Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-04

Tor law making a rnlSue-
meancr. He further suggests amendments
to the statutes giving the judge of the
county authority to suspend officials and to
change the venue on cases of gamblers ac-
cused OF violations of the law. The full text
of the message on these points follows:
Horse Race Gambling.
Gambling on horse races has become a
shame and disgrace to Virginia. 1t has
been carried on the year round, and has at
tracted the gambling fraternity, including
the worst clement of it, from every section
of the country, and invited the youths of
the state to the tracks 10 be corrupted.
'The general assembly, at its last session
finding that there was no statute prohibit
ing bookmaking, pool selling, etc, and that
this species of gambling was being conduct
ed constantly at Jackson City, in Alex
andria county, passed an act making it I'M
lawful for any person or persons or asso-
citation of persons. corporation or corpora
lions, to sell or make books, pools or mu-
tuals upon the result of any trial of speed
or power of endurance of animals or beasts
etc, anywhere within the state, except
upon the grounds owned and controlled by
agricultural associations, county or city
fairs. driving parks or driving clubs there
tofore chartered. The special object of this
act was TO break up the gam DilnS uellS,
where pool selling, etc. was done, at Jack
son City, and which had made that locality
a veritabie pest spot for years.
"It was represented and believed by the
general assembly that the privilege of pool
selling making books etc, on the grounds
of agricultural associations or fairs and
driving clubs or parks then in existence
would not be used to encourage gambnn s
end create gambling places. The bill was
presented to me on the Sd day of March,
1881, five days before the session of the
general assembly expired by limitation. l
objected to the exception in favor of aSrt-
cultural associations or fairs and driving
CLUBS or parks but being assured that the
passage of no other bill on the subject could
be secured on account of the lateness of the
session. and believing that it would close
the dens at Jackson City, and that the
managers of the agricultural fairs and driv-
ing parks in the state would use the priVi-
lege carefully, 1 thought it best to approve
the bill and at least reduce the evil to a
minimum, and, accordingly, on the Sd day
of March, 1894, l appended my signature to
the act.
But, while the act had the effect of clos
ing the pool shops, etc, at Jackson City,
they were simply transferred to two other
places, short distances therefrom.
by virtue of charter granted by the
general assembly, at the session of 1856,
to the Grange Camp Associa ton of North
ern Virginia, whose franchises were secured
by persons who are said to reside n Wash
inSton city, driving park was esta blished
few hundred yards from Jackson CITY
and the Long bridge spanning the Potomac
river at Washington city, and there daily
during the fall of 1894 and the winter of
1915, and, with slight in termissions, to
the present time.in all seasons and weather,
racing, pool selling and hookmakng, etc,
have been carried on. in bold defiance of the
spirit ard intention of the general assem-
bly, and the act of March 3, 1891 To these
grounds the gamblers from every direction
have repaired. and, on account of their
proximity to the city of Washington, they
have attracted the worst element as well
az the youths of that city. So coPruptinS,
demoralzing and shameful have the prac-
tees become that l have been appealed to
In the most earnest terms by the respect
able citizens and board of trade of the ma
tional capital for relief But as these out
rageous acts have been committed under
cover, but in abuse of the act of March 3,
1891, have found that both myself and the
honorable judge of the county court of
Alexandria county have been utterly power
less II interfere.
The other place to which I have referred
is nearer the city of Alexandria, on the line
of the Southern railway, but almost ac-
cessible to Washington city as the Alex
anler Island park. 1t is known as St.
Asaph, and has differed in no material par
ticuiar, SO far as 1 am informed. from Alex
ander Island park, except that there has
been no winter racing on its track In
great measure the same element frequents
it. and POOL selling, book making. etc, mark
the constant meetings on its grounds.
II earnestly recommend that the act of
March 3, 1884, be amended by striking out
the exception IN favor of agricultural asso-
Citations or fairs. and driving clubs or parks
Let the selling of books or making of
pools mutua.s be absolutely prohibited
in the state of Virginia. Other states have
driven horse-race gambling from their
borders; enlightened public sentiment is
against it; public morals condemn it. Will
this state continue to make her boarders
the rendezvous and refuge of the gamblers
driven away from Jersey City and Gutten-
burg? Betting at faro, wheel-of-fortune or
keno table is prohibited and punished. Why
permit it on a horse race? Upon what
principle can one be prohibited and the
other licensed? Is it immoral and degrad-
irg to gamble with cards. but moral and
elevating to gamble on horse racing? 1 am
Al