The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-25
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY e5, 1900.
HOUSE PASSES aGaMBLlNG BILL.

HOUSE PASSES A GAMBLING BILL.
A bill was introduced in the Senate
yesterday by Mr. Gold, incorporating the
Valley Agricultural and Fair Association
Of Virginia, the incorporators being A.
L. W-rthen, ]. D. Hall, c. w. Forsyth.
"A. J. Hollis, and Thomas Territt. 1t had
been explained to Senator Gold that Inc
bill was simply a local measure" and
upon his representation 1t was passed by
! the Senate under a suspension OF the
rules But when the engrossing clerk
examined the bill he discovered this
clause '.Section g. The said association
may hold fairs. etc: may organize and
maintain a driving club or clubs, and
track OF tracks for the trial Of speed Of
horses, and may permit the making of
books on the result
The clerk at once sought out Senator
Gold and called his attention to this mis-
chievous provision, which is nothing more
nor less than a permit for pool-selling.
Senator Gold was Indignant. and at once
made an explanation to the Senate, at
the same time offering a motion to re-
consider, which was passed, and the bill
was referred to the Committee on Gene
raj Laws.
And so this attempt to get gambling
privilege has been scotched. But there
is another bill of like pul-port which has
succeeded in making its way through
the House and is now before the Senate
Committee on General Laws. This is a
bill to incorporate the Agricultural Fair
Association of Northern Virginia. The
incorporates are John Yarrow, DR.. D. n.
Rust, James Patterson, S. II. Donahue,
William Rogers. Lewis c. Barley, L. =.
Meredith. Robert Elliott, and others. This
bill is more cunning than the other. 1t
does not call a spade a spade. 1t does
not provide in plain language that the
association may race horses and sell
pools. 1t does provide, however, that
1.-THE said association may hold fairs and
may adopt all necessary regulations for
governing the same, and may, under
regulations as the board of directors may
deem proper. during such fairs or expo
s!tions, permit the speeding of horses and
racing upon the grounds of said asso-
citation. and the provisions of chapters
$50 and 5i5 of the Acts Of the General
Assembly Of Virginia of 1885 and 1886 shall
not apply TO the fairs. exhibitions, trials
OF speed or racing upon The grounds Of
the said association when held or per-
mitted under the provisions of this sec
ton
In view of what has preceded it is
hardly necessary 10 add that chapters
s29 and 5a5 of the Acts of the Genera!
Assembly OF 1895 and 1885, are The. anti
gambling laws of this date. over which
there was such contest In the Lcgisla-
ture four years ago. This bill to incorpo-
rate the Agricultural Fair Association Of
Northern Virginia, which has safely pass
ed the House. and which is now on its
way through the Senate, If it Should be-
como u law. would give this particular
fair association the privilege of racing
horses and selling pools in defiance of
the general law against gambling We
take it that 1t is only necessary to call
the attention OF the Senate 10 this bill
TO have II killed when it shows its head
on the floor Of that body. Nor do we
for one tn2ment believe that the members
of the House generally knew that they
were comforting gambling privilege
when they voted for the bill. But 1t IS
bill Of this character could pass the
House without even arorsing the sus-
piclon of any member. Ii Is prorerbially
said that eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty" That sort of vigilance seems
10 he needed In tie Virginia Legislature.