The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-20
WARM DEBATE ON
GAMBLING BILL
Norfolk Members Denounee
Stephenson Measure AS
Revolutionary
ALL GAMBLING LOOKS
ALIKE TO BATH MAN
Code Revision Measure IN
troduced Providing tor Re-
viser>, Chosen by
Joint Resolution

When is gambling not gambling, ana
how much samUiins snouid De per
fniILeu Wnicn the law snail not con-
s.rue to De ganohnsI
That is the question that VIII DC
taken UP this morning In tne aouse
OF Delegates. that BODY having ao-
jourueu YESTERDAY whiie the measure
OF AR. Stephenson of Batn, declaring
all betting To he gambling and prom
biting IL aosoiateV WAS unuer oe-
EaIe.
ne discussion brought out the
forensic pow eis OF one OF The new men
from the 1Iaewa,er sectlon. oar.
banks. OF Norfolk CITY, VINO moved
10 DISMISS the measure Mr. banAs
had not been heard before in the
house and MS MAIDEN speech attract
ed genera attcnuon. he said that ne
heIG no brief Tor the gamoier and be-
fteF ed gafa14ihs to be an eNu-lnal
should he suppressed. The law -abid-
ing power should be careful. however,
not TO over-step the bounds OF pro-
Iriety and, said the speaker. IL this
hystefia for restrictive legislation con-
tinues we viii lind ourselves the raw
est, duilest and densest people Oh
earth.
Landscape ftaSpsreo.
The whole landscape Is becoming
plastered with Thou shalt nots, the
speaker suggested amid laughter. he
thought there should be more Thou
sAs.its., l. all the LAWS on The stat
ute books were suddenly enforced.
declared the speaker. 1T would jail
ninety nine per cent .ef the people ne
was opposed he said to taking what
x.s. tho i1pncanf thinxa of life
and putting them in the class with
crines, putting an innocent rattle for
church or charity or a private game
in ones own home in the category of
criminal offerses-
MIR. Banks made an attack on the
provisions Of the bill giving the Cir
cult Courts concurrent Jurisdiction in
misaerneanors and the right OF the
9sani nj sxsssrs9 sasss an = Et5s ~
constitution. he urged, intended %
provide against drastic legislation
Despite the blessings OF our Demo
cratic form of government 1t had the
objection OF too much legislation.
Sound logic based upon universal ex-
perience oppos. - Increased legislation.
He felt that the effect OF the bill
would be to make lawhreakers OF
set Of law-abiding people.
Says lie - rum uiG Souhthy.
Mr.. Stephenson, the patron OF the
measure, replied to the gentlemen
from Norfolk Said he. Il suppose
have oldfashioned ideas. l am from
the country. / always have had the
idea that gambling Is gambling
Curious to say the present laws OF
the State Of Virginia recognize gamb-
ling. II you sit down with q friend
and lose $40 in less than twenty-four
hours IL is not gam bling under the
law. l am surprised that old Virginia
has never wiped gambling off Its
books
The gentleman from Norrofk says
that we have too much law. I dc
not say that this bill will absolutely
prevent all gambling, but il will show
what the lawmakers OF Virginia are
in favor OF and that they oppose
gambling for money. This law breaks
up gamblin for large and small
amounts. When you md people gamb-
ling they cannot slip out under the
plea that they were not gambling
for more than the legal limit
Oliver Offers Amendment.
Mr.. Oliver offered an amendment
that would cut out that portion OF
the act giving the Commonwealth
the right of appeal in such cases.
right which the patron of the meas
ure considered of vita. Importance to
1t.
i Mr. ys-ess,-e., IS Warren. asked
whether or not the act did not pro-
vide a Jail sentence. Mr.. Stephenson
said that 1t did. but offered ar
amendment that gives the courts the
right to either fine or imprison OIL
both In its discretion the violators Of
the law.
Mr.. Peek. of Norfolk county, ex.
pressed very violent opposition to the
measure, saying that the measure wa:
extreme. and that even when you q
to a football game or a baseball game
you cannot bet a dollar on IT. Ht
thought the idea to give the highe,
courts original Jurisdiction was a re-
progression. He said that the meas
ure was revolutionary.
At this point the House adjourned
and cut or very interesting discus
sion.
--v-~T@. Nfilstead's Little Joke. 'sga
MIR. Miistead, of Newport News
sprung his little Joke yesterday. Il
has been Matching for some time. Il
came in the form OF a resolution ask
ing the newspapers to advertise to tbs
ladies OF the State that no mileag'
would be allowed to lady delegate:
attending the hearing ON the suffrags
measure.
Tho House, on account of the ex'
istence Of an emergency. pressed
through to its final passage Senats
bill No. 81, providing for the de-
claring Of vacancy in tudgeships II
Virginia in case an occupant OF ths
bench. Is adiudged insane. There wa.
no law on the statute books to meet
| such q case.
| Hereafter the sale OF chemical oil
! fake" cider in Virginia can only bt
made after a license shall have beer
gotten in the same manner and q
| the same costs as liquor licenses. Mr.
Balm, OF Southampton, II the patroT
Of the measure, which he introduced
| yesterday In the House. No add
tional requirements are placed upoE
/. the sale Of the genuine elders.
After Cold St0ragc Folk.
MF Fitzhugh. OF Northampton. b
&c -er the cold storage folk. In I
measure introduced by him YESTERDAY
to regulate the conduct Of such 80.
Adjustments It Is required that q
lcontinusA On third DAE&A
n q