Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-20
RACE TRACK
FIGHTS FOR
EXISTENCE
PREACHERS, T0UTS AND MIL
LIONAlRES AT HEARING
NEW YoRK's WAR ON BETTING
is UNDER WAY
Discussion of Bill to Eliminate Gam
bling Draws Cosmopolitan Throng
to A!bany-keene and Bel
mont Speak on Question
BY Associated Press.

by Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, Feb. 19.-Million-
aires, race track followers, clergymen,
lawyers and legislators were repre-
sented at the hearing today of the
joint senate and assembly code COM
mittees on the Agnew-Hart bill to
amend the penal code so as to prohibit
gambling on race tracks, as suggested
by Governor Hughes.
At o'clock tonight, after over four
hours discussion the hearing was ad-
journed until Thursday, March 4.
During the interval 1t is intimated
that August Belmont, chairman of the
Jockey club, will call a meeting of that
organization to agree upon certain
suggestions to be submitted to the
legislative council designated to check
gambling by young men. Among
those who made brief remarks were
Mr.. Belmont, James r. Keene. owner
of many famous races horses. and P.
p, Johnson of Kentucky, president of
the National Trotting Association.
Attacks Hughes
The principal address against the
bill was made by Joseph s. Auerbach,
attorney for the Jockey club, who up
held the so-called unconstitutional dis
elimination in the present Percy-Grey
law, under which betting is permitted
on race tracks subject only to the PEN
atty of recovery by civil action of the
amount wagered. He declared the
measure would create discrimination
against the race tracks and favor the
pool rooms, and criticised Governor
Hughes for making "a speech here
and speech there and with full scenic
effects" In support of the bill. He
said that two years ago a similar bill
was introduced, but that after Rev. DIR.
Slicer and Bishop Doane had been in
formed that 1t was promoted by the
pool rooms they withdrew their in
dorsement of it. -.
IT am not saying" he continued,
that this bill was prompted by the
pool rooms, but 1 do say that it is In
the interest of the pool rooms"
Mr.. Belmont was prompted to say a
few words by. a question by Senator
Hill as to whether the Jockey club
suggest some means of checking the
tendency of young men to gamble. Mr..
Belmont said that offhand he could
not, but he would call a meeting of the
club to consider the matter.
Racing is not conducted for The
sake of betting" continued Mr.. Bel
mont, but for the breed of horses.
One of the incidents of racing Is bet
ting, and l must say that it is jndis-
pensable, but it is only an incident"
L IjllIlkI Sdlu JdIIeS H. hStllc, t-idI
the bill recommended by Governor
Hughes and pending before the legis-
lature would simply transfer the bet
ting from the race track to the pool
room, and the moral effect desired
would not be accomplished"
Senator McCarren asked Mr.. Keene
how much he bet on the races.
II never bet" replied Mr.. Keene.
except two or three times a season
on someone elses horses"
PoolroomS Open
Asked by Senator Agnew if he did
not believe the pool rooms were closed
now Mr. Keene said: Il think there
are at least 100 pool rooms now open
in New York and you can bet all the
money you want and there is nothing
to stop it. Governor Hughes knows
little about this question, and like
many reformers he has looked upon
one side of the question and has not
looked at the other. The bill would
strike at fifty or sixty million dollars
worth of property and retard the prog
ress of horse breeding for three dec
AIDES. 1t will drive out of the state
$25 000000 annually and throw out of
employment 10000 people,"
The speakers in favor of the bill
confined most of their remarks to the
contention that the constitution did not
intend a discrimination on gambling
in favor of race tracks, and that the
legislature should square the law with
the constitution"
Alphonse Kebble, president of the
Federation of Catholic Societies, said
he was authorized by Archbishop Far
ley to go on record in favor of the bill
in hehalf of the Catholics of the state.
"You should not cruelty the man who
CANDLES outside the race track fence
as a malefactor to men and glorify the
man inside the fence as a benef9ctor
to horses" he said.
Among others who spoke in favor of
the bill was Homer Davenport or New
York.