Evening star., 1894-04-04
Its Father Would Not Recogniz.
This Bill as Passed.
RACE TRACK MEASURE AMENDED
Mr.. Allen Knocks Out All Pool
Selling.
L 81 E d ETA ALLIED VOTE


this afternoon. The now famous race track
bill, which has passed through many changes
In committee and in Senate, was passed by
vote of 81 to IL, but so amended that its
friends and progenitors would never recog-
n:ze it, Senator Allen at interesting
juncture secured consideration for an amend
meat which permits racing at the local
tracks, but prohibits bookmaking This
amendment was carried, "a to p, and then
the bill was passed.
This result was entirely unexpected, and
was a great shock to Senator Blackburn
and other friends OF the bill Shortly after
o'clock Senator Mcmillan announced ihat
the objections of Mr.. Mcpherson raised yes
terday had been withdrawn. and asked that
the bill be considered by the Senate. Mr.
Teller was inclined TO object, and thought
that the amendment constituting the COM
mite substitute ought to be printed. Mr.
MCMILLAN and Mr.. Harris explained the bill
| briefly, and Mr. Teller withdrew his OBJ
lection. Mr.. PETER said that he thought Il
proper that he should explain why he had
objected to the bill on Monday. He was not
sufficiently familiar with the nomenclature
| of the race track to express himself INTEL
! hgently, but he could see that the bill
| proposed 10 relieve two classes OF gamblers
| from the operations of the existing statutes.
Mr.. PETER Protests.
Il do not feel it my duty to sit quietly
| by and allow this to be done without q
protest. / don't think the respectable
gambler should be shielded from the opera
tons of law. while send to prison the
little fellows who operate in hotel corri-
ders and on the street corners. I don't
think should be harsh on the man who
CANDLES in dollars while we shield the
man who goes into the thousands or the
millions"
| Horse Races Denounced.
Senator Gallinger took the floor to call
attention TO the minority report of the
committee. He did not think that the pres
ent bill as finally amended by the commit
tee substitute in anywise overcomes the
objection raised in that report. The re-
| pert was read at lergth from the desk
| and Mr.. Gaiiinger continued:
| we have in the District of Columbia a
very efficient law against gambling, and
the vice Of gambling has been reduced 10
a minimum under its operation. The law
! operates to prohibit not only bookmaking
but other games Of chance; poker. and
| perhaps, other games in which, perhaps,
| other Senators may be mere familiar than
myself. But now il is proposed TO allow
| a KIND OF gambling which Will be INDUCED
| in by society men and women. IL is a WE'LL
known fact that not more than one out OF
enc hundred horse races is honest. i ven-
ture to say that there is more vice commit
| ted at one horse race by these wealthy
gamblers than by all of the poor men of
the District of Columbia IN one year. I
do not believe the people of the District are
or that they desire bookmaking, as permit
| ted by this law. In other parts OF the
country just the opposite move has been
made. New Jersey has driven from its
borders these msn who came here last fan
| and tried to establish winter racing in the
| District. Other states have done the same"
| He Goes Further.
"wi.l the Senator tell me-" interrupted
Senator Blackburn. IN what other states
racing has baea prch.b.tedg"
Il cannot tell ofr-hand." responded Mr..
Ga.lrger. without reference 10 the stat
utes, but i know such action has been
| taken by my own state. by Connecticut
| and by other states. These men driven from
New Jersey came here. as 1 say, and the
very track which they propose TO OCCUPY
is here inser.ed in the bill This bill allows
racing as late December Is. Even rec
ing men admit that that is too late. and
II is practically winter racing. / read an
| editorial in The Star Of last evening bearing
on this question which / heartily indorse."
| The Senator here read the editorial IN
question. Il go further than the editor OF
| The Star, and oppose the bill in toto"
Mr.. Lodge asked If the present law does
not ECw practically prohibit bookmaking.
Mr.. Gallinger said that was the case,
and in response to a further question by
Senator Lodge stated that this law would
be overturned by the passage of the pend
ing bill
| Successful Flank Movement.
Then it was that Senator Allen made his
successful move. He said he believed the
bill ought not to pass amended. and he
thereupon dictated an amendment which in
effect would provide that race meetings
may be held only between April I and De-
cember ! in the District of Columbia n
each year. and shall not be longer than
eighteen days each. Mr. Allen went on 70
say that that would leave the present law
in regard to gambling just IL is now and
would absolutely prohibit booSmaking. SEN
ator Blackburn. i'm response TO a sugges-
~s.r, Ar-A
tions in question are not organized under
the laws of the District, but are chartered
by act of Congress. Mr. Allen retorted that
he knew no reason why Congress should
legalize gambling, either al a card table or
at race track. In response 10 a question
by Mr.. Mcpherson he assured the Senate
that his amendment would prohibit pod
selling anywhere in the District OF Colum-
bia under any circumstances.
The Vote.
The roll was then called on Mr. Aliens
amendment and it was soon apparent that
the vote would be very close. After TIE
first call several Senators came into the
chamber and announced their vote, and
there was a pause of couple Of minutes.
The tally stood 20 TO 20-a tie vote and less
than a quorum. Then others came. Senator's
Bates and Berry voted and Mr.. Pasco made
the quorum. Just at this point Senator
Morgan entered the chamber and was
greeted by cries of Vote yea. Morgan. and
mo. no: vote nay" Senator Blackburn
voiced the negative. aided by Senators But
Ter and Vest, and Mr.. Frye and Mr.. Cock
rill tried to persuade the Alabama Senator
to favor the amendment. Torn by these
: conflicting sentiments. MIR Morgan sat Gown
and refused to vote at all. The chair then
, announced the vote - to II, as follows:
: In the aftirmative-Senators Aldrich. AL
len, Berry. Chandler, Cocl1reil. Coke. Dolph.
Frye, Gallinger. George, Kyle. Lodge, Nc
: Pherson, Mills, Mitchell OF oregon, Morrill,
Pasco, PETER. Perkins. Pettigrew. Plat.
: Proctor. Roach and Teller In the negative
Senators Bate, Blackburn, blanchard.
. Brice. Butter, Call, Camden, Davis, Gibson,
German, Harris. Hunton. Jones Of Arkan-
sas. Mcmillan, MsndersOn. Martin. Mitchell
OF Wisconsin. Power, Ransom, Stewart and
Vest.
The question then came on the passage OF
the bill as amended. Mr.. Blackburn caIlec
, for the yeas and nays, ana Mr.. Harris
. asked him 10 withdraw this request, but he
persisted In IL. and the yeas and nays were
ordered. The bin was passed-52 to IL, just
a quorum.
| Personal Mention.
N - h-u