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NEW YORK LEGISLATIVE ACTION. Albany. N. Y.. May 4. — There was a three-hours debate over the Agnow -Perkins bills in the Senate yesterday, when two of the three bills were amended, line was interpreted to include in its prohibition betting odds on boat races, football, baseball and amateur s|x rts. The third was the s-ubject of a bitter discussion, when, at five oclock in the afternoon, the presiding officer of the Senate brought the debate t, a sharp termination with the announcement that it would be taken up at some later date. This latter measure pr ivides that trustees of racing associations and owners of buildings shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if anyone is found guilty of gambling on premises owned or controlled by them. First of the bills to come up was the one designed to prevent the publication of betting ixlds. In its original form it made it a misdemeanor for a newspaper or other publication to publish anv reference to betting ixids on sporting events of anv kind. Senator Agnew presented an amendment which, he said, was designed to have the law apply only to tlie publication of professional odds on liorse races. Senator Nowcoinh then proposed an amendment to another of the bills, reading as follows: "RiH k making referred to in this section shall mean the laying of odds or publishing of ixlds to all comers or to the public." This amendment was adopted by a vote of 2ti to 111. An amendment prooosed by the .I,x-key Club representatives to strike out the words "with or without writing" and substitute the words "prepare by writing or other record and display lists or memorandum of ixlds offered to be lief was defeated by 20 to 21 after an hours debate today. Following a conference with Jovernor Hughes. Senator Neweonib succeeded ill having the Senate strike out his amendment made yesterday and the measure was passed in the form which prohibits bookniaking "with or without writing." Todays action was forced by Covernor Hughes after it had been tacitly agreed that the measures would go over until next week. The vote on its. passauc was :ll to IS, with Senators Alt. Stilwell and Sullivan, all opposed to the bill, absent. Ry all the speakers of yesterday it was made clear that the law was in no sense designed to interfere with private lietting. The bill, which would hold trustees of racing associations equally guilty with persons who violate the law on the premises, came up and it precipitated a bitter debate. "This is absurd." said Senator Grady. "Suppose I am a director of a racing association and I never visit the track and know- little alxuit the companys affairs. Now. if Pete. Jim and Jach should do a little lietting off by the barn and were arrested. I would bo guilty also. This proides that no matter If the racing association has posted up signs saving rambling is prohibited and has hired apactal patter to prevent lietting. he is guilty of a misdemeanor and can lie sent to jail if some one is caught betting. Whv. If you had a thousand nnllri BUB vou might still lx- found guilty of violating the law. Tate law is absurd." When rbe Senate met after recess this afternoon the Aimicw bill previding that trustees and directors of racing associations be made liable for permitting gambling within their race courses was taken up. Senator Crady moved to recommit and offered an aim iidiueiit which struck out that portion of the Ag-i -w bill makiiiL them liable. His amendment was losi bv acclamation. "This bill without the amendment will hold trustees of racing associations responsible for gambling which may be done without their knowledge." exclaimed Senator Crady. "It will place these rr—toa on the same plane with a blackleg with his oilcloth faro layout, who might invite vou up to his rooms." After I heated discussion, the measure passed the Senate bv a vote of M to S. Adjournment interfered with the passage of the P"ikins bill to amend the ixiinl rode in relalioo _aming and betting i stablisbmeiits. This bill fixing responsibility on trustees and directors is the measure that was most feared bv the racing interests. It is the one bill that gix-s into i ff -ct at -e. and may result in the declaring off of sjuic of the meetings of ibis season.
