The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-25
PRoHIBIrINo Po0L SELLING.
What n has Cost the Horse Owners and
Business Men sf Massachusetts.


Boston, Jan. 2l-A movement headed by
lovers OF base ball last yoar found success in a
law which provided severe penalties for any
one who should be engaged in or DO connected
with buying or selling poole. keeping a
room or building or grounds for selling
pools upon tho result OF any contest
OF skill speed. or endurance OF man. beast.
bird or machine. or upon any game or political
event Ancr year Of trial there comes n most
determined effort for q repeal Of the law. All
the most prominent turimen. owners OF horses.
and the proprieors OF Beacon. Mystic. Hampton.
and other parks have united In a petition.
which seeks at least a modification Of the law.
and in this they are abeued by hotel proprietors
and railroad companies. hearing was given
by the judiciary Committee to-day
Tho claim OF the petitioners was generally
stated by ex-senator f. W. Jacobs of Boston.
He said that the amendment was sought for MS
a matter OF business importance. The ground
on which the act WAS originated was that II was
desirable to prevent betting on elections
and appointments TO ofllco on the ground
Of its demoraizng effect. It was, also
considered desirable to prevent tho selling OF
pools 10 minors. Tho opponents Of tho law
proposed to show that the operation Of it pro-
tends to foster outdoor sports OF
an inferior order aud d9pri,ycs tho the
menis. Agricultural fnirs are seriously in
jurcd, MS they cannot be sustained without
horse racing. and the latter cannot be sustained
without pool selling II entail large private
loss IN connection with the raising OF
fine stock and MISC causes loss TO
tho State by driving away tnxable property.
Instead OF producing good effect in tho pre-
venton OF gambling II causes betting to be oon-
ducted in secret places and under bad in
p +. Moley. n horsedcalor. said thnt tho law
affected trade in horses. driving the best horses
from Massachusetts. and depreciating their
John A. Sawyer. formerly owner Of Beacon
Park said the interest In turf matters has been
very materially lessened by the law Horses
have gone out Of the State to n large extent be-
Causo II does not pay to Keep them hero.
The commission on pools IS something IKE
o. per cent. Large pursns draw horses from
all parts Of the country. with their owners and
their friends. hut unless the Park owners can
have the commissions on pool selling. they cam
Col Long Of Jordan. Marsh x Co.. who had
bought Beacon Park with ne ultimate intsn-
lcssees sank large amount OF money They
gave number OF races; but were
This was undoubtedly owing TO the
law against pool selling. The lessees We're OF
mod ilratiOn ofthe law against pool selling The
estimated depreciation on the value Of horses
in tho. State is s2O.OOOO0O a part OF
preston Of the times. During the past year
the depreciation In the value Of horses, owing.
rs is claimed, to the operation OF the Pool law.
hns been 33h per cent.
Mr.. shepard OF the firm Of shepard. Norwell
4 Co., Patrick Cummiskey. lessee OF park Mt
Iowrll, and o. l.. Farnum Of Cambridge. corro-
horated tho statements In regard to the depre-
| citation OF business and values.
James Golden Of Mediord testified that he has
| been obliged to send his stock West on account
| Of tho Pool law. In tho vicinity OF
BSsSn b. bspsss wSss. There ss naI n.Se s
| race In Boston last year. In the West he had
| seen from seven thousand to twelve thousand
persons present at the parks N once.
| II. A. Willis. proprietor Of Mystic Park. Med
| ford said that while there have been times wher
| not let il now for any price 1t is impossible t.
| get Western horses here to participate IN races
| Mr.. Jacobs read a note from Mr.. w. B Butcher
| the Pool law had caused him large amount 0
| loss in his business. No opposition to amend
| ing the law has yet appeared. and "A modiiica
| ton Is probable.