New-York tribune., 1908-06-13

Wahe. In the Centre street court. under $1,000 bail
for General Sessions
Police Commissioner Bingham the jon
carly. and about the first thing he did was to send
The following letter TO Philip j. Dwyer. president
IT the Brooklyn Jockey Club:
AS the Agnew-Hart anti-racetrack betting bill has
become law, hope that the police will be aided
IN enforcing this law by the officials of the Brook
lyn Jockey Club
10 send policemen TO the racetrack this afternoon
and every day hereafter.
1t was said that Commissioner Bingham, to make
sure this letter reached Mr.. Dwyer. sent several
signed copies TO the various places where ii was
likely the president of the Brooklyn Jockey Club
might he found. Later the Commissioner said:
II have yet certified copy of the bill.
but regard the facts published in the public
prints sufficient warrant for the enforcement by
me of the law. / intend to enforce it, and
shall take all steps to that end. have no feel
ing in the matter, but there will be betting Of
any sort
While the Commissioner carrying out his
announced procedure by means of his agents law
yers all over New York discussing the new
law. The general opinion. among some
lawyers who confessedly in favor of betting.
was that the law constitutional and valid
The only question raised to the legality
of the election of Wallace.
Colonel Henry w Sackett, when asked to
the new law. said: "As far as l can see. the law
is entirely constitutional I think that most law
yers of the same opinion. OF course. | have
not into the matter of Wallaces election but
l hold Governor Hughes in great respect as a
lawyer. and ] believe that he certainly would not
allow unconstitutional election to balk his
plans I think the law will hold. and that the
community will be all the better for it
District Attorney Jerome expressed in q force
full way the opinion that the bill was constitu-
tional would undoubtedly be productive of
much good. While he personally had never consid-
cred racetrack betting the evil that many persons
active in forcing the passage of the measures felt
it be. he could appreciate he said, the senti-
nent in the matter
Asked what would become Of the poolrooms. and
if they would continue to do business just the
same. Mr.. Jerome sharply rejoined
NO. sir. they will not. And if judges In this
city had sentenced such offenders to prison. in
stead of imposing fines, when their cases came
before the courts. the poolrooms would have
been wiped out long ago.
Mr. Jerome said there had been popular
misconception the attitude of the courts with
regard the Percy-Gray law. and that many per-
sons had inferred that because the Court of APP
peas had held it unconstitutional it therefore
was in accordance with the provisions of the con-
stitution.
But the present law is constitutional as any
thing can be- he added emphatically Il think.
however that many persons have felt that the
Governor was lacking in sense Of proportion in
putting so much emphasis on the law just passed
do not agree with the Governor in this matter.
Nothing my mind. however. can oe more
serious and in the end more destructive of the
government by law. than the growth Of tolerance
on the part of the people OF q disregard Of the
constitution. This side of the embracing bill in
my opinion. much transcends in Importance the
strictly moral evil Of betting on the racetrack
Speaking of the Governors personal triumph he
said: The passage Of the bills is a signal personal
triumph for Governor Hughes, for he has prac-
ticaIly made the fight alone and by his own per
sstence and energy forced from reluctant Legls-
lature the performance of a plain duty
Though the stock of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company fell a point the market because Of
the passage of the anti-gambling bills, President
Winter is not depressed He said yesterday:
THE importance of the racetrack business TO the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company has been much
overestimated. People impressed by the sight
of crowded trains, without giving much consldera-
ton the low of the fare and the large cost
of providing special service for the movement.
It is doubtful. taking year with another. If
it has yielded any profit to this company