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MINISTERS SEE EVIL IN THE RACING BILL. Withdraw Support of New York Anti-Racing Meas-- ure Its Defeat Is Expected at Albany. New York, Marcli 17. The Lanslng-Cassldy Bill penalizing betting within race track inclosures as well as outside of them in this state has scant chance of becoming a law. The props were practi-. cally knocked from under the measure at the hearing before the codes committee of the Legislature at Albany, Wednesday, and the opposition is daily gathering strength. At the hearing on Wednesday, It was brought out that the bill had Its origin .through an intimation to Rev. WJIuur E. .Crafts, of Washington, that Governor iligglhs would favor such a measure if introduced. -With the assistance of Anthony Comstock the bill was drawn and presented to Senator Cassidy and Assemblyman Lansing for introduction. At the outset the measure had the support of Bishop William Doane, of All Saints Cathedral, Albany, Rev. Thomas R. Sheer, of All Souls Church, this city, and other leading ministers and members of reform leagues and so-cities for the suppression of vice. Bishop Doane, on Wednesday, declared himself as emphatically opposed to the provisions of the bill and at the same time Rev. SHcer withdrew his support. These gentlemen were convinced that evil influences had inspired the bill and were operating to secure its passage through a spirit of revenge and the hope of profit ultimately. It was not shown that the, suggestion to Dr. Crafts had come directly from De Lacey or any other poolroom man, but It was shown that the poolroom men had expressed a willingness to to expend a vast amount to secure the passage of the bill. It was shown that under such a law the condition of affairs would be even worse than now; that while there would be no betting at the tracks the poolroom keepers and handbook men would be no less bold in violating the law than at present, and that there would certainly be more gambling in these places. "On investigation I found that this lull, if adopted, would tend to corrupt the morals of the community rather than improve them," says Rev. SHcer. "I so reported to the committee and they gave me power to use my discretion in the matter. I withdrew my support of the measure and I think the committee will stand by my decision. Mr. Auerbach, attorney for the Jockey Club, approached me, and as a result of our talk an agreement was drawn up in which the stewards of the Jockey Club agree to do all in their power to suppress gambling, both in the city and at the racetracks: The further terms of the agreement I cannot discuss." The Jockey Club, it is said, may undertake this season to withhold the announcement of the entries until the morning of the day on which the races are to be run and to prevent the transmission of results by wire or phone until after the entire program for the day has been decided. This would, in a great measure, lessen the interest in betting in handbooks and poolrooms. It is not improbable that tills is a part of the agreement referred to by Dr. Sheer.
