Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-09
New York's Governor Spurs Leg
islature to Combat Racing
and Stock Gambling
EVILS AT PRESENT LOCALIZED
Governor Declares Present Law Was
inspired and Is Maintained by Gu
pidity Wants Commission to In
vestisate Wall Street = Will Call
Special Session of Legislature.

Albany, n. Y. April 9.-Governor
Hughes sent special message to the
legislature today calling attention to
race track gambling and Wall street
conditions.
The recommendations of the COVER
nor include:
islation to prevent the present So
called discrimination of the Percy
Gray law, which practically legalizes
gambling on a race track; legislation
to effect reform in banking methods;
direct primary nominating elections;
legislation which will place telephone
and telegraph companies under the
jurisdiction of the public service COM
mission.
The governor also urges an investi-
CATION by the commission of Wall
street speculation; the question of i'm
migrat ton; the question of unemployed
in the state, and the relation of infer
ior courts to certain criminal proceed
ure
The governor probably will call an
extra session of the legislature for
May II. 1t is also expected special
election will be ordered for the choice
of a successor to Senator Franchot,
roaonfly-
In regard to the racing law Governor
Hughes says:
The law Can and should effectively
prohibit them by imposing penalties
similar to those which are visited upon
Identical offenses elsewhere. The de-
influences and menace to
the welfare of the state which are in
volved in a continuance of this evil
are obvious. Still more important is
the necessity of vindicating the funda-
mental laws of the land; of demon
that this is state where law
and order prevail; where no interest is
powerful enough to keep on the statute
books deceitful provisions whereby
prohibition becomes profitable license
and a favored class of law breakers
are afforded substantial immunity Re-
spect for the law is the security of our
and guarantees of rights
of liberty and property will not long
avail if the people are taught to view
the constitution with contempt.
therefore urge you to discharge your
ma.~st duty and to end the discrim-
nations in favor of race track gam
bling which cupidity inspired and now
seeks to maintain"
Relative to the Hart-Agnew bills the
governor in his message says:
II again urge you to enact appro-
pirate legislation to abolish existing
determinations in favor of race track
Failure of the upper
branch of your honorable body to
pass the measure designed to effect
his purpose after its passage in the
over branch can not be regarded as
lisposing of the matter. The constitu-
ion. with it's peremptory mandate.
still stands, but the evil of race track
gambling f1ourishes not in spite of the
aw, but because OF the law. Legis-
alton pretending to carry out the con-
;titutional provisions. in effect nulli-
les it. You are not asked to accom-
,lish the impossible or to write upon
he statute books visionary scheme |
# moral reform. You are asked to
id our law of the vicious discrimina-
ion whereby offenses equally con-
lemned by the constitution are pun
shed as crimes if committed in one
,lace and are encouraged by the abb
ence of suitable penalty if committed
n another. 1t is not a question for |!
he legislature whether this vice should !!
,e permitted or regulated. Under the |
the legislature has no
light to permit it or regulate it, The
,eople have spoken upon that ques-
ion. You are asked to make the ex-
sting prohibitions effective instead of |
.irtually protecting pool selling and
ook making upon race tracks, instead
f favoring them and subjecting them
o discrimination.
Governor Hughes recommends the
reation of commission. the mem
ers of which shall give their services
Without pay. to inquire into 'the facts
elating to speculation in securities
nd commodities with view Of aseer-
aiming the manner in which illegiti-
nate transactions may be prevented
nd legitimate business safeguarded."
HEAR NATIONAL PRESIDENT.