Evening star., 1938-02-26
VIRGINIA BETTING
MEASURE KILLED
Pari-MutueI Bill Left at Post
After Three Foes
Speak.
BY the Associated Press.

OHCdks
BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 26.-The
biennial effort to legalize pari-mutuel
betting on horse races in Virginia
which made its way to the legislative
barrier only this week-was left at
the post yesterday by the House Gen.
eral Laws Committee.
The twin bills to set up a Virginia
Racing Commission and to legalize
betting at tracks under local option
elections were passed by indefinitely
after two ministers and q representa-
tive of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union heatedly attacked
them.
The committee action was the
speediest death meted racing legisla-
tion since similar bills put In their
appearance four sessions ago. Both
Of them got by the House in 1884, but
the Senate applied the ak. In 1886
one Of the measures passed the lower
branch, but the other was allowed to
die on the House calendar.
Measures Called Vicious.
Most vehement of the three who
spoke In opposition to the racing bills
was the Rev. A. P. Williams, pastor Of
Barton Heights Methodist Church,
who termed them the most vicious,
terrible bills ever introduced"
Scofing at the proposed local option
clause-providing that track could
be set up and pari-mutuel betting al
lowed only after the local electorate
had given its approval-Mr. Williams
said it would be impossible to restrict
the attendant gambling to Fauquier
County or Princess Anne County ''or
any other section where a track might
be established"
AS to the stipulation in the pari-
mutuel measure that IS per cent Of
all profits accruing to the State must
go toward support of the States ele-
mentary schools, Mr.. williams said:
Il would rather have my children
grow up and die in Ignorance than to
be educated by gambling revenues"
Undesirables Cited.
The Rev. j. D. McAllister, pastor of
Hilton Village Methodist Church, re-
quested the committee to make short
shrift of this biennial blight" He
said passage Of racing legislation
would bring q horde Of undesirables
trooping through our State to become
q curse upon us and double curse
upon the localities where the tracks
would be established"
Mrs. Martha N. BrookinRs. lerisla.
tive representative Of the State w. c.
T. u, the third opponent, said The
majority of Virginians, not only the
church people, but others as WE'LL"
were opposed to the bills.
The committee reported favorably
the Apperson Senate bill to broaden
the powers Of the State veterinarian in
ordering tests for Bangs disease
among dairy cattle.
A delegation from Fairfax County
appeared in opposition to the measure
and spokesmen denied the contention
OF DR.. H. @. Givens. State veterinarian.
that the disease among cattle was a
cause of undulant fever among hu-
mans who drink the milk from in
fected cattle.
Peril to Dairymen Seen.
wallace Carper, member Of the
Board Of Supervisors in Fairfax
County, said passage Of the measure
would ruin many of the small dairy
men in Northern Virginia by forcing
them to destroy diseased cattle.
People in our back sections are
drinking raw milk from these herds
ana I can assure you that so per cent
OF them are drinking milk from in
1ected cattle" Mr.. Carper said.
He added he had never had undu-
liant fever and he and his wife had
been drinking raw milk for years.
The committee amended the bill.
however, to make violation of the act
IN regard to tests and destruction of
diseased cattle, under order OF the
State veterinarian, misdemeanor.
with the penalty OF fine of from 81 so
to $500 instead Of 500 to $500 IS
originally specified.