The morning times., 1896-01-17
WANT THE MlUPIN BILL
Alexandria Citizens Go to Rch-
mond TO Urge Its Passage.
BATTLE TO BE A HARD ONE
Fifty-five Members of the House Said
to be Pledged to Vote for the Anti
Gambling Measure, but Its Friends
Expect to Have u Lively Struggle
In the Senate.
Especial to The Times.)

Richmond Va, Jan. 16--The racing ques-
| tion is still all the talk around the halls OF
| legislation. 1t was learned from a reliable
| source tonight that there will be commit
tee of citizens here tomorrow from Alexan-
dria who are heartily in favor OF the
Maupin anti.gambling bill, and will urge
| It's passage by the house tomorrow. The
names of those who compose this committee
could not be learned tonight.
There is strong undercurrent among
the racing people to keep everything quiet
and prevent che press from publis hing details
about any race track legislation. When
the Reddy thirty-day bill comes up, and au
effort is made TO push 1t, the opponents OF
the measure will protest and il is thought
will defeat the measure.
The Maupin bill will then be brought
up and there is stong probability that
it will be passed. IL is stated upon good
authority that there are ftfty-five niem-
bers or the house who have agreed To
vote for the passage of the Maupn bill
MEAN TO FIGHT.
II it is passed by me house, the st, Asaph
and Alexander Island people will fight
it vigorously in the senate committee on
counties, cities and towns. The senate
committee, and, indeed. the members or
the senate, are keeping quiet on the racing
imbroglio, and 1t Is hard to predict what
they will do with the Maupin bill when
itgets before that body.
The impression seems to prevail that the
senate committee will be closely divided.
and that there will be hard fight between
the sporting element and the anti-gambing
crusaders. II the question even gets in the
senate without any recommendation from
the committee, ii Is feared by the anti
gambling people that the Maupin bill viii
meet with strong opposition.
When the question comes before the SEN
ate committee there is little doubt that
large and influential racing delegation will
be on the ground for the purpose of some
very careful lobbying. The fight all along
is growing warmer daily, and there seems
to be general opinion that the anti
gambling crusaders are gaining strength
by degrees.
BATTLE OVER EXCISE.
The abuses going on in Alexandria county
have many defen nders, but today a commit
tee consisting of James E. Clements, Frank
Hume, Frank Lyons, W. +. Douglass and
s. S. Burdette OF Fordboro, and the commit
tee on county, cities, and towns, will do
some lobbying to support the excise law
in Alexandria county. A bill has been in
troduced in the Legislature to repeal the
excise law, and this committee is here to
protest against the bill.
The recommendation that instead of re-
pealing the excise law, the liquor license
increased from 500 TO $500, and that the
excise board be more careful about the
previous records and character of saloon
keepers who apply for licenses. The COM
mittee decided upon this as compromise,
and think this position will be supported
by the general assembly.
The same committee will urge the pas
sage OF a measure to increase the number
of voters OF Alexandria county to vote on
the question of removing the county court
house from Alexandria to some other point
in the county, and that the present county
courthouse be sold, the proceeds 10 be
equally divided between the county and city
OF Alexandria. They are also endeavoring
to have a measure passed authorizing the
county judge OF Alexandria TO appoint the
superintendents OF county roads. which
Officers are now appointed by the board of
supervisors.
Some OF the members of the Alexandria
committee called on the governor today
and expressed their thanks to him for the
efforts he is making to break up the out
RACES at Alexander Island. They ex-
pressed themselves as favorable to the pas
sage OF the Maupiu bill.