The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-15
MAUPIN BILL ENDORSED.
the ROUSE COMMITTEE REPORTs
fr FfVORdBLY.
Arguments Pro and Con Before the Lcgis-
lators-Mr. willard Advocates tho
Measure Other speakers.


The first matter taken up was the Mau
pin anti-gambling bill.
Chairman DieEs stated that Il had beer
decided to give an hour TO the considera.
ton OF this measure. and the Redoy bill
which allows pool-solling on certain
tracks for thirty days In each year.
MIR. Maupin read his bill. which has
been published in fun In the columns OF
The Times lie said that ne had heard
IL said that MIR Joseph BRYAN was The
author of his bnl. and he had heard other
rumors. However. he would only say
ia reply that he had waited until tn'
Christmas holidays. thinking that some
more experienced member would introduc,
such bill. When he saw no such
measure forthcoming. he determined 10
prepare bill himself during the holidays
lie did so. upon his own account ana
was not the tool OF any other party.
Mfr. Maupin then gave way 20 AT.
Willard. of Fairfax. saying that ne dld
nc. desire TO take up any more OF Inc
time himself that had been allotted 10
his side.
MIR. WILLARD FOR THE BILL.
Mr.. willard arose TO explain his posi-
ton ana 10 advocate The Mar.in OH
AT present. pool-sclng is forbidden ne
said except upon the tracks OF akfl-
cultural societies and riding and driving
associations. Ii does conine beiuhB 10
q few tracks in this state-one IN hl'n-
mond and two in Alexandria-and wfhle
the letter OF the law had not been Nio-
lated in Alexandria, yet this had con-
..,.,,. -, do,. vim MS spirit. 1t
WAS nv intention TO do everything !
could TO wipe out the stain inflicted on
this State by the evils existing IN that
county. and my first inclination was
thar other tracks, which had done moth
ing In violation Of the law, should not
suffer under IL. was. therefore. WihIns'
~ such legislation could be had, 20 protect
these tracks. and at the Same time wipe
ont the tracks Of Alexandra. II uoes
seem hard 60 have one set Of people suffer
for another's violation of che law.
NV positicn i'm regard 10 the aTsricu-
tural soclcti,s. however. has changed. II
has been reported 10 me, by very sood
authority. that any bill which Allows
pool-selliuE anywhere within the state
of Virginia would be vetoed by the
Governor. While j am willing 70 support
and char,rion a measure which seeks
10 control the evil in Alexandra, yet
am also willing TO allow others, VINO
have not violated the law. 20 90 their
betting and / am perfectly wiling to 80
on record to that extent. | unhestating-
ly champion the. position OF faNoilhs
such a bill as the one introduced by hf'
Maupin IL any other bill was passed 10y
the House and 1t was vetoed by the
Governor. then we would SIN have il
Alexandra the same condition of affairs
as before.
The state OF affairs in Alexandra IS not
only q local discredit but ~ is d dis
credit 10 this grand old State, and 10
every county OF IT, for outsiders would
not make any distinction between the
various counties but judge them all alike.
II should be wiped out. and Il, this can
not be done in any other way than 10y
those. who own interests I'm other race
tracks. sacrificing their interests then
this should rather be done than TO sac
rihce the good name Of this grand old
Commonwealth.
Winter Iacing, as 10 has existed in
Alexandria, cannot be favored 10y any
honest-minded citizen. There racing has
hesn going On all the year round, and
yet a man would have no more show
OF winning "A race there than he would
I'm a race OF billygoats. for have my
information from "a person who has been
running horses there. The TWO race
courses n Alexandria county are on the
same footing. and the condition of law
lessness In that county is due TO the
race courses. / endorse the Maupin bill,
but l trust The Legislature will take
speedy action and wipe out Of existence
the stigma in Alexandria.
MR.. WICKHAM AGAINST TT.
Mr.. Reddy Of this city, the patron OF
tie bin which allows pool-sellng on
tracks Of agricultural societies and riding
and driving associations I'm this State for
fifteen days in sprnS and fifteen days
in fall. next addressed the committee 10y
saying that being q member of that body
himself. he would like Mr.. Maupin to give
up his time TO gentlemen who desired to
speak on his side lie then introduced
William r. Nickham.
/ appear before this honorable body.
Colonel Wickham said. on behalf of the
State Agricultural and Mechanical So
ciety. ana also on behalf of the horse
raising industry OF Virginia. In order 10
change statute the first thing neces-
sary Is 10 ascertain what the mischief is
and then 20 apply the remedy Had it
not been for the abuses existing i'm Alex
andria ! feel confident We would have
never heard of such a bill as has been
introduced by Mr. Maupin. The State
Agricultural Society which I represent.
Is Just as much opposed TO the existing
evils in Alexandria as Mr. Maupin Is,
and. therefore. this society recently pass
ed a resolution adverse 10 winter rae
Ing. ana fixing horse rcaine in such a
way as to restrict the holding OF race
meetings.
After reading the bill introduced by
Mr.. Reddy To the committee. Colonel
Wickham continued; l candidly believe
that should the Maupin bill be passed, II
would be the dGath blow TO the State
Agricultural Society and all similar or
EXAMINATIONS. From 1892 to 1897 no pool
selling was allowed on the tracks OF our
association, and this fact proved to be
most disastrous 10 US from a financial
point of view. But ! dare 10 say. gen
tlemen. you cannot prevent betting any
more by enactng a law than you can
prevent drinking. Betting will continue
privately but our society Will no longer
derive any benefit from IL. Hereafter
agricultural societies will no longer be
able 90 give purses, and consequently
lower class OF horses will be entered at
their races. and this fact will prove
disastrous 10 horse breeders for all the
good horses Will leave the State
IL you pass this bill you will find that
still worse establishment will continue in
existence. ] refer 70 the stock booking
establishments which are no good to any
one. and where more money is lost under
the sanction of the law than on all the
race tracks.
II. on the other hand. you pass the
hill introduced by Mr.. Reddy. you Will
find the measure TO work well. for II win
prevent the book-makers from getting
possession OF the tracks, for fifteen days
IL too short for them 70 make any effort
Ga that direction. The bin meets all
the requirements which the Governor
mentions IN his message to the General