Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-01-18
THE RACE TRACK WAR.


THE RACE TRACK WAR.
When the racing bill came up before
the House Yesterday every representa-
tive knew there was to be a Lively fight.
Mr.. Pitcher, of Fauquier, moved that
the bill be recommitted.
This was opposed by MIR; Digs
chairman of the committee: Mr. Hatn.
away. of Lancaster, argued in favor OF
the bill being passed by for the present,
saving several men we're anxious to be
heard on the bill, and ne thought they
ought to be heard.
The president of the Richmond So
cicty for the prevention OF cruelty to
animals said he was opposed to the Dill
and there we're several gentlemen from
Russell and other counties who were
anxious to protest against the bill on
the ground that it would do great dam
age to property owners Of the State.
he hoped the bill would be committed
to the committee on propositions and
grievances. r.u
Mr.. Maupin, the patron OF the bill,
argued strongly for its immediate pas
sage. There had been many efforts to
giVo the sporting people hearing, ana
be knew there would be strong effort
to kill the bill in the Senate.
Mr.. Diggs, chairman of the commit
tee that recommended the passage OF
the Maupin bill, spoke ably. He knew
the House people had worked hard
TO dilly daily and delay matters. They
had appeared before the committee aud
had been given fair hearing. They
might try to kill the bill in the Senate
if thew wished, but he knew the MAORI
W of the members of the House we're in
favor of the Maupin bill. They want
ed to break up the outrageous gambling
going on now in many places in the
State. Mr.. Diggs struck several hard
blows to the sporting people, and made
several powerful arguments in favor OF
The immediate passage of the bill.
Representative Taliafe-ro spoke in
favor of recommitting both the Maupin
bill and the Reddy thirty-day bill. He
thought the stock-raising people should
be given fair consideration. This con-
tingent was too large to be disregarded.
He did not believe in railroadiDg the
bill through.
Mr.. Willard spoke in favor of taking
early action on the bill. and he thought
the people Interested 10 the matter had
been given ample hearing before the
committee.
1t remained for Representative Park
er. of Southampton, to stir up hor-
nets nest. He said there was every
reason to pass the Maupin bill, which
the committee had recommended. If
the House recommitted the bill every
time it was announced that delega-
ton of horse people wanted to be heard
they would be no nearer solution OF
the matter in twelve months from now
than at present. There were enough
of those delegates from up in Wash
ington and vicinity to make regiment
of professors, and every two or three
days it was announced that there was
another delegation from up about
Washington to do some more lobbying.
There were hundreds of lobbyists in
and around Washington who would
keep dropping down before the com.
mittee from day to day to be heard
on these gambling outrages around Al
exandria. Mr.. Parker said there was
no reason whv the House could not
vote as INTEL gent by to-day as they
could twelve months hence.
Mr.. Reddy. taking exceptions to what Nj
Parker had said, stated that the only dele.
CATION that had appeared in the interest OF
his bill was one from the Virginia State
Agricultural Society, who were its authors,
aud the only horseman who appeared, so far
as he knew, wss Mr.. Willard.
Mr. Willard stated that while he might be
horsenan he was certainly not an Alexan
dria county horseman.
Mr. Hathaway made an appeal for the race
track people. He did not believe the Maupin
bill should have been rushed through until
the gentlemen he had promised to be heard
had that privilege. The newspaper reports
showed that the matter had not been properly
considered. WOE to that delegate" said he,
"who would not listen to his constituents"
After several other speeches, the question
on recommitting the bill YVES lost by a big ma
jority, and Mr. Berkeley moved to pass the
bill by This was lost by big majority. and
then it was time to adjourn. In spite of this
fact there were only four votes in the majority
for adjournment, though this motion finally
prevailed
The discussion was warm all the way
through. Mr.. Maupin WAS supported in his me-
ton By Messrs May and Willard, and other
influential members. There was evident a
strong sentiment to Dag the Maupin bill. 1t
was apparently the tactics of the opposition to
make their final struggle before the Senate.
Senator Musbbach, of Alexandria, is the
first on the Senate committee on counties,
cities and towns. The racing people are de-
pending on this committee to kill the bill,
or if not, they have great faith in the Senate
as body. Several sporting people are still
lobbying in Richmond and President Blake,
of the Richmond Riding and Driving Asso-
citation, who is known to be an opponent Of
the Maupin bill, is daily visitor to the legis-
lative halls. Nothing but the lateness of the
hour prevented the racing bills from being
acted on yes erday. When they come up
to-day there will be another red hot discus.
sion Judging from appearances, and there is
every indication that the bill will so through.
When the vote is recorded it is certain that
some of those who are adopting opposition
tactics now will not bs willing to go on re-
cord as supporting gambling measure. There
are, it is thought, sixty members OF the
House who will vote for the Maupin bill,
and of the remaining forty some will be sb
sent, and some will not vote at all.
Cor HER RELEAsE.-Jennie Yates,
an orphan, who went to Washington