St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1912-06-01
An Effort Being Made to
Legalize Racing Again.
Labarre in Behind a Bill In
troduced for Purpose.
New Orleans to Have an
Opportunity to Vote 1t.
Opponents of Bill Getting
Ready to Fight it.

Baton Rouge, May 28.-Restora
tion of racing in New Orleans is thu
object of bill that will be introduc
ed in the House by Representative
Labarre of Orleans, notice of which
was given to-day. Introduction O
the bill tomorrow will reopen thu
fight of four years ago over the pas
sage of the Locke bill. A majority o.
the city delegation will support the
Labarre bill, and will use all energy
to bring about its enactment. Or
the other hand, it will be opposed
by some of the strongest men in the
Senate and House, who declare they
will fight it to finish.
Already the lines are being drawn
in the House. Both sides were act.
i've this afternoon and tonight
Members of the city delegation who
favor the bill have begun lobbying
with their fellow Representatives in
the hope of influencing votes. Ru-
mors are rife tonight of trades and
dickers to secure votes, but the re-
responsible sources. '
OUpOuCuIS VI tuC Ol1l aEC utSlu
members who oppose gambling on
the races to stand firm. They claim
the sentiment of the House is against
he bill, and that II there are no
trades or deals it will be defeated by
a large majority. The members who
are fighting the bill point out that
it will require fifty-nine affirmative
votes to pass it, and they assert the
measure cannot muster more than
forty when the long roll is called.
CREATES COMMISSION.
The bill to be introduced by Mr..
Labarre contains several new features
in racing legislation. 1t creates
q State racing commission, to be ap-
pointed by the Governor, and gives
the commissioners Jurisdiction over
all meetings for conducting horse
racing throughout the State. Every
corporation or association desiring to
conduct racing shall apply annually
to the racing commission @sfer q Ii
cense. The Racing Board is requir-
ed to meet by December of each year
and award dates, but no such dates
so awarded shall exceed forty days
Sundays included, at any one race
J track in any one year, divided into
not more than three meetings. No
dates can be awarded for any meet
ing dYging the months of May, June,
July, Xugust, September and October,
except to q bona fide live stock and
agricultural fair. A license fee OF
$50 per day and, in addition, 5 pei
] cent Of the gross gate receipts is
knA al t,s0N Nlr =
! Racing Board is given power to re-
woke all licenses, and the propreity
! of such action is subject to review by
!. District Courts.
$ The Racing Commission is given
full power to prescribe rules, regula-
stions and conditions under which all
1 betting on horse races will be con-
Quoted, and may make rules govern.
. ing, restricting or regulating betting
. on such races, and q violation of any
such rules, regulations or conditions
kwith or without the consent of the
licensed association, shall be sum
cient cause for the commission to re.
woke forthwith the license under
which such races are conducted
The commission thereafter may re
fuse any license to tie corporation
or association whose license once ha'
been so revoked. Every person aid
ing or abetting in the conduct of an!
meeting at which the racing Of horses
shall be permitted for any stake
purse or reward, except in accord
: ance with : license duly issued and
unrevoked by the State Racing Com
mission, shall be guilty of misde
meanor.
uncp1r AMI pNAnc