The morning times., 1896-01-19
RACING LOBBY IS ON TOP
Maupln's S Anii-GambIIng Bill Sent
Back to the Committee.
NEW MEASURE INTRODUCED
Bill Placed In Chairman Digg's Hn nds
CnIi> for Racing From May TO No
vembcr and Does Not Prohibit Pool
Selliug-Mr. MHupin Claims That
His bill VIII Yet Pass Both Houses
lsrccial to TIC Tinlcsl

Richmond, Va, Jan. IS. Within ten
minutes after the MaUpiu antI-gaIutlin.
biii came up in the house today the most
superficial observer could see that some
thing very significant had taken place
since yesterday. 1t was evident that tine
most powerful kind OF lobbying had been
going on, and lew minutes only was
required to sidetrack the mcasur.. more
or less.
Representatives. who yesterday spoke
enthusiastically III favor ul pystpOuing the
question no longer, changed their tactics
and advocated that thr bill be sent bace
to the committee on counties, cities and
towns, which recommended It's passage.
OF these, Mr.. DIggs CHAIRMAN OF the
committee, VINO yesterday Violently op-
posed such action, pleaded Tor the re-
commission Of the bill Oh the ground that
rather tEdn he accused Of Eurriediy rail-
rUading bill through iIs committee. he
preferred 10 go over TO the minority.
Representative Parker. who twent y-four
hours before spoke Ia the strongest terms
in advocacy Ol The passage ur the bill. said
h. had r-CUnSiderri carCiuliy and realized
the amount of property involved. He
thought best to give the opponents OF the
bill lair showing. ami let them present
more fully the arguments for their side.
n 4 l-lALso ~ As'IAs
Mr.. Pitcher, or Fauquirr, thought it would
he dang rous TO pass the b.ll until those
whose property ii would effect could be
heard more fully.
One of the most Influential members Of
the house, Major Baker Z. Lee, who has
just been made judge or Elizabeth City
ana Warwick counties, raised his Voice
against the passage OF the bill until IL could
he given fair play" before the committee.
II e argued that there was a financial as well
as moral question involved.
Mr.. Maupiu, the patron Of the bill. op-
posed its reCummittal, hut he did not get
the support that backed him up yesterday.
When the vote was taken tn" bill was re-
committed by As TO 81. The Reddy thirty =
day bill was also reCommItted by the same
vote.
For ten days longer now there will he
another hard fight on the measures, and
members of racing delegations are eX-
pccled tn get in their work before the
committee renders a report. The recon-
NIT al "r the Maupin hill appears TO be
one step toward its defeat. as the very
thing for which the sporting element were
working has been done.
MAUPIN STILL CONFIDENT.
Mr.. Maupin saws he is confident still
that his bill VIII be passed in the house,
and insists that the senate dare not turn
IL down. He says the members OF the SEN
ate are afraid to defeat the bill. aud does
not believe many of them Will be willing
to go on record as supporting bill per-
mittiug the wholesale gambling being fla-
grautly pracliced in Alexandria county
and other localities.
Just as the moral crusaders expected, an
other racing bill been framed and slipped
into the hands of Chairman Diggs of the
committee. ON counties, cities and towns.
Mr. Diggs does not wish to be known
as the patron of the bill, whose Trainer is
not known. The bill will be strongly sup
ported in the committee by racing people.
1t prohibits winter racing and limits racing
to periods from May l to November /, not
exceeding at any time fifteen consecutive
days.
The bill says nothing about pool selling
or bookrnaking, and if it is passed in It's
present shape will have no effect on break
ing the present gambling except in winter.