The morning times., 1896-04-10
RACING WON FIRST HEAT
District Committee Favorab|y Re-
ports Race Commission Bill.
VERY STRICT, SAYS ODELl
Amendments Make La ws More Strin-
York or New Jersey-All Gambling
Positively PrOlIibited-Gamb bling
LOSSES Recoverable by Civil Action.

from the House District Committee sub
mitted a favorable report on the bill TO
ablish racing commission. In sub
mitting it he said:
opportunity has been given to those
for their. object the effective suppression
who both favor and oppose the measure to
be heard, and such amendments as have
for their object the effective suppression
or all forms of gambling upon race tracks,
have been Incorporated In the bill
The committee in recommending its
passage do so with the confidence that
the proposed enactment will afford to the
lovers or horses an opportunity To enjoy
trials or speed without tue vices which
have heretofore beenincident to and brought
this form OF pleasure and enjoyment into
disrepute.
''ln arriving at this conclusion the com
mittec has had the benefit OF tile advice
OF the attorney for the District, 5 I.
Thomas, District Attorney A. A. Birney,
whose reports together with the approval
OF the District Commissioners are ap-
pended to the report.
Mr.. Odell, in conversation with The
Times reporter, said that the racing bill
as amenGed will make the most stringent
Law on the statute books against gambling.
In operation in various States, and finds
tnat the bill reported is much stronger
lhan the one in force in Rev ork and far
more drastic than the New Jersey law.
JOCKEY CLUB PLEASED.
Nr. s. y. Howland, president, and Mr..
Ben. HELEN, secretary OF the Washington
Jockey Club, were present when the bill
was submitted. They were overJoyed with
the good fortune which is attending tie
bill and predict quick passage III both
Houses OF COngress.
Rev. Wilbur r crafts, president OF the
bureau OF reforms, was also visitor
in the House gallery when Mr.. Odell made
his speech.
Here are some Of the things the bill, as
amended, does:
II authorizes the Incorporation of racing
associations which operate under legitimate
conditions.
IL allows racing for forty days, between
Apnl / TO November so.
1t provides that tiie president OF any cor
poration holding race meetings under the
bill must file certificate that al! or the
capital stock has in good faith been sub
scrbed and at least 90 per cent paid in cash.
1t allows no racing within one mile OF
the boundaries of Washington city.
Ii prohibits any form oil gambling a at the
tracks.
II substitutes the words purse, prize, pre-
MUM or sweepstakes for bet, stake or re-
ward.
1t provides a fine of not less than $3.50
and not more than 81 GOO and imprison-
ment for not less than thirty nor more than
ninety days for those convicted OF violating
the law.
And it makes property or money lost
through gambling at race tracks recover
able by civil action.
PURSES AND PRIZES.
In authorizing the incorporation OF racing
associations the bill says that at such
meeting the corporation or the owners
engaged In such races, or others. who are
not participants in the race, may offer
or contribute toward purses. prizes. pre-
mIums or stakes to be contested for, but
no person or persons other than the owner
or owners Of horse or horses contesiing
in the race shall have any pecuhiary In
terest In the purse, prize. premium OF
sweepstake contested for in such race, or
he entitled To or receive any portion
| thereof after such race is finished, a.-t
the whole OF such purse, prize, premium
or sweepstake shall be allotted In accord
ance with the terms and conditions OF
such race.
Police regulations for the trac 5 arc
also provided, and 1t is stipulated that
there shall be properly posted, In con-
spicuous positions upon the grounds where
on such races are held, printed notices or
placards in large and Iegiblc type, which
notices or placards shall be TO the effect
that all disorderIy conduct, pool-selling
bookmak ing the use of any kind OF gambling
| devices or the Indulgence or any form
| or gambling are prohibited
1t also stipulates that the trustees of any
| CORPORATION or association created pursuant
| to the provisions OF the act who comply with
! its provisions shall not be held liable Tor
| ANY violation by any person other than
| himself OF the provisions of the law with
| reference to pool selling. booknlaking or
| other forms OF gambling unless kno Wlugly
| permitted by him; nor shall the maintenance
| OF such race course nor the holding or con-
| conducting OF races thereon pursuant to the
| provisions of this act be construed or he'd
| to be violation of any of the provisions of
| chapter forty of the public act of the Forty
| seventh Congress of the United States. ap-
| proved January 81, 1SS3,or of chapter 497
| of the public acts or the Fifty-first Con-
gress OF the United States approved March
| 2, 1891, or OF the provisions OF any penal
statute of the United States
| NO LOOPHOLE LEFT.
! The penalty section apparently leaves
no loopbole whatever for any betting being
| carried on other than that OF q strictly
| private nature. tits as follows:
That any person who, upon any race
| course authorized by or entitled to the
benefits of this act, shall make directly
| or indirectly, any bets or wagerS on the
| result of any kind or contest OF speed or
| power of endurance of horses taking part
| upon such race course, shall forfeit the
| value of any money or property received
] be recovered in a civil action by the person
/ or persons from whom such money Or
| property Is received.
| This penalty is exclusive of all other
penalties or punishments prescribed by law
| for the acts above specified: Provided,
| however, that the occupation of any room,
| shed, booth, tent, boat, tenement ground,
either public or private, or place for the
purpose of making registry or record of
bets; the exchanging, delivering or trans
| ferrtng therein, or at any other place, of
a record, registry, memorandum, token,
| paper or document of any kind whatever as
| evidence of any such bet or wager; or the
subscribing by name, Initials or otherwise
of any record, registry or memorandum in
| the possession OF any other person of a
bet or wager, intended to he retained by
| such other person, or any other person, or
| the registry of or recording Of such bet or
wager as evidence of such bet or wager,
| shall be deemed to be boOkmaking or the
use of gambling devices, and punishable as
| bookmaking or the use OF gambling de-
vices is now punished.
PROPOSED AMENDMEN rs.
The penal code, as applicable 10 cor
porations, is left unchanged.
Congressman wellington, for the minority
| OF the District Committee, will report in
favor of striking out the last three sec
tons of the bill when 1t Is rep ported ne Xt
Monday. This includes all references
TO bets stakes, and bookmaking, whether
| seemingly ia favor or adverse, as desired
by the churches Of the District. He takes
the ground that the existing laws, as inter
preted by the court Of appeals, effectively
forbid all bo okma king, and thatno alleged
"improvements'' Of satisfactory laws car