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•h 1 + FRIENDS OF RACING IN LOUISIANA ACTIVE + + The legislative correspondent of the New Orleans Times-Democrat and Daily PJcaynae writes his paper l roui Baton Rouge, as follows: "Two of the biggest legislative contests that will "Ceur during tbe session developed on the opening • lay of the General Assembly. The contests grew out of notices tbat were given in tbe House of Che introduction of two bills, one by Representative Keinhardt of New Orleaus providing for the restoration of racing at New Orleans, and the other by Representative Sebvving of their Ille, providing for the gaaraat] Of bank deposits. ■airying out bis declaration that he iulendcd lo force" tbe lighting over the racing ipie-lion. Kep res. illative Ki-iubaiitt gave notice Die moment tbat Speaker Tbaaaaa called for notices of bills, tbat be will at once Introduce bis racing commission bill and will ask that ii lie referred to the Committee on Affairs of the City of .New Orleans. Following t In- notice of the bill. Representatives Keinhardt and I.abarre liegan arorfc in the House to aecaie support. "Reports having been circulated around the Capitol tbat the opponents of the raehag bill would attempt lo kill the bill at the outset by the indefinite neetpeaeaseal route. Messrs. keinhardt and I.abarre bestirred themnerres with the view of forcing a roll call on any effort to strangle I he bill. The secured over forty pledges from members tbat they would deaaaaa a roll call and force a record vote. Ball calls are not reipiiretl on tno tbsaa t" indefinitely posipone bills unless tweniy fnu member- demand it. •The two Orleans members secured more than enough pledges lo compel a registered vote on a motion to collect the bill. Mr. Kcinhardt -aid thai he will present to the House a petition containing between 12.000 and 14.000 signatures memorializing the Legislature to pass his bill. ■ Eighty per cent of the people of New Orleans." Mr. Keinhardt said, "favor tbe restoration of vac iug. and the Legislature might to give the people what they want. You can take it from me tbat there will lie a roll call on my bill, and that we will have a showdown on the racing issue. I went into this tight after careful consideration, and 1 am in it to a linish." "Mr. Bernhardt said he would not oppose- Mr. La-barres amendment to his bill providing for a referendum election in Orleans parish on the restoration of lacing. "I know, he said, "that the people waul racing, and if the Legislature sees tit to tack a referendum amendment to my bill. 1 will not oppose it. I will trust the folks at home when the election is held. "While the advocates of racing were busy I be opponents of the Keinhardt bill were not permitting any grass to grow under their feet. They began a poll of the House- for the purpose of sounding the sentiment of the asesabera toward the bill. fence-senlative l-i iedinaii of Natchitoches was one of the active opponents of the bill. He fought the Labarre racing bill when it was introduced at tin- lasi ses sion and a Belated Representative Locke of Calcasieu in securing pledges agaitist that measure. Mr. Friedman saiii today that in bis opinion. I In- Beta hard! bill would not stand tlie ghost ot a slew in the House. He thought it was a waste of time for the House to consider il. Kepreseiitalive Locke of Calcasieu lias in his pes-ession the written pledges of tifty-six members of the House who signed an agreement at tile last session to vote to kill any racing bill that might lie introduced, and in addition to the written pledges, Mr. Locke secured tbe verbal pledges of eleven other members tbat they would oppose any racing legisla lion. Mr. Locke said he regarded the injection of the racing issue into this session as ill-timed and unfortunate. ""One of the interesting features of the contest over the ratbag bill is thi- attitude of some of the country members. Several of tbe country representatives show an inclination to refer the matter to the voters of New Orleans by the adoption of a referen ilum amendment. This element is showing a disposition to vote a referendum amendment on the ground that racing is a local question that can be settled by the parishes. Representative DuPont of Terrebonne said tislay that he was inclined to vote to get rid of tbe whole issue by referring the racing qitc-s tion to the people of New Orleans. If New Orleans wants racing, said Mr. Du Iont, I am willing to let them have it. 1 have decided not to oppose a referendum amendment.
