The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-19
Extracts from New York Journals.

The Times discourses of ''The Turf as fol-
lows:
Since we called attention to some of the
evils which attend horse-racng in this conn
try, the subject has been widely discussed.
This general interest has perhaps been in
creased by the fact that Buffalo clergyman.
having attended the driving-park, and acquir-
ed such practical knowledge of the races as
could be obtained by this limited experience.
made the sport the theme of his next SUNDAY
sermon. Without going into unqualified ap-
proval or condemnation as to other things
than he saw, the reverend gentleman was
very certain as to the demoralizing effects of
betting and pool-selling, which seemed to be
the chief purpose for which the horses were
trotted. There is no doubt the reverend GEN
tleman reached a correct conclusion. It will
never be possible to wholly prevent betting
on the speed of horses, but it is within the
power of the managers of the racing-parks to
make the vice less public and therefore less
dangerous and odious than it is. This gamb-
ling is never temptation to the uninitiated,
nor offensive TO the general public, except
when pool-selling is carried on upon the quar-
ter-stretch. Then it is in sight and hearing
of all the spectators on the grand stand, and
constitutes danger that should not be per-
mitted.
We are aware that it is urged that if this
gambling is not allowed there will be no rae
ing. Even limited experience will convince
any one that this plea, which is advanced on
ly by the gamblers, is without force. Let any
one attending a race at either of our three
principal running parks observe tue disparity
in numbers between the people who bet on
the races and those who do not, and he will
discover that the admirers of the horses are
usually ten times more numerous than the GUS
toners of the bookseller. We believe that
not only would public morality be served by
preventing pool-selling at the tracks, but
that the racing associations would find in
creased revenue in the reform. 1t wonld
Danish from the race-course the only thing
that tends to degrade it, and the associations
could well afford to lose the attendance of a
few gamblers if thereby they secure larger
attendance of decent people. We admit that
to prevent pool-sellng at the tracks would not
abolish the evil, as it then would be carried
on at the pool-rooms. But reform would nev-
ertheless have been effected, for man would
have to go in search of temptation instead of
having il thrust upon him. By TIE reform
which we suggest no possible harm can come
to horse-racing, but, on the contrary, much
good must result from the sport. The incen-
tive TO the owners of horses is still left in the
stakes and purses, even the gamblers contin-
ne to enjoy the exctment of the pool-rooms,
and the general public have an opportunity to
enjoy a noble sport without having it marred
by the pool-sellers' presence.
The World makes the following comments
on the Potomac steamboat horror:
The master of the steamer Wawasset has
| Just given an exemplary exhibition Of his fit
| ness for his business. After il had been prov
| ed that the Wawasset at tie time of her de-
struction carried 125 passengers, and that the
certificate which gave her the right to carry
passengers at all gave her the right to carry
only fifty, this remarkable navigator made
| answer that "he was under the impression
he was allowed to carry $50 passengers and
that fifty passengers would not pay the ex-
penses of the steamer The master of YES
sci who is ''under an impression" which the
mere reading of the certificate which hangs
constantly before his eyes would remove. and
who gives as a reason for carrying three
times as many passengers as he is allowed 10
carry that it is more profitable than carrying
his rightful number, ought to be deprived ot
his license to slaughter his fellows forthwith.
One can fully understand how such ship
master who never took the trouble to read
the cert;fcate of his vessel, might, by other
modes of the same imbecllity thus exhibited
hr;ng her 10 destruction in fifty different
,1avs But we cannot understand why such
a man should not be punished and disgraced
without DELAY, nor why any sane man should
hereafter trust his life to the care Of such
bungling BOBBY,