The sun., 1895-05-10
THE RACING BILLS SIGNED.
ALL FOUR OF THEM APPROVED BY
THE GOVERNOR YESTERDAY.


ernor Gives Reasons for Signing the Bills
ALBANY. May o.-Gov. Morton at o'clock
this afternoon announced that he had signed the
Gray Racing bill. tho two bills OF Assem- blyman
Wilds, which seek to carry out the anti-gnm-
bling provisions OF the new Constitution and
prohibit pool selling and all forms OF gambling,
md the supplemental bill correcting certain err
rors in the Gray Racing bill. At the same time
he appointed August Belmont of New York
city. eN-Congressman John Sanford of Amster-
dam, and Edwin II. Morgan OF New York city
as members of the State Racing Commission,
provided for in the Gray Racing bill. In his
memorandum approving these four bills Gov.
Morton says:
These four bills provide for tho formation Of
associations for the improvement OF breeding
OF horses and holding trotting or running race
meetings, for n State Racing Commission and
prohibiting the keeping Of gaming and betting
establishments, and also pool selling, bookmaks
Ing. bets, and waGcrs. All relate to the same
general subject, and for that reason are here
considered in one group. Several statutes res
lating to the same similar subjects are by
these bills repealed or amended and this group
OF bills will comprise what will be known as tho
Racing law Of tho State
by chapter 47s OF the Laws OF 1887 pool
selling on race courses was lcgaized, and
the provisions OF the Penal Codo relating
to the subject were to be suspended
during thirty days In each year, between May
10 and Oct. 8. upon certain race grounds. This
act made lawful during the period named. and
upon these race tracks, that which elsewhere and
during other portions of the year was treated as
a crime. The act was amended by chapter 403
of the Laws of 1903 and also by chapter l97 Of
tho Laws of 1894. BY section of Article
i. OF the Constitution, as amended in 1904.
1t is provided, among other things. that
neither pool selling. bookmaking nor any other
kind of gambling shall hereafter be authorized
or allowed within this State. And tho
Legislature shall pass appropriate laws to pre-
vent offences against any of the provisions Of
this section While tho principal portions Of
the acts above cited are probably abrogated or
rendered invalid by the constitutional amend
ment, some portions of tho laws probably re-
main in force, but in consequence of tho con-
stitutional amendment a revision of tho laws
relating to racing and racing associations seems
by tho Bills now % under con eonsideraton. p''p'''N
The first bill that relating 70 the formation
none of the Objectionable features Of that bill,
and the second on and ID third bills asmending sec,
necessary to carry into effect the prohibition
G9hntsned cont IN Inn the h. constitutionaI amendmsnt
the, General Corporations law Of the State
formed under tho first bill.
-" 1t seems to have been tho intention of tho
safeguard against gal I gambling in connection With
horse racing. Pool selling. booknaking.. rs-
are prohibted under penalty Of imprisonment
| or Imprisonment and fine. .-.,......
! to prohibit the transmission by telegraph or tel-
/ ephone OF orders or commissions for the laying
private Individual wagers are mnde between
persons. no token, receipt. or certificate Of tho
| pay over or refund the money so wagercd can
| be passed or exchanged between the parties.
imposed, under which the lose loser ma may recover at
law the whole sum 30 wagered between himself
and the winner: Besides. the officials in charge
race tracks. who may connivc at or permit vio-
lation Of law in this respect. are themselves
made made subject TO imprsonm1ent;; or both i'm
enrassi in betting; W and the Racing commission. ON
created by tho first bill. is empowered to revoke
! the license Of the association in whose race
| tracks or grounds the law is violated:
tutional amendment to prohibit racing alto
gether, but the evil of pool selling and book
tionai Convention OF 1894 felt Justified in
recommending the adoption Of a constitutional
he d ss sa ION
terry tickets. which were already included in tho
BY h s1 1dds e
perform the duty placed upon II by the Conslitu-
ton and provide ieEisation which should pre-
| stltuton relating to pool selling. book kmaking.
and gambling at horse races. Whether the ob.
only be determined by experience, and II this
legislation should prove Inadequate or insult
ficent to prohibit or repress the evils men.
toned public sentiment will doubtless demand
more stringent legislation IN the future
have been made to these bills by eminent citi-
zens interested in maintaining good morals and
tho spirit OF these objections No one could
deprecate more than myself any LEGISLATION
tha s
sideration of those bills leads me to the conclu-
teri.iiy iosseneI. il not altogether prohibited.
by their provisions. At all events it seems wise
does does not % seem proper to leave the statutes upon
this subject in the unccrtain condition produced
impracticable. if not impossible at this stage q
the legislative session to procure any othsr
legslati9n than that proposed by thes. t b,il1I
to approve them in the form recommended bS
'Hf Tha srnns these bills tho n-
sures Legitimate racing II this state this year.
| H. was supposed would put a stop to this sport
since its adoption by the people last fall ,.o,.
prohibits bookmaking ana pool selling Of al
| held. and which have received a licsnsS, from
| the state Racing Commission, and on all trot-
private priv bet or wager. provided that there shall
| be no passing OF money directly and no inter.
change of record memorandum OF bet
! made. This, In cifect, establishes betting on
| hGrsc races in this state as u has been eon-
| Quoted for many years In England.
| Trotting races may be held by any trottfng
| association on any kind of n track as regards
| size. But for running races there Is special
provision that running tracks must be at least
| mile in length or circumference. and must be
| licensed by u state Racing Commission of three
| persons 20 be appointed by the Governor, TO
| servo five years without condensation. Flvo
| thousand dollars Is appropriated annually for
| the Expenses of the Commission. which is TO be
| assesSed pro rata Oh the tracks licensed by the
Commission.
| The bill provides that not more than forty days
| racing shall be held on any one track between
April . and Nov. ], and all racing shall DO be-
tween sunrise and sunset; Racing at the county
fairs is not inicrfered with by the bill. tax OF
| her cent on the gross receipts OF all classes Of
racing associations except agricqlturai assoeia-
lions is imposed by the bill. which Is to bo dis
| tributed among agricultural associations
The two Wids bills carry out the anti-gam;;
| bling provisions Of the new Constitution and
| prohibit pool selling and bookmaking and all
| other kinds Of gambling. and specifically repeal
1