The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-05-09
DoNALDsoNyILLE La, SATURDAY, MAY g. 1905
NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
Race Track Gambling as an Issue-Levee
Situation Compromised Destruct-
i've Fire on Canal street.

4
people OF New Orleans will be taken
up at the coming session of the state
legislature, among which will be the
| action on the bill to prohibit book
making and race horse gambling
within the confines of the state. The
committee behind this bill is composed
OF some of the most substantial and
influential citizeus OF the city and
state, and the movement Is encouraged
by considerable portion of the busi-
ness men of the city.
The measure to be presented to the
general assembly is drawn from a
similar bill passed in the state Of
/ Tennessee, and which has stood the
test of constitutionality after a hard
fight before the supreme court. It
provides a penalty OF fine and inn
prisonmentfor the hitherto unmolested
bookies who may attempt to operate
at any OF the tracks in this vicinity,
and, OF course, will put an end to the
racing game hereabout if it is passed,
as gambling is the very fountain
head OF racing. This has been most
/ profitable field for the followers OF the
sport, and thousands OF dollars have
been carried away annually by win
ming owers..~ In view of this fact and
the fact that many thousands addi-
tional are invested in racing properties
the bill will meet with opposition no
less determined than the efforts the re-
| formers are making to have it carried
and the gamblers will doubtless carry
the entire city deleg gation against it.
On the other hand, many legislators
were pledged TO support the bill before
election and If all of these adhere to-
their word the bill will stand an ex-
cellent chance of going through. Gov
ernor-elect Sanders managed to keep
somewhat neutral on this as we'll as
other questions during his ''perfunc-
tory" campaign, and will probably
remain a-straddle the fence while the
battle is on, which means that he is
virtually against it. AS a glaring
vice with hardly a single redeeming
quality, racing cannot presume to fight
on its merits, but as the usual weighty
influences which combine to kill any
thing in the way ofreform inaugurated
In the state will no doubt co.opera ate
to perpetuate the evil on account OF
the illegally acquiped money its CO.
horts spend during the season, it seems
likely that another term will elapse
without the legislation. In this case,.
as in the tax collector fight. it will de-
pend on the country.
A destructive FIRE broke out on Ca
nal street abont six O'Clock Wednes-
day evening and the large retail es-
Establishments of T. r. Hansell & Bro,
booksellers and stationers, and the H..
B. Stevens Co., clothiers, were COM
pletely burned, while neighboring
property was badly damaged by water
and otherwise. The total loss will ag-
gregate thousands of dollars, and
will prove the most serious this city
has sustained from single confagra-
ton in years.
The port Investigating commission,
after lengthy and arduous research
into the labor conditions of the port,
on Tuesday submitted its decision IN
the matter in dispute between the ship
agents and screwmen, by which the
latter will be required to stow by hand
187 bales of cotton per day, at the
rate of s26 for gang Of five men.
This basis will be decided on by both
parties at interest," and contract
signed for five years which should in
sure absolute peace in the labor situa-
ton on the levee for that length of
time. The decision is a compromise,
the screwmen having demanded re-
newal of their old contract, which
called for 160 bales per day, while The
stevedores and agents insisted on a
minimum Of 200 bales to constitute d
days work.
/ The annual convention OF the Lou
isiana Bankers Association was held
at Hotel Grunewald the FIRST part of
the week. A large attendance was
registered and many matters of inter.
est to the membership, including the
different phases OF the recent money
panic, were discussed and legislation
! affecting abuses now prev alent In the
state was suggested. The association
has grown in numbers during the
year and its prospects for continued
success are very bright. On Tuesday
night the members, with their wives
and guests, had full charge of the
White City, and minstrel show Was
put on for their enjoyment by the bank
clerks of the city,.
Two darkiesswere literally scared to
death Monday night during d heavy
thunderstorm. One OF them dropped
dead after an unusually loud clap 81
thuoder and the other fell in fainl
from fright caused by the storm and
| died shortly after. Heart failure was
ascrihed as the cause OF death in each
case. The lightning struck In aeveral
places il the city and one or two
small fires were started, but luckfl,
no serious damage was done.
KRATS.
The T.sss.Ir1ys fe,.,a~4.s,,