The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-13

There are no words IN Governor Ofer-
ralrs message more timely ana true tran
those in which he denou iced thc row
legaIized vice OF pool-seliinG on certain
raco-coursas in this state. TIE cover
nor tells how Sc was he signed the law
under which this crime against society
has been nrazenly committed for nearly
two years. and while the reasons, IN the
light OF subsequent events, are not salts
factory, doubtless no one is more dis
satisfied with them now than the Cover
nor himself. II Is not unreasonable.
however. that an ingenious man should
fail at once to discover the trick in
plot deeply laid by artful achemcrs'
which. If It had escaped the scrutiny 81
had not been exposed by the Legislature.
The surprising thing is that either tie
Governor or the Legislature should have
tolerated foa' a moment any law which
authorized pool-senng anywhere and
under any circumstances or limitations
whatever. 10 go true that all The hght
had not then been thrown OH this sro-
feet which the discussion Of tie anti
gambling provision or the New York
Constitution ELECTED IN tho summer and
fall Of 1894. An the specious but Ut
tcriy false and hollow arguments which
the gamblers presented In New York In
the pretended interest OF the farmers
about whom they we're so sohcitous-
are now being ~evampea ana pa"adea
here with the hope of dcluding this Viz
ginia Legs ature into approving and con-
tnuins vice which has been denounced
and exercised as foui hcnd in every
State where the question has been raised.
New York. New Jersey Maryland. ana
Illinois, tho states IN which The great 2st
racc-racks IN America are located nave
with one voice. ana after The fullest IN
ves,igston. driven out This couupiing and
degrading form OF gambling.
The pretence that horse-brecdcrs gen
orally are interested u pocl-seling Is
absurdly untrue There was published
in this paper on Tuesday last state
msnt presenting tho idea that pooi-sei.ng
was necessary TO the value OF the zen
million Of dollars worth of horses IN r.
sinia. We have one hundred counties
and eighteen cities and towns in this
State. in which horses-and we suppose
In this list is included mules ard jack
asses mot the human speciesl-are listed
for taxation. In how many counties.
cities. and towns are there race-horses
listed for taxation And at what valua-
zion? What proportion OF The 100000
"a represented ny racing stock;
In Alexandria county. which Is the
headquarters for this Infamous racing
business. we can ten from the record
what good effect pooi-soiiins has had
on tho value OF horses Let Us sec. IN
$3.50. before the days OF pool-selling the
horses In that county were valued al
$46Ois. whereas in 1885, under the stimu-
lating influence OF The racc-coursc, the
gamblers. the pool-sclling. the large in
vestments. the protection OF law. etc.
etc. the value OF the horses had gone
down 10 $S5.C3l.
Now. although there has been a gen
eral depreciation m this State 81 ,io ,al-
uation OF horses from 0Ss.i. rs. - lN'e. to
yo.sieifo. in 1926. or nearly % per cent,
the deproc.aticn IN Alexandria county
has been nearly - per ceat-morc then
the average OF the whole state.
The ergumen, 81 the vcoi-sciiins gari-
biers Is based on The very loves. plane
OF morals. even " II tho facts gusta'ned
it--cven II. as at Monte casio-a revenue
tanned by the ruiz OF human heings but
IA our booksellers case their argument
10 not sustained py amy fact worthy OF
. moments consideration.
nasx vhn could have expeetAd any thing