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WILL CALL UP BILL SOON FRIENDS OF - GITTINS MEASURE CREDITED WITH HAVING MADE CONVERTS. Interest in Proposed Legislation Relieving Directors of Racing from Personal Responsibility for Betting Is Keen at Albany. Albany, N. Y., September 7. One needs to talk with lawmakers and others hereabout only a short time to realize that the interest in the so-called racing bill the Gittins measure far eclipses that taken in any other topic, not excepting lhe New York City charter. And while those who fought for the bill at the regular session only to see it fail of passage in the Assembly decline to make roseate predictions, many say they believe the bill stands a chance of passage. Assemblyman Martin, of Saratoga, who was one of the leaders in the fight for the Gittins bill last spring, is quoted as saying: "1 have been great encouraged by the canvass among the members of the Assembly. The outlook Is that we can get the necessary seventy-six votes. Of course, conditions change, but it looks to me now as if the thing will go through with Hying colors. There undoubtedly has been a marked change in sentiment. It has come since the public came fully to realize that the Gittins bill is not vicious and merely relieves race track owners and directors from the operations of an entirely unjust law. "It is hard to tlnd anyone who does not admit that the present directors liability law is unjust, and yet many of the lawmakers arc afraid to vote to repeal it because of a fear that they will by doing so appear as friends of gambling, and will, therefore, be marked men in their districts. I shall certainly bring the matter up soon, and as things look-at present, I believe it will pass." Assemblyman Alfred E. Smith, leader of the majority, said: "I expect the Gittins bill will coine lip. What will happen to it I cannot tell. But 1 can say that if they can show mc that there are seventy-six Assemblymen ready to vote for it the bill will go through without the slightest delay." The Gittins bill passed the Senate just before the end of the regular session, and consequently will not have to go through that body again. Since the recess was taken, July 22, friends of racing have been active, and it is evident that they have made f many converts to their cause. There is much specu-llation as to what Governor Dix would do in ease t he Gittins measure should go through the Assembly. He has not indicated what -his attitude would be, but tiie fact that he lives near Saratoga and likes racing, lias caused some of the friends of the bill to believe that he would sign it. Persons who are closely associated with him. however, express the belief that the governor would veto the bill.
