Evening star., 1934-02-18
HEARING ON D. c.
RACE BILL FRIDAY
Commissioners to Ascertain
Sentiment Before Report
to Congress.

The question of whether horse and
dog racing should be permitted in
the District, as proposed in meas
ure sponsored by Representative
Black of New York, will be debated
at a public hearing before the Dis
trict Commissioners beginning at
1890 am. Friday. in the board room
of the District Building.
The date for the hearing was an
nounced by Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen when he informed Chairman
Mary T. Norton of the House District
Committee that the Commissioners
believed they should obtain public
sentiment on the question before max
ing a report to Congress on the bill.
Commissioner Hazen personally
likes horse racing, but he said this
was not to be taken as to his atti-
tude as to whether he would sponsor
licensing of race tracks in the Dis
trict. He indicated the Commits
sioners would be guided by a show
ing Of local sentiment.
Supported by Haren.
Commissioner Hazen, who main
tains a residence in Virginia, has
written to Virginia authorities sup
porting legalization Of betting on
horse races in that State. Racing
now is permitted in Virginia but
betting is not and Mr.. Hazen believes
this should be done so as to pro-
vide for a control over the situation.
Mr.. Hazen said he had been in
formed that doping of race horses Is
a rather popular practice at some
places in Virginia and for this reason
he favors the Virginia betting legiS-
lation so as to extend control over
the race tracks.
The Federation of Citizens As
sociations voted, "a to Z, last night in
disapproval of proposed legalization
of racing in the District There was
a long debate on the subject.
Held Crooked.
Horse racing" said Fred S. Walker,
ais crooked throughout. A man who
bets on a race is really betting that
he can pick which member of the pool
is going to be allowed to win"
Horse racing" said Allan Davis,
principal of Roosevelt High School, is
a temptation to the young. When I
was a boy I lived in the country,
and at the county fairs 1 saw the
farmers come in with load of wheat,
sell the wheat, and leave all of their
money with the three-card monte or
the shell game men. That cured me
of playing the other mans game.
Our city boys and girls have not the
benefit of the same experience. They
are unsophisticated. 1t would be a
great mistake to allow horse racing
here"
This" said Harry N. Stull. chair
man Of the Education Committee, lis
simply an attempt to throw this town
wide open. Horse racing is controlled
by a very low class of people. I am
not saying that there are no good
people who go to races, but they are
controlled by low class people"
Crowded Cars.
when we had horse racing here, >
said j. S. Driggers, 'it was nuis-
ance. The street cars near Bennine
were crowded with a very low clas;
of people"
'If there had been anything gooc
in it," said A. H. Gregory, treasurer
cit would never have left Benning
"HaTe de Grace" said Lewis Gelb-
man, "is as pretty town as you coulc
wish to see. Racing does not seem tc
have harmed it"
II think we should favor it because
of the revenue it would bring to the
District" said Miss Eta Taggart.
On the vote the five women Of the
federation split three against and one
(Miss Taggart) for. One did not vote