Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-01-29
THE RACE TRACK DISCUSSION,

\
The following account of the discus
sion on the race track bills which took
place in Richmond on Monday evening
before the House committee on coun-
ties, cities and towns is taken from the
Richmond Times.
OF the members Of the committee
there were present Messrs. Diggs Chair
man), Reddy, Murphy, Powell, Maui
pin, Hatcher, Lewis, Mccain, Smith,
Simpson and Sager.
Among those who favored Mr.. Maui
pin s measure was delegation from Al
exandria, representing all businesses and
professions. This party was composed
of Messrs. G. w. Ramsay, G. r. Hill, j..
w. May, J. G. Smoot, Harry Burke, A.
G.. Uher, ]. P Robinson, Ashby Mil
Ter, II. r. Robertson, Rev. J. Il. Will
liams, pastor of the Methodist Church
South; Rev. F. T. Benson, pastor
of the Methodist Protestant Church;
Rev. Bergman Green, of the Episco-
pal Church; Rev. T. II. Rice, of the
Presbyterian Church; Messrs. J. II.
Trimyer, John R. Zimmerman. Law
renee Washington and W. G. Wibert.
Mr.. Pitcher explained the provisions
of his bill. He said he would like to
see all classes of gambling broken up,
but he recognized the fact that it could
not be done by statute law. His bill
broke up winter racing, and restricted
racing to sixty days in any one year
on any one track between the first of
April and the first of November.
Mr.. Geo. R. Hill, of Alexandria, said
that neither he nor his delegation desired
TO do anything in the world inimical to
the agricultural interests of the State;
in fact, he said, some of them were as
much interested in the breeding of fine
| horses and loved fine horses. I'VE are
here,o he said, ''to represent our people
as opposed to the pestilential side of
racing as it exists to-day. We are liv-
| ing in the midst of it. No one knows
the awful effect of this race track gam
bling upon our young men. This is the
point we want to make" He said that
as many citizens as could get in the
largest church in Alexandria met to ex-
! press their views on gambling at races,
and as result thirty-two representa-
i've citizens were appointed to convey
to the legislature the sentiments of the
| meeting against race track gambling,
and he held in his hand petition sign-
ed BY 73S good men and women, all of
whom believe that the Maupin bill is
the very best that can be done under
| the circumstances.
Judge J. K. NJ. Norton, of fAleXandria,
| spoke next, and said that of all the de-
| fences of evil practices he had ever seen
that made by the gentlemen who spoke
against the Msupin bill was the most
! surprising. why" said he, "if you or
I were to put up sign upon our doors
that We were running lottery within,
how long would we Keep it up?"
At this point Senator Mushbach in
terrupted Judge Norton with the ques-
! ton:
Didn't you give me bill to intro
duce in the Senate this morning to pro-
vide for racing for certain number of
days in the year ?"
Eyes, sir replied Judge Norton, 81
did, and l will explain l prepared
that bill because feared that the Leg
islature might not pass the Maupin bill
and if / can't get all will take half"
SIS not that bill exactly like the Pill
cher bill?" asked Mr.. Cardwel!.
Judge Norton admitted that it was
"Then," said Mr.. Cardwell, 1--WE are
perfectly willing to accept that BILL
Judge Norton then went on to say
that while he was willing to accept that
bill if he could get no better, yet he
wanted TIE Maupin bill. He wished to
do away with pool selling altogether in
the State of Virginia, mainly for the
purpose of breaking up the terrible nest
1T Alexander Island. He then read
several affidavits, of which he had a
number, certifying to the evil character
of the Alexander Island race track. 1t
had gotten to be so bad, he said, that
it was unsafe for Virginia ladies to go
over to Washington or return on GER
tain trains, which were filled with a
drunken, profane crowd.
The judge concluded by saying that
if Virginia was engaged in raising the
blooded horses which were now run
ming on the Alexander Island track
she had better get out of the business,
for of all the ill-conditioned plugs he
had ever seen they were the worst.
81 expect" he said, "tbat my old
friend and school-mate, Bernard Dos
well, will corroborate me in this.
l am in favor of Mr.. Maupin's bill, u
continued Judge Norton, tas far as it
goes; but it does not go far enough. 1t
does not touch winter racing; but |
am sure Mr.. Maupin will amend
it in that respect in Difference to the
wishes of the people,"
MIR. Wibirt, of the Alexandria dele
CATION, next spoke at length, favoring
the Maupin bill. He spoke of the law
lessness existing in Alexandria county,
and said the people of that county were
looking to this Legislature for their
very political existence. The race
| track people, he said, had everything
in their own hands. THE county had
in it." he said, twenty seven licensed
saloons to supply liquor to the scum
that came over the Long bridge from
Washington. All of the ills of the
county" he said, "were ascribed to
these gemblers, and the people prayed
to this Legislature for relief. A mar
might be murdered in Alexandria coun
ty tonight" he said, land his body
would rot upon the road before any of
~ Tho nffinio ID