Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-20
BAT TILE OVER RACING
Millionaire Horse Owners Oppose
AgneW-Hart Bill.
KEENE ASSAILS GOVERNOR.
Sportsman, at Hearing on Hughes An.
tisambIins Measure In Albany, Says
Executive Knows Little About Cues
tion--Matter Is Adjourned.

Executive Knows Little About Cues
tion--Matter Is Adjourned.
Albany, N. Y, Feb. 20.-Millionaires,
race track followers, clergynen, law
yers and legislators were represented
at the hearing before the joint senate
and assembly codes committees on the
Agnew-Hart bill proposing to amend
the penal code so as to prohibit gam
bling on race tracks as suggested by
Governor Hughes. After over four
hours discussion the hearing was ad-
journed until Wednesday, March 4.
During the interval it is intimated that
August Belmont, chairman of the
Jockey club, will call meeting of
that organization for the purpose of
agreeing on certain suggestions to be
submitted to the legislative commit
tees and designed to check the prac-
tice of young men gambling.
Among those who were not sched-
uled to speak, but who made short
remarks, were August Belmont, chair
man of the Jockey club; James r.
Keene, owner of many famous race
horses, and r. P. Johnson of Ken
lucky, president Of the National Trot-
ting association.
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 of the present Percy-Gray
law, under which betting is permitted
on race tracks subject only to the pen.
atty of the recovery in civil action
of the amount wagered; declared that
the measure would create discrimina-
ton against the race track and in ia
vor of the poolrooms and criticised
Governor Hughes for making "a
speech here and speech there and
with full scenic effects in support of
the bill.
He said two years ago similar bill
was introduced, but after DR.. Slicer
and Bishop Doane had been Informed
that it was prompted by the poolrooms
they withdrew their Endorsement of it.
Il am not saying that this bill was
prompted by the poolrooms, but I do
say that it is in the interests of the
poolrooms.
This bill discriminates against the
race track in favor of the poolroom,"
he continued. Where is there a PEN
atty of Imprisonment for bets made of
the race track? There is none"
Mr.. Auerbach's opinion was asked as
to the constitutional right of the legis-
lature to pass a bill appropriating
S250,000 to the agricultural societies
of the state in lieu of the tax they
now receive from state racing receipts.
IF you can't grant beet sugar roy
atty, who expects you can appropriate
IT to fatten pigs and pumpkins" re-
piled Mr.. Auerbach.
Mr. Belmont was prompted to say a
few words by a question of Senator
Hill as to whether the Jockey club
could suggest some means Of checking
the tendency of young men to gamble.
Offhand Mr.. Belmont said he could
not but said he would call a meeting
Of the club and 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 1t is indispen'
sable, but il is only an incident"
P. P. johnson, president Of the Ma
tional Trotting association, declared
that the so called temptations of the
track were overestimated. II have
been identified with racing all my life,
but today wouldD' know how to go
into the ring and make a bet"
Il think" said James r. Keene
shat the bill recommended by Gov
ernor Hughes and pending before the
legislature would simply transfer the
betting from the race track to the pool
room, and the moral effect desired
would not he accomplished.
Senator McCarren asked Mr.. Keens
how much he bet on the races.
Il never bet" replied Mr.. Keene.
Except two or three times season on
some one else's horse"
Asked by Senator Agnew IL be did
not believe the poolrooms were closed
now. Mr.. Keene said: Il think there
are at least n hundred poolrooms open
in New York now. and you can bet all
the money you want, and there is moth
ing that can 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. This bill
would strike at fifty or sixty millions
Of dollars worth Of property and re-
tsrd the progress Of horse breeding for
three decades. II will drive out Of the
state S25.OO0.OOO annually and throw
out Of employment 1900 people. What
do you get as a rcsultT The transfer
ence Of betting from the race tracks to
The pooIrooms. and that Is ALL
The speakers In favor Of the bill con-
fined most Of their remarks to the
claim that the constitution did not in
tend a discrimination in gambling in
favor % rsce tracks.
AIphonse g. Koelble. president Of the
Federation of Catholic Societies. said
that he was authorized by Archbishop
Farley 70 20 on record in favor Of the
bin on behalf of al the Catbolics Of
the state. ~Tcu should not crusfy.- be
said. the man who gambIes outside
the race track feuce as a maIefactor e
nen and giorify TIE man inside tn
fence IS = b.a-eszrtnr 10 horses.-