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■ 1 ■ 1 • I ■ ; S FARMERS TAKING A HAM REPEAL OF DIRECTORS LIABILITY LAW DEMANDED IN NEW YORK. Agricultural Societies of State Making Move That Is Independent of Jockey Club— Court Decision, Expected Soon, May Affect Situation. New York. January 22. — It is reported that the trotting horsemen will join hands with the managers of county fairs in this state in an effort to have the BS-called directors liability law repealed daring the present BesaiaH of the Legislature. These combined interests, it is said, will not act in conjunction with the owners of Jockey Club tracks. They are prepared to admit that trotting races cannot be successfully conducted without betting and that tin lair associations, which receive £250,000 annually from the state, cannot prevent speculation among individuals. The racing element is anxiously waiting for .1 decision by the Court of Appeals in tin- rase of a Buffalo man who was arrested a year ago for making a five dollar wager on a race at Jacksonville anil on conviction was sentenced to six month* in the pealteatJary. The case was argued befori the Court of Appeals on December 11. The point raised by the defendants attorneys was that as he did not record the bet the law was not violated. It is thought that the rear! may pass 011 the legality Of a personal wager under the new statutes. If it is decided that such a wager is not a violation of the law. it is said that the race-track owners in this state will not be afraid to open their gates even with the directors liability law remaining intact. The recent Albany meeting of the County Agricultural Societies, which are opposed to the present racing law. but which have been content to let the racing interests make all the tight in the past, m t ..nly indorsed the repeal of the directors liability law. but appointed a legislative committee to work at Albany this year for the purpose of a bill similar to the Cittins measure. The State Association of Agricultural Societies passed a ringing resolution in indorsing the repeal of the law and the Slate Association of Cnion Agricultural Societies appointed George I. Willier of Onoaeta, Carry Willard of Boonville. J. P. Clark of Bliighamteu. J. H. Walton of Palmyra. Fred church of Afton. Herbert Bernard of Schenectady and R. F. Chapptus of Dryden a special legislative committee to lobby for the passage of the measure. This committee will appoint a subcommittee to attend the sessions of the Legislature and convince the 1111 sabers that the repeal of the directors lia- bility law is aeaded for the saccess of the county fairs, and that tin movement is backed not by the racing interests, but by the most powerful agricultural societies of the state. "It has got so that a director of a fair BSSOCil lion jumps when he hears a lap on the door." said one of the county fair directors, in explaining the actien of the association. "He never can tell but what sosse man has sneaked behind the grandstand and made a bet. on a hoi se trot that has been seen by some "watch ami ward society, and when be opens the door he half expects to see the village constable ready to take him to jail for it." It is not known just what form the bill will take. but it is not likely that Senator Cittins will lie asled to introduce it. as the county fair men want to make it clear that this is their fight, and that the racing assort atloas have nothing to do with it.
