New-York tribune., 1908-02-20
BATTLE OVER RACING.
Continued from frss page.

minds made up by anybody outside the legsla-
tive branch OF the government" The Percy
Gray law he said. did run contrary to the
constitution Never did statute contrary to
she spirit of the constitution get past the Court
Of Appeals Of this state" he declared. Then he
told of various pooiroom keepers who had tried
ger the Percy Gray law off the statute books
I acs not saying the poolrooms respon-
sible for the introduction of these Agnew-Hart
bills he said. which the legislators present
remembering Governor Hughes's recommended
ton for the adjustment OF racetrack gambling.
hailed piece OF humor. The chief
point made by him was that the bills under con-
sderaton. while fixing a penalty of imprison-
for betting racetracks. made no pun
ishment for betting anywhere else. He termed
these measures an assault, based conjecture
ard notions"
The oss-examination to which Mr. Auerbach
subjected at the end Of his speech fur
nished much entertainment for the supporters
of the Asnew-Hart measures. The ubiquitous
Cuvillier early in the speech distinguished him
self by asking the lawyer why since the Jockey
Club in its book Of rules expressly said It took
cosnizanCe Of betting. IL should be so con-
oerned 10 attack bills whose only purpose was
70 do away with betting. not TO abolish racing
Later Mr- Surpless put the same question in a
different form. and Mr. Auerbach parried 1t by
the declaration that Of course it was within the
power Of the Legislature TO pass what laws IL
saw fit Still later Senator GiIchrist pinned him
down with the direct query:
Is betting a necessity to racing?"
That has no reference to the subject OF this
hearing" snapped the Jockey Club lawyer.
Betting now is merely an incident to racing"
AGHEwrS QUESTION CALLED FRIVOLOUS.
senator Agnew asked him If he would be will
ing since he considered the Agnew-Hart bills
f,ux-a ,o-+
stipulated for betting any place whatever
That question is frivious.' he replied. Your
asking it shows that the bills discriminate
sEainst the raoetracks." He expressed his be-
lief in the unconstitutionality of the appropria-
tioR for the farmers by declaring:
II the Legislature can't appropriate money
for = beet sugar royalty, who expects 1t
r-opriate money 70 fatten pigs pumpkins"
senator Hill. chairman OF the Codes Committee.
wanted to bring out some suggestion for curtail-
ing the tendency Of young men toward betting,
hCh he considered was fostered by the race
tracks. AR. Auerbach referred him TO August
Belmont Mr Belmont said he could furnish
none. but if the Senator desired he would call
8 meeting Of the Jockey Club 10 consider the
problem
We are constantly confronted in the press
snd by those desiring the repeal OF the Percy
cray law" said he with the statement that
racing is conducted simply as a gambling enter
prise. This is not the fact. Those who say SO
have not taken the trouble to read the reports
of the racing commission TO the Legislature.
Racing is TO improve the breed OF horses The
thoroughbred represents quality IN horses-the
essential oil in horsefesh. SO 70 speak, with the
slities OF speed, stamina and early maturity.
Stakes are put up TO enable the breeders 10
bring out those horses. The infusion OF thor
oughhred blood enables the breeder TO trot his
horses a. two OF three years OF age. 1t is i'm
portant TO the farmer if his horses mature at
three or four instead of five years. Betting Is
an important incident. 1 am free TO say. an in
dispensibie incident The quality OF horses is
indicated By the choice of the public
Mr. Belmont declared that there would be a
great commercial loss If betting were stopped,
since II would hurt racing and visitors from
other states would not come here
VIEWS OF a KENTUCKIAN.
Major P. P. johnson. Of Kentucky. president
or The National Trotting Association, spoke
--airst the bills as harmful 10 racing. which he
termed = noble manly sport. conducive TO
noble manhood He said Kentucky had emu
lated ne Percy-Gray law and found It good
NJ Keene. called on for his opinion. said no
moral issue was involved. because the Agnew-
Hart bills II they became law, simply would
transfer betting from tracks TO poolroons
.XHirhout wishing To pry into your personal
asked Senator NcCarren, whose own racetrack
experience is practically unlimited
7 don't bet at all" said the owner Of the
horse with the record purse winnings, except
once IL q while on other peoples horses. Iflese
Hills we're introduced with real public senI-
rrart behind them. They would destroy prop
e~r, v-o-tF? many millions Of dollars There are
ore hundred poolrooms open in Ne" YORK To-
dan, and Won can bet all the money you wish TO
The 51 protection the people Of the state have
r-a-- roolroorns Is the Jockey Club and me !
great -ss.in= ,frcIit. Pass this bill and me
race courses will not spend money 70 shut OH
al .,er-,c- OF information for the poorooms
Yov.1 So then deIuge OF betting.
Governor Hughes knows little of this SIDE Oh
tho er,b-ec- He shows little. narrow mind n
his discussion Of il Like all reformers ne sits
or one side and knows nothing o. the eFliS Il
-.a course ne advocates. These bills VIII Te'sfd
The d,eor7n1ent Of horses and throw out OF en-
-ro,--ner- twelve thousand persons and lnpoF- J
r~f-h one hundred breeders besides deS'roylhs /
S-,aaaatspa OF S6nop0Ooo worth Of property /