The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-02

clnl plea that It would interfere with
tho races nj tile Jamestown Exposition.
A former attempt OF mine IN 1904 to
have the act of 1896 passed with n
proper title was defeated By friends of
the raoc-track people.
Proposed Dill.
/ desire now to briefly analyzc House
bill No lei that has Just been sent
me by Senator Il. r.. Thornton. The
first section OF the bill practically cs-
tablishes n court called state Breed
ors' Commission, which court is to be
composed OF breeders of running
horses. and Thoroughbred horse be-
ing a running horse and standard
bred horses being trotting horses, this
court of race-traciS people is TO have
power TO subpoena witnesses and ad.
minister ohths and to take Jurisdiction
of a certain class OF cases. Section J
OF the act will permit any set of race
track gamblers to conduct race.
course for one year upon 4 license
granted by the State Breeders Com
mission, and, of course. as the Breed
ers' Commission is composed of per-
sons who breed running horses. there
gill never be any question about any
GET of gamblers getting license.
This same section permits racing
nine months In the year. and allows
this breeders Commission to prescribe
rules and regulations governing the
conduct of affairs at race-tracks.
Section Of the act provides for the
rejection OF q license 10 local race
track corporations. or associations. upon
the complaint, and 1t is easy for those
who have had experience with race
track gambling to know how much at
tention would be paid to the complaint
of decent citizens. which complaint
In 1nIcr -
whose members supply the tracks
with running horses, especially as every
person knows that with 10 gambling
there is no professional racing and no
demand for running horses.
Section of the act makes ii manda-
tory to grant certificate or license
20 any incorporated trotting association,
and to any State or county fair associa-
ton, so that any set of gamblers, by
organizing a trotting association. or
any sort of fair association can compel
the breeders Commission TO grant
license.
Deceive the People.
Section OF the act IS inserted for
no other purpose than to deceive the
good people of the state, and provides
that there shall be posted placard at
every race-rourse to the effect that dis
orderly conduct, bookmaking and other
FORM, OF gambling are prohibited. BE-
fore we ran the race-track and other
gamblers out of Alexandra county
every poolroom and gambling mousse
had a similar pacard hung on It's walls.
section 6 of the act Will permit any
act of professional gamblers who or
ranize corporation to appoint hve
ar moro of their own police ofhcers.
who shall have the same power rs
constahles under the law of the state
and the police officers appointed by
race track gamblers can arrest OF
eject any person whom they think IS
improperly within the race-track
grounds. and you can imagine win
what pleasure they would eject any
nerson who is there for the purpose OF
rettinr evidence, IT, indeed, evidence
would be of any avail under the con-
templated act and this section permits
these police officers to take person
before a magistrate of their own selec-
ton and my experience has been that
every race-track gambling resort mad
it's own magistrate conveniently near.
In my county when good citizen pro-
cured a warrant against the race
track gamblers, the gamblers them
selves would Immediately procure q
warrant against the gambler com
plained against and have him taker
before the magistrate of their owr
choice, who would impose a nomina
fine of So, and when the real cast
came on for trial the arrested gambler
would plead a former conviction for
the same ofiense. so that the hands o!
the law were tied.
To Protect Gamblers.
Section OF the act appears 10 be
drafted expressly for the purpose o.
protecting bookulakers and other
gamblers, and If this act passes, nc
set OF gamblers, composing the direct
orx. trustees or officers of q race track
CORPORATION can be prosecuted for sht
commission Of any ofFense unless tbs
State can prove that he Is back Of
tia gambling that IS being carried on
The fact is that this section VIII per
init aly Sc; of race-track gambler
forming themselves into corporation
to carry on gambling through thei
tcuts. agents. servants and employe
without any danger whatever 10 them
selves. and without in any way AFFECT
ing their corporate existence or thei
right to DO. business under the act.
Section OF the act reminds me o
the proposition made by race-tracl
gamblers IN Alexandria county to pay
percentage OF their receipts to tn
Board OF Supervisors, to be expende
in building roads IN the county, II
should tiesist in my efforts TO brca
up the pool rooms. This section is in
tended TO put q price on public mora
and to license crime. provided tina
some of the increment Of vice be pal
into the road fund OF the variou
counties. Sections II. Il ana 13 OF III
act are copy OF the New York Gray
Percy law which has been repcaiH
and are similar to the provisions Of II
Ives pool bill that was reported TO II
Legislature of New York. Both
these bills We're, as l have already sal
gotten up by the race-track gambler
Notice the language at the beginnir
of section IL, which contains the
words: "Al racing or trials of spe
OF horses, or other animals for al
bets. stake or reward, except such
is allowed by this act or by speci
laws, is public nuisance" etc. Ma
the words: except such as Is allow
4, by this act" / can see the attorne
for the Iace-track gamblers standi
up in court and arguing that this 81
ton does allow racing for bets. sta
ss and rewards. This section of the
will make all cffenses triable by
justice Of tho peace, because il is
a class of misdemeanors to which
circuit courts have jurisdiction. {
there Is nothing in the act giving
circuit court concurrent jurisdct
r,F hot