Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01
MACKEY SEES JOKER IN BILL
SAYS MEASURE WOULD PERMIT
TRACK GAMBLING.
Alexandria County Commonwealth
Attorney Finds Danger in
Breeders Commission"

Detecting what he characterizes as a
deliberate attempt to reopen every door
to the setting up of race courses through
out the state, and probably particularly
at the old st. Asaph track, and of per
uniting gambling and bookmaking
proposed statute Commonwealth Attor-
ney Crandal Mackey of Alexandria
county has entered upon vigorous cam
paign against house bill No. 421. recently
introduced in the Virginia state legislature
in session in Richmond
The measure is entitled: "A bill to es-
tablish State Breeders Association .
and ostensibly it provides penalties fol-
poolselling, bookmaking and other gam
bling.
"Like Gray-Percy Law"
In an interview last evening Mr.. Mackey
said: ''If this bill is enacted into law, the
legislature of Virginia will have pulled
down the bars and opened wide the gates
for every form of race track gambling,
and the laws of the state will be power
less to punish the offender. This bill is a
close copy of the Gray-Percy- law, which
was put through the legislature of New
York by the race track gamblers them
selves.
lit is similar to a law passed by the
legislature of Maryland some years ago,
which the legislature promptly repealed
after finding out that while it looked in
nocent on its face, it had the effect OF
establishing race track gambling houses
all over the state of Maryland. The bill
Is also a modification of the Ives pool
BILL framed by gamblers in New York,
and supported by good, respectable men
under the belief that it would allow only
legitimate racing.
Sections Permit Racing"
'The first section of the bill practically
establishes a court called state breed
ers' commission. which court is to be
composed of breeders of running horses
ana this court is to have power to
subpoena witnesses and administer oaths
and to take jurisdiction of a certain
| class of cases. Section 2 will permit any
set Of race track gamblers to conduct a
! race course for one year upon a license
granted by the state breeders commits
sion. This same section permits racing
| nine months in the year, and allows
this breeders commission to prescribe
| rules and regulations governing the con-
duct of affairs at race tracks.
Section provides for the resembling
OF a. license to local race track corpora
tons or associations. upon complaint
lodged with a commission. whose men,
bers supply the race tracks with running
horses.
Section makes it mandatory rs grant
| a certificate or license to any Incorporate
ed troI,ing association. and to any state
or county fair association, SO that any
set of gamblers, by organizing a trottins
association, or any sort of fair asso-
citation. can compel the breeders commits
sion to grant license.
''To Deceive Good People,
Section is inserted for no other pur-
pose than to deceive the good people OF
the state. and provides that there shall
be losted a placard at every race course
to the effect that disorderly conduct,
lbookmakng and other forms of gamblins
are prohibited.
Section will permit any set of pro-
fessional gamblers who organize a cor
pCration to appoint five or more of their
own police officers.
Section appears to be drafted ex-
Iressly for. the purpose of protecting
bookmakers and other gamblers. and II
| this act passes no set of gamblers COM
posing the directors, trustees or officers
OF a race track corporation can be pros
ecuted for the commission of any of
tense, unless the state can prove that
they are back of the gambling that Il
being carried on.
| Section 8 reminds me of the PROPOSE
ton made. b yrace track gamblers in
Alexandria county to pay percentage
of their receipts to the board of super.
vsors to be expended in building roads
| In the country. If 1 should desist in my
Efforts to break up the poolrooms. Sec
items II. L and - are copies Of the
New York Grey-Percy law, which has
i been repealed.
"a provision of section II makes j,
an offense only to make the memorandum
or wager or bet upon a race course,
so that bookmaking can be carried or
with impunity Immediately outside Of the
/ race course grounds. or at any place con.
! tfguous thereto or else where 4"