New-York tribune., 1910-01-06

crime in itself with severe penalty, for any
one to seek to escape after an accident 20
which his act has contributed
PENAL LAW AMENDMENTS
f3ooxunaking.-The Legislature in 1908
abolished the distinction which had eX-
listed in favor of public gambling at race
tracks. and made the law relating to pub
lie gambling the same inside the racetrack
Enclosure that it was and long had been
outside save as the punishment was in
creased The penal law. Section $50. pro-
hibits bookmaking. As ordinarily prose-
cuted. the business of bookmaking requires
the psraphernalia or recording which the
statute describes. As stated by, the Court
Of Appeals. by Haight. j., III The People
ex rel Lichtenstein against lSangan, II IS
perhaps true that bookmaker may retain
in hjs own mind the memory of the odds
where three or four horses only are entered
in a race - that he could state the odds
orally fc others; but il would be difficult
FOR him CT lis customers to remember the
precise amounts in many transactions and
base their cts thereon. and, consequently,
bat very few bets could be taken under
such circumstances. The masses could not
be drawn into the scheme and their money
Cptalned without some writing or entry
that they. could rely upon. The vice
of hookmakinG chiefly consists in the
sohClaucn ana IN the inducing of the pub
lfc To take chances in the carefully figured
and planned scheme OF the bookmaker.
and this In order to he made profitable to
I'm requires the writing out Of the lists
~ odds laid on some paper or material so
That II could be seen by those who were
In view. however. Of tho efforts that
have been made TO evade the statute. and
eesnne It's prohibitions % continue the
business of bookmaking. either without re
cording in the usual way or with records
go concealed as To make detection difficult,
recommend that the law he amended so
ss 10 Denalize the practice Of hookmaking
even though there he no recording
- Procuriug--In view of the revelations
I0al nave Deen made as 10 procuring and
tref1ckinG in women for tho purpose of
PROSTITUTION. I recommend for your con
sis4erstion the enactment Of whatever ad..
o1lonat or more stringent provisions OF
law NAV make ollr statute more efficacious-
UNNECESSARY OFFICES.
! again recommend that the Board of
Port wardens he reduced 10 five members,
IN lieu Of the present board of nine.
also recommend that the positions of
supervisors of running race meetings and
trofting race meetings be abolished and
their duties be transferred to the State
Controller, 10 be performed by his subor-
dinates.
JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
The delays and wastes which character
fze condemnation proceedings constitute 4
grave public scandal. All public officers
concerned in this matter should he soIicl-
tous TO demand proper regard for uublic
oui9- measures shouid be devised TO pro
vide more economical and careful methods.
and II II should be deemed necessary 10
ernend the constitution an amendment
should be prepared and submitted
/ urge upon your attention the impor-
lance OF simplifying the procedure Of orr
courts. The natural Discrimination TO inter
fere with the methods 10 which we are
accustomed and to avoid raising contro-
Nsrsies over provisions Of new statutes
should not discourage the effort 10 reduce
the importance of technicalities in 1itiga-
tlon and TO facilitate the speedy disposi-
tion OF causes upon their merits This sub
Ject Is engaging the attention of careful
students, and any measures although not
comprehensive, which may prove an aid in
minimizing the delays of litigation and in
destroying the opportunities of professional
controversy for its own sake should re-
ceive favorable ConSidera ton.
CHARLES T. HUGHES