New-York tribune., 1908-03-05
CHAMBER PACKED AGAIN
Continued from first page.

during the New York racing season In spite OF
the alleged efforts of the racing men TO keep
track information from them
Did you ever take any steps toward law
forcement by trying to close those poorooms?"
asked Sene Gilchrist.
Il might ask you retorted Mr. Brogan, why
you having taken your oath of office 10 uphold
the constitution of this state. which prohibits
gambling do not try to obey it by supporting
this IegisIation?"
Mr. Gchrist subsided
F. K Sturgis. secretary treasurer Of the
Jockey Club. the first speaker. He recited
the history of the Jockey Club and described its
work of licensing jockeys and trainers. the for
felt system, the registration OF horses and its
propa ga ton Of the Thoroughbred strain by the
distribution of stations at various points for
breeding George NJ Rommell, of the bureau
of animal industry, declared that the value of
, the thoroughbred strain was recognized by
many governments notably Germany. The
thoroughbred. he said. had reached point
where further development possible only
through racing
Representatives of various county agricultural
societies went record opposed to any
change. whatever in the Percy-Gray law, and
George F. Monroe for the State Association of
Town Agricultural Societies. declared against
any change unless accompanied by permanent
appropriation This feature Of the hearing was
varied by p spirited declaration that the Sara
toga County Agricultural Society was for the
enactment of anti gambling legislation
PRACTICAL. STATESMANSHIP QUESTION
John A Hull for the Kenilworth Racing As
sociation and the Buffalo Driving Club, said this
was a question of practical craftsmanship not
of Iegislating exclusively for "a species of human
canned goods without blood passion Ihe
advocates the bills had not produced statlstcs
to show that the Percy-Ciray law was failure
Frank Lord formerly deputy Assistant Dis
trict Attorney said his experience was that the
racetrack.; did not corrupt the young, but that
poolrooms did. Poolroom men grew rich: book
| makers did not. The Jockey Club was the best
| policeman the pOolroom ever had.
| Mr. Auerbach INTRODUCED his proposition for
! credit betting by the admission that between
! ethics and law there is a wide gulf He
/ thought the clergymen and societies advocating
the bills could render better service by joining
hands with practical and fair organiza tions like
| the Jockey Club. Enactment of the Agnew-
| Hart bills would revive the crippled poolroom
| industry They embodied academic no.
| ton" The credit betting scheme had been sub
| rntted to many practical men, and was indorsed
| by the Rev. Thomas R. Slicer, Commissioner
| Bingham, Justices Gildersleeve and Blanchard.
| Judge Foster William Rand. Howard Cans and
| George Borden Battle
Would you have the Legislature countenance
| betting?" asked Senator McCarren.
! 1T need not countehance anything of the sort.
| This would result in a great restriction of bet
ting just it did in the first days of the Percy
| Gray law"
LOUIS MARSHALL DEFENDS BILLS.
| Louis Marshall. member of the constitutional
convention was the first speaker for the bills
| He said he thought he knew the spirit in which
| the constitution framed. and the Percy
! Gray law in way conforned to that spirit
! The Court of Appeals had held that technically
| It not unconstitutional, but to say that the
| court approved ii was TO say unwarranted
| things. In the latest opinions. the court could
! be to writhe because such law was on
| the statute books. Mr.. Marshall added:
| The question here is whether the Percy-Gray
/ law is an offence against the constitution.
| say the Governor has spoken truly and for the
conscience of the state when he said that IL was
| He REQUIRES no defence from me. He has the
I good will of every favOring law and order
! and the i'll will of every man against them IL
! you can pass law like the Percy-Gray law IT
| is in your power to re-estabish policy or the
! Louisiana lottery. John A Morris offered $40,
| 900 900 to the Legislature of that state for
new charter for his lottery scheme. 1t was re-
| fused. He came here. established the Morris
! Park racecourse and had enacted the Ives pool
| law. That law. the predecessor of the Percy
| Gray law, and almost Identical with it. was de-
clared unconstitutional just before the constitu-
tiona convention of 1894.
Present conditions are crime against public
| decency. morality and the foundations of our
! government. Think TO what depths of depraVity
| we are sunk when the Court of Appeals is com
PEELED to record in framing an indictment against
q poolTOOm keeper that the room kept was not on
a racecourse authorized by statute and that With
| out such averment Indictment was fatally
| defective IncOngruities. inconsistencies. lnde-
! cences result from this law.
| ACT TO PERMIT SANITARY GAMBLING" 4"
| He declared that the legislators oath of office
compelled them TO support these bills. and ended
| with the declaration that from Mr. Auerbachs )
! description he fancied the Percy-Gray law
! should be termed An act to permit sanitary
| gambling" Then he asked for five minutes at
| the end to make answer
| Il close the debate. NJ. Chairman, said the
! former Governor
Are you afraid to have me answer you
| challenged Mr.. Marshall.
! Not unless YOU say more than you've said in
your first speech" was the reply.
| AssembIyman Hart then read telegram from
! Governor Folk of Missouri saying that abolition
/ OF gambling there had not hurt racing. but had
! improved conditions that no one would dare
attempt to bring back the old days of the gam
| bling
| George T Noon of the Manufacturers Asso-
citation fatty contradicted Mr.. Lord. He said
/ he MANY times had attended racetracks to res
/ cue voung men and boys from the result of in
discretion. and could substantiate this by legal
/ evidence.
The Rev Or Iaidlaw, of the American Fed
/ Grafton Of Churches, read letter from the
! claim agent for a surety company that one
third of the defalcatons we're due directly to
racetrack gambling.
| Daniel Colvfn of the F'latbush Taxpayers As
sociatior demanded: What will you say to