Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-02-04
RACE-BETTlNol
GO TO ANNAPOLIS
Rev. w. w. Davis Marshals Forces
At Annapolis At Public Hearing
On Hall Bill.

Annapolis, Jan. 31.-Opponents Of
State regulated betting at Maryland
race tracks had their "day in court
in the House chamber this afternoon
when the House Judiciary Committee,
Of which William Purnell Hall. spon-
sor of the Anti-Betting bill, is chair
man, granted an open hearing to the
bills advocates.
The Rev. w. w. Davis, secretary %
the Maryland Anti-Race Track
Gambling Association, marshalled tn,
forces which are advocating the wi
ing out of the Maryland Racing CT
mission and the present regul.-.
system Of betting. William Silver,
president of the association, intro
duced the various speakers.
In his opening remarks before the
committee the Rev. Mr.. Davis declar-
ed that while the Burke law said Il
contemplated placing control of
Maryland racing in the hands of a
Maryland commission, "the New York
Jockey Club is the only boss, so far
as the Racing Commission is concern
ed in Maryland" Mr.. Silver follow
ed this lead with the statement that
INSTEAD of the commission running
the tracks, we have been treated to
the spectacle of the tracks running
the commission"
Revenue Figures Presented
Mr.. S'lve: presented detailed fig
ures regarding the revenues and the
expenses Of the tracks, as given in
the 1922 report of the Maryland
Racing Commission and based most
Of his argument on these figures.
He said the figures showed that
each of the 634,405 people who visit
ed the race tracks in Maryland last
year bet an average of 1882 apiece.
He then attacked the expenses of the
tracks as given in general terms in.
the report, particularly the item
which showed that during the year
the tracks disbursed more than $780,
600 for illegal services" Mr.. Silver
read letter from Emory L. Coblentz,
of Frederick, majority floor leader
of the last House of Delegates, in
dorsing the bill.
James l.. Cary, representing the
Baltimore Federation of Churches,
presented resolutions adopted by the
federation, indorsing the Hall bill.
Mr.. Cary said he could not under
stand "why a fat policeman should
chase a boy around the corner for
shooting craps and then the finest
of the police force should be sent to
Pimlico to preserve order while
thousands of young people bet hun
dreds of thousand dollars on the
races" He said he next expected a
plan to legalize ball fights in Mary
land so that the breed Of cattle could
be improved in the State.
Representatives of Maryland Sun
day-School Association, the Minister
ai Union OF baltimore city, the
Maryland State Grange and other
such associations also spoke.
Opposition Is Manifested
Mr. Hall presided at the meeting,
during which Delegate Anothy il
Dimarco and Delegate Isidore Beier-
field, both of Baltimore city, interpo-
lated questions which indicated that
they did not favor the bill, to say
the least. Their questions brought
some sharp replies from those who
were pleading for the bill, and the
House chamber, which was COM
fortably filled by the delegation WHICH
the Rev. Mr.. Davis had brought down
to Annapolis, rang with applause
when the answers were made.