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A CLOSE THING IN LOUISIANA. New Orleans. La., May 2:,. — Next week will witness the fate of ihe Bernhardt racing commission bill now before the legislature at Baton Rouge. Doth sides are preparing for the struggle. New Oil. -aus merchants will throng the capital Tuesday or Wednesday in a demonstration to show that the business interests of the Crescent City want Me return of legitimate s|su-i pro erly safe guarded. They will appear before the House City Affairs Committee and urge Ihe passage of the ■ •ill. This committee, which is composed of New Oilcan-- members of the House, will give Ihe measure a favorable report. Thai mill h is now certain and agreed. Kilt il is -.in tin- nour oi the House that the tight will come. Ieril C. Claiborne, of New Koads. one of ihe most eloquent members of the lower house, will -.peak for ihe measure and declare thai the Democratic Good Government League, which now ■li iiiiiin ; .-s tin- state government, having elected Governor I.. K. Hall, made bis campaign on the ilelaraliou for Democrat ic house rule and for the referendum and recall. Tin- Bernhardt bill embodies all these principles. It provides for a referendum of the people of New Orleans ns to whether they shall vote back the races, ami. if ai any time they become dissatisfied, on demand of twenty percent of the electorate, tiny can order an election to again obliterate it. As now polled, the House is extremely close. Ad vacates of the bill have a go nl fighting chance and both Charles K. Eabarre and E. J. Bernhardt believe they will earn it in the House. On the other hand. Archbishop Blenk and the churches are lined up solidly and wilL send a powerful lobby to Batoa Kouge to defeat the bill. Button Rouge. La., May 2:;. — There is a differ race of opinion among the supporters of the Bernhardt racing commission bill as to the most desirable procedure lo be followed when the measure cornea back to the House from committee. Bepre sen tat ive Beinhardt favors speeches in support of the bill, while Representative I.abarre is opposed to thai plan. Mr. Bernhardt believes that speeches will help Ihe bill, but Mr. I.abarre favors moving tin- previous question when the bill is placed on final passage, thus cutting off all debate. •Tin- bill will be talked lo death if a speech fest is started." Mr. Eabarre said, •anil I am op |-osed to thai policy. Eel us call the roll and stop the How of talk." "We will give them all the lime they want," said Bepresentative Locke of Calasien, the tender of Ihe opposition. "We will agree to set aside one whole dav for them if they wnnl it. We will agree lo make ii Legislative Derby Day lor the racing advocates ami permit them to talk to their hearts content, for we Know that will Ik about as near to the restoration of racing as tiny will ever get. Wi- are conscious of our strength in ibe House, and we know thai We will kill the bill." Representative Reinliardt takes exceptions to the statements of Mr. Locke about the racing bill. 1 notice." Mr. Reinliardt said, "that Mr. Eicke Claims that there would be about as much sense in attempting to rehabilitate the old Louisiana lol li-ry through a referendum as there is in attaching a referendum In the lining commission lull. Thai is one of the many arguuiHiits against the bill Unit is used for effect. 1 know that it is a question among lawyers whether ihe courts would decide that a pari mutiiel machine is a gambling device any more than they would an individual who may bold different wagers on any proposition. As to Hie question of ihe legality of the n ft nudum ami recall, tin- legal profession differs in that respect. Eel Mr. Locke be equally as fair as myself and my friends have been in this matter. We light in t le open. There is nothing to hide and nothing I" In- ashamed of on my part." Archbishop Blenk. of New Orleans, who has been one of the im. si vigorous opponents of ibe various movements to restore racing in the stale, is active in opposition to the Beinhardt bill.
