The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-13
POOL BILL WAS DEFEATED
AMENDMENT PROYIDING FOR 10
C4L OPTION REJECTED.

Hartford, June 12.-In the house OF
representatives, the order of the day
bill amending act concerning pool sell
ing, as passed in the senate, was called
up at II o'clock The amendment pro-
vides for local option for the licensing
for twelve days in each year the sale
of pools on authorized race courses.
The debate was led off by Representa-
tive Judson of Stratford He said the
general assembly of 1893 passed pro-
hibition bill, as comprehensive bill as
| was ever passed in the Connecticut leg
| lslature. The committee held a number
of hearings on the present bill, which
provided for the suspension of the oper-
alton Of the act in this state.
1--WE decided unanimously" he con-
tinued, "on the bill which provided that
pooh selling should be permitted for a
certain length OF time and in opposition,
| The amendment proposed is a sort of
| local option lew in regard to pool sell
| ing. 1t allows any community by their
| selectmen, to authorize any association
| to conduct pool selling for certain days
can well aPpreciateithat there is DIFF
| ference In the two bills for the amend
ment provides for a local decision in
| the ma tier and yet the committee has
decided 1t cannot change its attitude.
| In liquor selling it has been deemed adj
visable that each community shall
speak for itself in the matter of the ad-
visibility OF licensing; but in pool sell
| ing l do not believe there is the same
demand and therefore l would state
that our action as a committee Is un
favorable to the bill and the amend
! ment."
representative Lounsbury Of Darien--
The outcome of all the testimony taken
by the committee was that this Is an
unjust measure. The laws of the state
should be clean and pure in view of the
interests of the rising generation. We
cannot afford to eVelate this sport to the
degradation of humanity. Gambling has
never been deemed to be right by the
moral sentiment of this state. Beware
how you legislate in this line, gentle
men! This state cannot afford to IL
cense pool selling or gambling for the
price of gold. l do not think, in the
line of good government that we should
go any further in licensing any such
measures We should not ask the gov
ernor to fix the great seal of the state
to such measure. If this bill is moral
ly wrong then It is wrong for us to
try and make it right and 1t should not
have the sanction Of the house just be-
cause it passed the senate. We are two
distinct bodies 1t would be pernicious
and wrong legislation.
Representative Warner of Putnam
Never in the history of this state has
an attempt been made to sustain legis-
lation so indiscrete as that which is
now being attempted. This bill has re-
ceived great criticism. On its merits
and looked at in a moral point of view
1t should have no standing whatever.
The state has still reputation as "a
land of steady habits This bill is
graphically described a "a bill to local
lie hell" and if passed it is likely to
have that effect. The Rhode Island Leg
islature repealed the pool bill after the
state had a bitter experience. New
York and New Jersey have obliterated
the whole business. In New Jersey the
business was a stencil in the nostrils
local option; it is only bill to localize
crime The difference between this
and the sale of liquor by local
option Is as wide as the poles, but 1t
never Is right to gamble, and no town
ever ought to have the right to legalize
pool selling. If as much money could |
have been expended on the Improve
ment of humanity as has been expended
on the development of the horse I |
very much doubt if senate would have |
been found to pass this bill. There is |
authority for the statement that the |
best horses can be trotted without the |
sale of pools. I believe the people of |
the state will support fairly conducted |
horse race. If it will not, we should not |
be asked to lower our dignity by pass
ing this bill in order to please a debased |
humanity.
Mr. Goodwin of Woodstock read the
resolutions passed by the Congregation
al church in that town last Sunday
against the bill. Friends on either side
If the house can, unite in rejecting this
dill. The man who favors this measure
commits political suicide.
A motion for the yeas and noes was
opposed by Mr.. Judson of Stratford,
Who said 1t was unnecessary and they
we're not called for.
Mr.. Williams of Glastonbury opposed
he bill He presented the vote of the
rustees of Hartford theological semi
larry demonstrating against the bill.
Mr.. Range of Guilford opposed the
ill. He said if it was commendable to
Illow pool selling twelve days in year
Why not allow the sale fifty-two weeks
n the year?
After discussing fifty minutes the
Iouse, by vote of % to 12S, refused to
,ass the bill The result was greeted
With applause.
SENATOR BERND'S VICTORY.
In the senate this afternoon Senator
iernd of Danbury won notable vic
1ry in the face of an adverse re-
ort from the committee on incorpor-
tions. The bill appropriates $4,000 for
le Danbury hospital and Senator
ernd made telling speech in its |
lvor and the bill was passed without
pposition. After the vote the sena-
IT was warmly congratulated upon
is success. His speech is as follows:
Mr.. President regret exceedingly
lat 1 am compelled to take the floor