The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-08
The Roby Bill.

AS The SENTINEL predicted several DAYS
ago. the Roby race track bill was intro
duced in the senate on Wednesday. Sem
ator McHUGH of Tippecanoe, the deed did
do. The esteemed NeiCs OF Wednesday
said in it's local columns;
The bill was prepared by LEON o. BAL
LEY at the request of the Indiana horse
breeders and TrottIng associations.
This publication was caled TO the at
tention of the Indiana horsebrseders' as
ISOLATION, which was in session Yesterday.
The president, Or. WRIGHT, stated that ne
had neither requested Mr.. BAILEY to pre-
pare any bill nor authorized any such
publication. He asked il any one belong
ing to the association had done so, and
forthwith there resulted a profound and
solemn silence. The secretary said
he had nol requested Mr.. BAILEY
to prepare anything and had no
knowledge of the publication. Inquiry at
the Nelrs Office developed the fact that the
information came from BAILEY himself
Mr.. BAmEY's memory has been detective
for several years, but his bill 10 worse than
his memory. 1t begins with a bait held
out to the state of q division OF the spoils,
thus:
In addition 10 all other taxes required
by law such corporation shall pay an
nually to the treasurer of the state within
fifteen days after the first day of Novem-
Der, tax Of per cent. of the total profits
received by such corporation from pool
selling or bookmaking during the year, in
GLIDING any sum received from the sale Of
privileges therefor The corporation shall
make report in writing TO the auditor OF
state not later than Nov. Is of each year,
stating the full amount OF such profits as
taken from a complete record Of it's sales
and transactions the auditor. IN case Of tie
cOmpGRy's neglect or refusal to do this to ex-
anime It's books and records and fix the
amount OF the tax due.
As n further inducements:
All revenues received under this act by
the state shall be disburssd at the annual
exhibitions given by the state board OF
agriculture in the form OF prizes for i'm.
proving he breed OF speed horses raised
and owned in the state.
This puts the question in the same
shape that the lottery question was pre-
sented in Louisiana, only the bride OF
fersd 10y the lottery company was on a
much more magnificent scale than this.
The Roby crowd must have struck very
cheap lobby indeed IL they imagine that
they can purchase the honor and decency
OF Indiana for beGgary per cent. OF
the profits. Tho lobby itself ought to be
worth more than that. The bill then pro
cesds not only to le0alize pool selling.
but also 10 give race tracks a monopoly OF
the business as iolows:
II shall be lawful for such corporation
TO register beta or wAgeTs, commonly cal sd
pool selling or bSok-making. or 20 permit
! the same 10 be done within the inc Osure
OF the grounds or race-trhck owned by IL
| upon days when racing 10 IN actual prog
ress, upon the result OF any horse race or
| trial OF speed between horses but the reg
/ isteTing OF bets or wagsrs. or the 80 ling OF
pools, or the making OF books upon The
result Of Gay horse rdce or trial ofSJead h,hfeeH
| hores, or upoH me result of opg oih,r thing NJ
/ chance upon Whjch anything Of ydi,e m0g b.
| udgcred, at any other time, or a. dpg dher
! place. within the state OF Indiana. except
as herein designated. shall be unlawful.
This looks like giving the Robv crowd
what might be called "a lead-pipe cincb"
on the profits Of gambling OF this kind. but
II is not oil. In order TO centralize the
| profits of gambling entirely the bill fur
Their provides
II shall be unlawful for any person con-
nected with the corporation to rent, lease
or donate any portion OF the race track,
| premises or grounds. or any booth, stall or
tent 10 any pereon. company or society for
the purpose OF carving on any game OF
chance or skill. or any scheme, lottery or
| drawing with dice, cards. balls or vince =,
or any other game or device, the penalty
for conviction OF the same 10 he not less
| than 500 nor more than -, 900, and i'm.
! prisonment in the states prison for "A
| period OF not less than one nor more than
| i've years; or for any other person nat cOt-
| nected NTH me company 10 camille n, u ~,
manner upon he grounds or Wifhip hr0 aniis
| ofhe Mmc, the fine not TO be less than SIC
nor more than 500, n which imprison.
msnt may DO added for period not lese
than ten days MOI more than year.
Under this provision hundreds OF indus
trious gamblers, who have picked up O
scanty income by fleeing an occasional
chump before he gets chance to buy
pools. will be left eating snow balls. II
this be not class legislation. what shall we
| call III 7 but more IMAM tnia'
The corporate rights, privileges and
franchises named, or any oil the provision.
OF tbs act, shall moi b. eaj0ycd By Or heid d
apply 10 any county fair. agricultural on oihe,
association or corporation. except IL be or
ganized under the laws OF the state and
conducted under he provisions Of his act dHo
for he purpose herein contemplated.
We cannot do justice to this proposed
bill The mind becomes overwhelmed in
endeavoring TO conceive the brazen Of
frontsry, tho adamantine cheek. the in
duratsd gall Of this pack OF wolves wbC
have been chased out of Illinois anc
sought refuge in Indiana But We car
say with judicial certainty that we would
not give the mucilags on one of JOIN
WASANAKER's new postage stamps Tor III,
political future OF any legislator who votes
for this bill. And We would not give Oh,
remainder OF the said stamp for ths future
Of the democratic party in Indiana II an
such bill passes this Legislature
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