The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-02-22
THE RAcE-TRAcK WAR.
Grave Charges Made.

ASstulOtJ Aunu al Va UtObuAOutb,
treduced three racetrack bills in the in
terest Of the Gloucester track. This led
Leader Thomas Lane TO introduce reso-
luton for public hearing to be given on
the race-track bills. In supporting his
resolution Mr.. Lane showed by his tone |
and language that he was mad all the way |
through. He stated that it was matter |
of common scandal that this was Legis-
| lsture owned by the race-track gamblers.
II is but right that the people should be
heard. This privilege was accorded to
them last year and the year previous, and
the moral citizens of the State came here |
and such tornado OF outraged Indignation |
burst over the State that the men holding |
the bills were paralyzed and could not |
move. He thought they should be ac-
corded the right TO come here and tell |
why such bills should not be passed.
Barton B. Hutchinson, The Republican |
leader, urged the passage of the resolu-
ton.
Asscmblyman HarrigAn, assuming an
innocent air, wanted 10 know what there
was in the bills that was bad. He did
not know what there was 10 them and
could not understand what Lane meant
by declaring that the Legislature had been
scandalized by this kind of legislation.
Lane continued by saying it was an in
suit to the intelligence Of the House TO
seek information of what a race-track bill
would be in this session Of the Legisla-
ture. They tell their story on their face.
II is matter of common report that the
Legislature is on an auction block to be
knocked down to the gambler that has
| the most money.
Assemblyman Beekman, of Middlesex,
called Mr.. Lane to account for his ambigu-
Gus language about the auction block.
| Mr.. Lane sharply answered that 1t was q
| matter of common report that vast sums
| OF money had been raised to put through
this Legislature bill 10 the interest Of
beokmakers.
| Assemblyman Henry, Of Camden, who
sits next TO Thompson, demanded the at
tention of the House to introduce reso-
luton In the interest of Lane, but he was
declared to be out OF order. He demand
ed recognition and asked that he be called
at the proper time. Speaker Flynn said
CURLY: ''The member from Camden will
be woke up at the proper time"
! Thompson, red in the face and culver
In bis voice, began an attack on Lane.
He said the member from Union smells
something IN the air and suddenly dis
covers that 1t is not coed bill. The
Legislature has its committees to discover
this and without the aid of the member
from Union. He has much TO say about
legislative scandals. He is competent to
talk on that subject, for there Is no man
In this House who knows more about the
scandals Of the past few years than the
member from Union. He introduced the
resolution because the race tracks are po. |
| litically opposed to his interest. He, how
ever. has been quite willing in the past TO |
avail himself of help from that source, or
any source that would put up for him. |
He was member Of the last Legislature |
and introduced resolution 10 investigate |
the coal combine. He did IL In good |
faith, OF course. He was made member |
of the investigating committee; for some |
reason he became conveniently sick and |
never attended a session OF the commit
tee. 1t was strange conduct for a re-
former. He capped the climax by voting
for the passage of the bill that placed the |
people OF New Jersey in the hands of the
coal combine. How he can compose bis
conscience at this time / cannot under
stand. He says 1t is common talk what |
the race track men are going to do. So |
Is 1t common talk In the halls of this |
Legislature, and 1t has been for some |
time, that the member from Union has !
introduced mere Strikes than any other |
member who has sat in this Legislature. |
This is general statement, but little |
later on | shall prove what ] say. Lane |
Is an expert on tilles--he knows what 10 |
10 bill as soon as he sees Its title. 10 |
this respect he is q wonderful man, par
ticularly race-track bill. He stands
here and condemns the race-track mon,
but be docs not tell how often he used |
them. Every race.track man here can
testify to that. 81 did my share" burst
out the excited Assemblyman as he banged |
the desk.
lie consorted with them and took thlir
money, now he gets up here and holds up
bis hands In holy horror and tells this
Hsuse what vile set of men they are.
Let me say there 10 more honor in the |
class of men he abuses than there is 10 his
whole carcass.
Lane hastily jumped to the floor and
was allowed to talk on question Of priv
ilege. He was pale and nervous and
turned and faced Thompson. He said
slowly: The member from Camden has
unbosomed himself as to the various ini- !
quities am charged with. II Is certain
ly case OF Satan rebuking sin. The |
Coal Combine bill was never passed until |
he came here and lobbicd for 1t. My ac-
tion 10 connection with the Coal Combine |
bill is open to scrutiny. l introduced the
resolution to investigate at the request OF
the Chairman OF the Democratic State
Committee. He wanted to test the peliii-
cal value of such an investigation. He
urged the passage OF the bill, because OF
the assistance promised by the corpora
ton to the Democratic party. The men,
Der form Camden came here and teok an
oath 10 support the constitution OF the
State, yet he Is violating II and the laws
Of the State by running gambling hell on
the Gloucester race track.
He stands 10 day indicted In the courts
of Camden and has used the Legislature
as means to avoid giving an account OF
himself. ! desire to say, did get 800
from Mr.. Thompson TO assist my cam
paign. | learned from the State Com
mittee that he received hundred times
that amount 10 run his end OF the State.
Thompson continued to hunt Lane. He
asked him the pertinent question whether
the Chairman Of the State Committee gave
him all the strike bills he introduced dur
ing the past three years. He continued
by saying that all the legitimate corpora
tons OF the State fear no man SO much as
Lane.
Lane said, 81 ssppose the gentleman
from Camden considers the South Jersey
Jockey Club a legitimate corporation ~
The vote on Lanes resolution was
taken, and defeated by vote Of 81 to 80.
Those voting against the public hearing
were: Armitage, Beekman, Byrne, Car
roll, Chamberlain, Clarke, Coyle, Crsmer,
DAILY, Dittmar, Diver Duffy, Flynn,
Harrigan, Henry, Kearns, Kelly. II. A.
Kelly, T. NJ. tanning, Lawless, Olvaney,
Packer, Parker, Shepherd, Stout, Swari-
went, Tahen. Thompson, Utter, Warne,
Wright and zeller. This vote is Demo-