The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-06
HORSE RACING
IS NOW TO Be
RESTRICTED
Supervisors Will Pass
an Ordinance.
GAMBLING TO BE PROHIBITED
AIGELTINGER WILL PRESENT
RESOLUTIONS TODAY.
Sentiment of the City Fathers Is
Strongly Against the PERM
cious Operations Of the
Racetracks.
GAMBLING TO BE PROHIBITED
AIGELTINGER WILL PRESENT
RESOLUTIONS TO-DAY.

The article published in last Friday
Call, in which it was clearly shown that
the people of San Francisco are reaping
a bitter harvest of disgrace, demoraliza-
ton and death from the insidious opera
tons of the race tracks has determined
the Board Of Supervisors to take imme-
date action upon this question of mo-
mentous import to the community at
large.
At to-day's meeting of the board SUI
| pervisor Aigeltinger will introduce an or
dinance having for it's purpose the pro-
hibition Of gambling on the races in this
city and county. This, it is believed, will
effectually stop horse racing, because it
is the gambling proposition which is the
mainstay of the sport. Take away the
betting and the game is not profitable
enough to satisfy its promoters.
Clerk John A. Russell of the board, at
the request of Supervisor Aigeltinger, has
been busy for the past few days prepar-
Ing the draft of a resolution covering the
case. He has several ordinances which
came up before former boards, but failed
of passage. He will incorporate the best
portions of these measures into one which
will allow no legal loophole and be sweep
ing its character.
It is thought, too, that in this way the
poolroom evil peCniciOuS adjunct of the
races, will be successfully COPIED with, and
that those institutions will be wiped out
of existence
If it be found that the ordinance pro-
hibiting gambling entirely will not stand
the constitutional test, or cannot pass in
the board by reason of its arbitrary rul-
ing, then another will be introduced pro-
Viding for the limitation of horse racing
to thirty or sixty days. In that event the
much as horse owners would find 1t a
losing proposition to bring their horses
here for such short period. In either
case the long record of murder, suicide
embeZzlemenI, arson and thefts in this
city would be materially reduced. Su-
pervisOr Aigeltinger when seen yesterday
in regard TO his proposed ordinance said:
1T is time that something be done to
prevent the terrible damage that horse
racing has inflicted upon San Francisco
and its citizens. | have for a long time
been considering the advisability Of pre-
senting an ordinance covering the case,
and the able article in Fridays Call has
Spurred me on. The presentation of the or
dinance at our meeting tomorrow will be
the outcome of the worthy agitation. The
horse racing proposition and its attendant
evils have gone too far already and am
in favor of any measure that will provide
the necessary remedy. / feel quite certain
that my colleagues are keenly alive to the
danger and will stand by me in the mat
ter. If the prohibition of gambling will
not correct the evil then we will limit the
period for racing, and guess that will do
ct am not an enemy of horse racing, for
in itself 1t is a noble. sport, but [ am I'M
alterably opposed to the pernicious infiu-
ence it exerts upon our younger genera
ton in the gambling on the race course.
am vice president of the San Francisco
Driving Club and even at our last meet
ing at Ingleside we were powerless to
prevent certain bookmakers from fixing
one of the races. 1t is this element that
degrades the sport: Why, the 'touts'
who lure people to bet are provided with
free passes to the races so they can ply
their nefarious vocation.
II maintain that we must act on the
question, and quickly, too, for the com
munity is entitled TO some protection"
Supervisor Perrault was equally as en-
phatic as his colleagues on the necessity of
legislation on the racing evil.
Il am in favor" said he, ''of restricting
horse racing. There have been too many
lives wrecked or lost in the passion for
gambling at Irgleside, and in public and
private affairs the racing habit has been
any measure which will properly contend
with the problem, and I heartily concur
efforts to drive the terrible evil from our
midst