Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-01-28
THE RACE TRACK BILL.

The House committee on coun-
ties. cities and towns gave hearing
ing in Richmond yesterday evening on
the tour bills regarding pool-selliDg
and horse-raciug now before it for con-
sideration. The four measurers were :;
The Maupin bill, which prohibits abso-
lutely all forms OF pool selling: that
introduced by Mr.. Pitcher and Senator
Mushbach and the two Reddy bills.
These gentlemen were heard at length
on the Maupin bill, which was defeated
in the committee yesterday By vote OF
I to 5. and the Reddy bill, which pro-
nibits winter racing, but permits pool
ssiing for thirty days during the spring
and fall at agricultural fair ground
tracks, was adopted. The Reddy bill
was accepted as compromise measure
and is acceptable to the racing men.
This leaves the law as it now exists,
except that it prohibits winter racing:
The meeting was the most exciting OF
the session and those present took In
tense interest in the proceedings. a
large delegation in favor of the Maupin
bill was present from this city, includ-
ing G.. W. Ramsay, G. r. Hill, J. W.
Nav. ]. C. Smoot, Harry Burke, A. 6
Uhler.J. P. Robertson, Ashby Miller, b.
t. Robertson, ]. r. Zimmerman, Rev.
]. 7. Williams, Rev. Berryman Green,
Rsv. T. II. Rice, Rev. t. +. Benson,
l.. Washington and others.
Among the Alexandrians who made
speeches against the race tracks and 10
favor ofthe Maupin bill were Judge Nor
trn and Messrs. G. r. Hill, A. 6. Uhler
and Rev. J. T. Williams. While Judge
Norton was speaking against the race
racks he was Interrupted by Capt.
Mushbach who asked if Judge Norton
had not handed him the bill which ne
had jus. introduced in the Senate,
which allowed racing for thirty days
during the year. Judge Norton re-
pliei saying that Capt. Mushbach knew
his position perfectly: that ne knew ne
favored the Maupin bill and fearing
that the bill could not pass he had pre-
pared compromise measure which be
had requested Capt. Mushbach TO in
troduce in case the Maupin bill failed.
a number OF others made speeches
aad Rev. Dr.. R. II. Pilt, OF the
Religious Herald. and Rev. Ashby
Chrisliau, Of Richmond, spoke at
length against the passage OF any
gambling measure. The St. Asaph
track has very small repre-
seatation, being willing to leave the
isht at present in the hands OF the
Richmond Riding and Driving Associs-
ion, which so far has good standing
laaong the people.
Mr.. Lyons, the secretary OF the Citi-
zans' League of Alexandris. made a
speech in favor of the Maupin bill. He
reviewed the conditions surrounding
ne people of Alexandria county and
appealed to the committee to afford re-
lief. Mr.. Lyons, in closing, expressed
the hope that in any bill which the
Legislature might enact legaliziDg pool
selling that Alexandria county might
be exempted from its operation. That
section, he explained, was different
from the balance of the State in that it
was near the national capital, Baltl-
more and other large cities.
Messrs. W. D. Cardwell and W. T.
Wickham spoke on behalf of the ag-
ricultural societies in favor of the Red
DIV bill. T. B. boswell end 81. Clay
Chamblin advocated the same measure
from the standpoint OF the breeders.
George Med. Blake, the president OF
the Richmond Riding and Driving
Association, made speech 10
which he compared pool selling Oh
race tracks as being similar in charac-
ter and for the same purpose as the
games of chance at church fairs-to
make money-and charged that every
preacher present had gambled in some
form and that all present had 10 doubt
bought corner lots during the boom.
Numerous voices of ministers were
heard denying the charges for them
selves.
The committee then went into ex-
ecutive session and adopted tie Reddy
bill. 1t is understood that the vote
stood four and four and that Chairman
Murphy, OF Richmond, cast the decid-
ing vote.
1t is not known how the members
voted. The measure will now have its
second inning liz Il House, and will be
fought stubbornly there. While there
was no doubt of its passage before the
there is great danger even
in the House, Notwithstanding the i'm
mepse pressure being brought to bear
from all parts of the State.
Should it be defeated in the House,
the ST. Asaph people are prepared to
make their final struggle in the Senate
and it is thought that it is
here they will use the sinews of war.
The moral element is much disap- |
pointed at Yesterdays result, but is far
from surrendering the fight, aud the
greatest pressure will be brought to
bear on the members from their own
to pass the Maupin bill.
Meetings are being held in some of |
the towns and in others petitions are
being largely signed and addressed to
The Legislature in favor of the MaUpin
bill.
a third bill relating to this subject
was yesterday introduced in the Senate
oy Mr.. Mushbach and in the House by
Mr.. Pitcher. as stated in the GAZETTE
Of that date The bill was prepared by
Judge Norton, of this city.
1t is 70 prevent and punish betting,
gambling, and the making, writing or
selling of books or pools or mutuals on
he results of any trial of speed or
power of endurance, or skill of animals
,r heasts eScent on the grounds whore