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s a BETTING QUESTION IN TENNESSEE. Leqislature Expected to Pass a Law Aqainst Handbooks and Let the Tracks Alone. The recent action of the house of lords and house of commons in piloting a measure through Ihe RngUah parliament prohibiting the making of so-called handbooks on Bngllxb borne racing has en- gasnd attention of legislators in Tennessee, some ol whom l K»k with favor on the sport as it has been conducted in Tennessee for more than half a century past. "From reports received from middle Tennessee there is every indication that, instead of an attack being made an Baal selling and horse racing itself during the hours of the comiug legislature, there will be an effort to show that all the damage done is by the knndheaka and down town poolrooms in the various cities where horse racing is fostered." says the Memphis Ccmmercial Appeal. "Fnder the present law of Tennessee it is asserted that any person can legally conduct a poolnx.m or handbook ill any town while there is racing within the state. This |HTinits the ordinary followers of racing to congregate in down town p laces and gamble to their hearts content. "A member of the so-called reform element that fought the racetrack people and Interests has been recently converted, it is said, and will endeavor to siiow in the legislature that so long as any of the looked ou evils of lictting on horse racing are confined to the racetrack that little damage will be done except to tln sc who dabble in the game. A measure will be looked for. it is said, to engage the attention of the assembly which may be voided* something like the measure that lias rei-ently passed both houses of parliament in Fngland and which roads like this: " "Any person freiiuenting or loitering in streets or public pi.ices on U-lialf of either himself or any other person, for the purpose of bookmaking or betthnjC or wagering, or agreeing to l et or wager, or paying, or receiving, or settling bets, shall on tirst conviction lie liable to a tine of £10 0, and for second conviction £29 00. In case a third or subsequent offense or in ease of a betting transaction with a person under the age of sixteen years the defendant is liable to tine and Imprisonment upon conviction on indictment. "Some members of tiie reform element are on record as stating that it is down town conditions during racing time in Memphis that aggravate non-patrons of racing. The tout, the colored hustlers and ragged regiment in general, say those who have watched the conditions, congregate on the sidewalk, blocking traffic to such an extent that ladies are forced to take the streets in order to pass. Language not exactly fitted for ladies or other ears also formed basis for complaint from those who were actively engaged in the recant attempt to knock the racetracks out ii this state and many are con-.■ verts now. An attempt will Ik- made to enact a measure which would confine all betting and con-. gregations for letting in the betting ring within the racetrack proper."
