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PROPOSED NEW ORLEANS RACING ORDINANCE. One Significant Provision Limits Licenses to Citizens of Louisiana. New Orleans, La., October 23. The ordinance regulating race tracks, introduced in the council by Commissioner Lafaye, has been referred to Commissioner Newman. Mr. Newman said that it appeared to him a proper measure, and after lie had given it consideration he would probably report it favorably. Under the law it must lie over one week, and will come up for adoption at the next meeting of the council. The ordinance requires that officers and stockholders of any corporation applying for a permit to conduct horse racing must be citizens of Louisiana, and it provides how application must be made, and how opposition to the permit, if any, shall be heard. The ordinance prohibits racing except between "January 1 and Mardi Gras," and it also prohibits racing on Sundays and before noon or after 0 oclock on any day. The ordinance makes no exception for horse racing conducted at fairs, festivals or picnics, and, it is said, may prohibit any kind of horse racing at such affairs, unless it be amended before being adopted so as to make exceptions for this kind of public racing. The ordinance is as follows: "lie it ordained by the commission council of this city of New Orleans, that any person, firm or corporation desiring to conduct a public track whereon horses are raced, and desiring a license to conduct such business, in any locality within the city of New Orleans, prior to the issuance to him of any license by the municipal authorities, shall address a sworn petition to the commission council, which shall state the location of the place, the name and place of residence of the person, firm or corporation applying for the license, and, if a corporation, its officers and stockholders, and said petition shall contain allegations that such person or persons, or officers and stockholders of such corporation, are citizens of the state of Louisiana, law-abiding and of good moral character. "The said petition must be accompanied by the affidavit of two reputable citizens of this city, vouching for the truth of all allegations contained in the applicants petition as herein above specified. Notice of the filing of this petition, setting fortli the name of the applicant," the place where he intends to operate or locate his race track, must be published during ten days in a daily newspaper of the city, and, after such publication, upon due proof thereof, the commission council may proceed to pass upon said application. "The ordinance of the commission council granting such applicant such permission shall be applicants warrant for obtaining a license from the city treasurer. If, however, an opposition is filed to the applicants petition, the commission council shall hear the parties contradictorily, and dispose of the matter in a summary manner, and with as little delay as possible. "Section 2. Be it further ordained, than any person, firm or corporation that hereafter conducts any public track where horses are raced, who shall conduct such track without the permit or approval required by this ordinance, or who shall violate any of the provisions of this ordinance, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum of not less than 5, or imprisoned for not less than thirty days, or both, and. upon the second conviction of this ordinance, shall be permanently deprived thereafter of the privilege of conducting a public track where horses are raced. "Section 3. Be it further ordained, that horse racing upon public tracks shall not be held in the city of New Orleans, except during the period extending from the first of January to Mardi Gras day. both inclusive, and except between the noon hour ai.rt 6 p. in., and that horse racing upon public tracks is entirely prohibited upon Sundays. "Section 4. Be it further ordained, that no license shall issue to conduct such public track less than one mile in circumference within the city of New Orleans. "Be it further ordained, that all ordinances or parts of ordinances, if any, in violation of the provisions of this ordinance be and the same are hereby repealed."
