Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-01-17
FROM RICHMOND.

FROM RICHMOND.
A dispatch from Richmond says :;
1.-THE racing question is still all the
talk around the halls of legislation. 1t
was learned last night that there will
be committee OF citizens here to-day
from Alexandria who are heartily in
favor of the Maupin anti-gambling bill,
and will urge its passage by the House
to-day. The names of those who COM
pose this committee could not be learn
ed last night.
There is strong undercurrent among
the racing people to keep everything
quiet and prevent the press from pub
fishing details about any race track
legislation. When the Reddy thirty
day bill comes mp, and an effort is
made to push it, the opponents OF the
measure will protest and it is thought
will defeat the measure.
The Maupin bill will then be brought
up and there is q strong probability
that it will be passed. 1t is stated
npon good authority that there are
liftv.five members of the House who
have agreed to vote for the passage oil
the Maupin bill.
Hit is passed by the House, the st.
Asaph and Alexander people will fight
it vigorously in the Senate committee
on counties, cities and towns. The
Senate committee, and, indeed, the
members of the Senate, are keeping
quiet on the racing embroglio, and it is
hard to predict what they will do with
the Maupin bill when it gets before that
body. The impression seems to prevail
that the Senate committee will be close
" divided, aud that there will be q hard
fight between the sporting element and
the anti-gambling crusaders. If the
question ever gets in the Senate with
out any recommendation from the com
mittee, it is feared by the anti-gambling
people that the Maupin bill will meet
with strong opposition. When the ques-
ton comes before the Senate commit
tee 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-gambliug crusaders are gain
iug strength by degrees.
The abuses going on in Alexandria
county have many defenders, but yes.
terday committee consisting of James
e. Clements. Frank Hume, Frank
Lyons, w. W. Douglass and S. S. Bur-
dette, and the committee on counties,
cities and towns, did some lobbying to
support the excise law in Alexandria
county. A bill has been introduced in
the legislature to repeal the excise law,
and this committee is here to protest
against the bill.
The recommendation that instead Of
repeating the excise law, the liquor
license be increased from 500 10 $500,
and that the excise board be more
careful about the previous records and
character of saloon-keepers who apply
for licenses. The committee decided
upon this as compromise, and think
this position will be supported by the
general assembly.
The same committee will urge the
passage of measure to increase the
number of voters of Alexandria county
to vote on the question of removing
the county courthouse from Alexandria
to some other point in the county, and
that the present county courthouse be
sold, the proceeds to be equally divid-
ed between the county and city of AL
exandria. They are also endeayoring
to have measure passed authorizing
the county judge of Alexandria to ap-
point the superintendent of county
roads, which officers are now appointed
by the board of supervisors.
Some of the members of the Alexan.
dria committee called on the governor
yesterday and expressed their thanks
to him for the efforts he is making to
break up the outrages at Alexander
Island. They expressed themselves as
favorable to the passage of the Maupin
bill.
While the gentlemen here. Messrs. Bur-
dette, Lyon and Douglass, have not come to
take part in advocating the measure prohibit
ing pool selling and other forms of race track
gambling, some of them express themselves in
favor of the Maupin bill, which has this OBJ
ject in view.