his doorstep. Other collectors also knew senators and
delegates who kept their eyes and ears open and
reported any problems. Once it got past that first
committee it was like sliding down a greased pole. I
might note that the same committee had killed the
same bill THREE YEARS IN A ROW.
"Don't let any detail pass you by."
Don't let any detail pass you by. Keep it simple and
involve as few a number of people as necessary. Check
back once or twice with those congressmen who
favored the bill to be sure that they haven't swayed.
By all means call me. My address and phone number
are below. Contact Bill and Rosanna Harris at THE
COIN SLOT, and drop a line to Dick Bueschel; they
may be able to help. They were helpful in Maryland!
I hope this article is of assistance to those of you in
those states that have not passed legslation. While
these methods worked in Maryland you might modify
them in your state. In any case I wish you luck.
Steve Cohen
c/o Jasons
Severna Park Mall
SevernaPark, Md. 21146
(301) 544-0255
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
June 1981