The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-03

Yesterdays sessions were not
ID as boisterous as some OF those
of last week, thy were none
the less busy.
All kinds of matters were debated
and passed upon in both branches. III
the House of Delegates gambling. pup
lie and private. was discussed eonsid'
erably. The so-called pink tea bill
was amended so as to permit the play
ing for prizes, end was advanced IL
It's third reading. Without amend
Inent the bill would have dealt NOR
tai blow to those eucilre and bridge
whist parties which derive their In
rentiSe IRON some glittcring baub!e.
Fight Over Racing Dill.
A more serious matter was the un-
successfui effort to recommit House
bill No. 4?1. which provides for the
establishment OF q State Breeders COM
mission. In view of certain DIRE pte
dictions as to what would follow inc
enactment OF the bill. there was dis.
position upon the part OF some TO seno
1t back to the Committee on Genera
Laws for q last long alomDer.
1t was explained by the patrons tha'
the bill had been introduced late ir
the session at the request OF the non
Henry Fairfax, who, with number o!
other wealthy end Influential genie
men OF high standing In the state
merely designed to secure trials oi
speed among tlrst-class horses. with
out any of the features OF nook'.ihh.ns
pool selling and other forms of gam
bling which haze heretofore brought
racing into disrepute In Virginih
The high character of the patrons o.
the bill in botn houses OF the Lesls,
iature. as well as OF those who favored
its introduction. would seem to be
sufficient guarantee that rs Object wa.
not the promotion of gambling OF o'
Illegal proceedings of any kind, Tina
ony system OF .cgalized racing IS cape
Bile of abuse Is most certain. Mncr
perhaps all--would depend upon tn,
personnel of the commission. an In
competent or corrup. commission coulc
turn the racing business over to the
gamblers, Just us an incompetent OF
corrupt Corporation Commission coulc
turn the State over to the tender mer'
cies of me corporations.
On the ether hand. 1t Is inconceivable
that a proper commission. under a
properly safeguarded measure, coulc
not contro! one. or perhaps three OF
four, associations for clean racing.
without gambling incidents.
Nevertheless. it is true that there !:
danger that at some time the commits
sion might not be composed of the
right kind Of men. and there are many
who will not be willing to take this
chance. Moreover. If the number Of
associations which might be chartered
should be greater than really first
rate commission could closely super
wise, the results would certainly be
bad.
May BE Amended.
Tho bill might of course be amend
ed SO as to limit the associations to {
small number, with tracks located a
or near cities in the State OF a certain
size, say, of 10000 inhabitants or more
BY raising the requirement as to popu
lation the associations could be limited
to two. or even to one. The bill should
II passed, be accompanied by re-en
actment of the act OF 1855. page SIG
found in Pollard's Code. section 3SlSb
This is a comprehensive prohibition
against most forms of race-tracl
gambling, but was held in the case o.
Lacey VS.. Palmer in 90 Virgini;
Reports, page 159, unconstitu
tional as to everything except pool
selling. because of defective title.
Efforts were made at the last two
sessions of the Legislature to re-enac
this law with : perfect title. but the,
were unsuccessful. The gamblers. witt
the aid Of some Of their legal an,
political allies. We're able, in the con
gestion of the short sessions, to xii
the bill by obstruction. Certainly, tn
people of the State would condemn
with the utmost emphasis any statut
which might permit the recurrence O
such condition as curse. and blight
ed Alexandria county few years age
If the bill can be amended so as t
make these evils impossible. 1t will
meet the approva. of the large and re
spectacle element in the State who de
sire legitimate racing. without gam
bling features There will yet renalr
however, another lars and equally re
spectacle element who do not wis
racing in the State under any condi
tions.
Oyster Bills Passed.
Both kou-ea PASSED .e oyster bill
agreed upon when the Maryland dele
cation was In the city. These bill
have, for some years, been the caus
o. many conferences between represen
tatives OF the two States, of not a FEY
festivities and of a great deal Of pro
crastination,
A number Of bills were voted dow
in both houses. which Is an argumen
against those who insist that the onl
way to kill Objectionable measures
by strangulation in short session
The difficulty about this method Is tina
1t does not discriminate between tn
innocent and the guilty. A large mum
ber of bills We're passed. many merel
local, and some of but slight genera
interest.
To-day or tomorrow the bill to re
move the license tax from doctors wi
precipitatc another medical discussion
The advocates of the bill claim to hav
seventy votes sure, If the chairma
Of the Finance Committee does nc
marshal his forces quickly and hui