Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-07

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for some time on the corner OF IWei,h
and Bank streets in this city. ana nlane s
humorous aliusion 10 the men VIZ
frcQuontcd g. He called attention "
the fact that the preachers GA not ~
that down. lie cited the law on ta"-
bling as laid down I'm the Coae' WIZ"
provides that one may gamble 10 the ~,
tent OF so in any twenty-four hours anu
said that was intended 10 let out IN
boys who played their 25-cent-an'e sain,S'
Ho then called attention 10 tne H'a'
ment made by Air. Maupin mat n's
pncher'D bill legalized gamohns' Az
asked tn direct question II inc 'ou7
didn't DO The same thing.
Mr. Pitcher next took up the Nc'7 OF
iss-'e2. and read the MushDacn anti
esmblinq act. (which" he said. 'eiiectu-
ally broke up racing for two years.
howl was the result and "a demand was
made for an amendment and moiIh-
cation OF the law. At the last session or
the General Assembly The amendmeht
was made and pocl-selling was permitted
on Fairgrounds and driving-parks. when
was by ali thought TO be very proper
AS particular as the gentlemen were
I'm drawing this new law, there was
flaw in 3d.. They didn't restrict racing
on agricultural fairgrounds 10 the time
during which The fair is in progress. and
thereby came the trouble IN Alexandria.
A PERSONAL COLLOQUY
"Now. Mr. Speaker" said Mr.. Pitcher.
eve can. by the passage OF the Reddy-
Pitcher bill. remedy the defects in the
present law. and confne the racing and
pool-seiling to the time OF agricultural
fairs.
where was the gentleman from Hen
rico four years ago? Where then were
all these people who have been before
ra?'
Mr.. Maupin interrupted the gentleman.
and said that four years ago he didn't
know anything about the state Of affairs.
Il know you didn't retorted Mr..
Pitcher land you don't know much about
il now. lf.
'You would have MS Iegislate from
purely moral standpoint. wouldn't your
yes sir" interjected Mir. Parker, we
would"
Does the gentleman yield?" asked the
Speaker, as he raped Mr. Parker TO
order.
"Oh yes" replied Mr.. Pitcher. "let 'em
all come on, I aint afraid Of EN-"
The gentleman from Fauquier referred
TO the laws Of New York and said that
though they prohibited gambling, they
didn't stop 90. This. he argued would
ne endeavOred 90 show that under
the Maupin bin racing could be carried
on at St. Asaph and Alexander Island
all the year round, ana the track people
could sell enough pools outside the state
to permit them TO offer sufficient pre-
mlums 10 induce owners TO run their
horses. and as much betting would 90
on at the tracks secretly as now goes ON
openly
Mr. Pitcher thought the continuous
racing on the tracks in Alexandria county
should be broken up. "but." said he.
why 90 back to where We were before
the Mushbach law was amended? Why
not learn something from experience?
There are some people who / know want
TO break up racing. there are even people
who want to break up the liquor traffic,
but people are sill drinking. Our
statutes do not prohibit sin. they simply
punish it. We have enacted laws against
all the sins i'm the catalogue and all the
laws are being broken. SO It Is with this
Maupin bin. Enact it into a law and IT
viii be broken and regularly dsre-
gardod"
MIR. KEESEE'S VIGOROUS SPEECH.
Mr.. Keesee in vigorous language, adj
vocated the Maupin bill. lie was, he
said. not only in favor of all us pro-
visions, but he would have endorsed it
If IL had forbidden wagering of every
kind. He was a preacher. aud had al
ways preached against gamblers ard
would continue TO do so. The clergy had
been rdiculed for their connection with
the matter but they and not the gamblers
We're the people called for when one
tottered on the brink of eternity
God forbid that l DO anything to help
TO build up old Satan" added the speaker
lie told several amusing stories TO IL
lustrate his position, and said il was the
duty Of the Legislature to eradicate the
laws which permitted gambling. lie
hOoted the idea of passing tic Pitcher
bill. which, he said. lesalizes gambling
for thirty days and said II was Ike the
negro who cut OFF a dogs tail Joint by
JOINT when he was ordered to take the
whole thing off. TO save the animal sur
ferng.
Mr. Pitcher interrupted the gentleman
several times with irrelevant questions,
but was given a Rowland for his Oliver
each time.
Mr. Keesee predicted that Mr.. Pitcher
would be- allowed to stay a home next
session because Of sis position on the
racing question. He then turned his
attention TO Mr.. Reddy. and IN most
sarcastic language spoke Of him as a
teacher Of morality.
WIZARDS WORDS.
Mr.. willard next addressed the House,
and said that il appeared 10 him that
the question of racing and pool-seling
were separate and distinct. lie thought
that all legislation should be looked at
primarily from a moral standpoint.
He referred to the remarks OF Mr..
Reddy that temptation was necessary 20
keep the youth OF the land from be-
coming milksops, and denied that any
such necessity existed. He gave "a brief
history of poOl-selling in the State. lie
was Intercepted by Mr.. Pitcher and said
that ne was not opposed 10 norse-racng
for purse but was unquestionably OPP
posed TO all species of betting. The OFFER
ing of a purse on racing contest, he
stated. was similar in many respects 10
the Offering OF a medal on scholastic
contest. The condition of affairs in Alex
andria county he characterized as a sus-
ma on the fair name of Virginia, ana
argued vigorously that the evil should
bs remedied by proper legislation. lie
considered il the duty of every man
iu the state whose interests would be
affected by the Maupin bill TO sacrifice
those interests in behalf of the bill.
VOTE on THE BILL.
When Mr.. Willard resumed his seat AIR
Harwood sprang TO his feet and called
the pending question, and Mr.. Thomas
moved that the House adjourn. The latter
motion was voted down, and several gen.
lemen besought Mr.. IIarwood to with
draw his motion. but he declined 10 do so
Mr. Pitcher then moved 10 adjourn, which
was voted down. and the vote ON order
ing the bill TO SIS engrossment was taken,
Nth th. for,vviro result.