Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-24

hearing of said case in the Court Of Appeals
shall be paid by said railroad company
Sec 4. That the District Commissioners
shall have the power to permit the use of
the tracks OF the Metropolitan Railroad
Company by other railroad companies in
the said District upon such terms and
conditions as said Commissioners shall
deem just, to the end that the greater
convenience of the public may be subserved
without the duplication or unnecessary in
crease of railroad tracks in the business
and residence portions of the cities Of
Washington and Georgetown. II either
party is dissatisfied with the compensation
for such use so fixed by the Commissioners,
the compensation may be determined by
the District Court of the United States
for the District of Columbia; provided that
to all street railroad companies now or
hereafter operated within the District of
Columbia.
The Race Track Bill Lost.
A rather warm controversy ensued upon
the consideration of the bill to permit
pool selling at race tracks within the
District for eighteen days in each year.
Mr.. Hayes of Iowa stood sponsor for the
bill and was closely cross-questioned by
Mr.. Burroughs and others for the purpose
of eliciting the fact that this bill is to
permit gambling at certain times and that
the passage of it is not at all necessary
II.
Bourke Cochran said: Mr.. Speaker, as
understand the purpose of this legislation
II is to give certain privileges in the way
OF gambling to certain race tracks. Now,
/ have not any objections myself-at least
none that / care to discuss now--to the
general principle of bookmaking, but
never could recognize the propriety of al
lowing persons to make bets upon one
spot, treating bookmaking in that place
as the legitimate exercise of a commercial
instinct, while making it felony TO do the
same thing within a stones throw. Of that
spot. The Ives pool law in New York has
legalized pool selling and bookmaking on
certain race tracks, and my colleague CMr
CampbelD says that law is highly approved
by the Coney Island race track, the Je-
rome Park race track and every other race
track in New York"
Mr.. Campbell-"Of good reputation"
Mr.. Cockran-"Yes; every race track of
good reputation 1 will add that, and
may say that l know of no race track
that is not of good reputation they are
all, all honorable race tracks, laugh
ter1
But 1 do know that the Ives pool law
of the state of New York is a measure of
doubtful constitutionality. 1t is a measure
which the race tracks have never yet been
willing to submit to the arbitrament of a
court. ] do say that ii is repugnant to
the sense of justice of every person whose
conception Of law is based on the principles
Of Anglo-Saxon Jurisprudence, TO find that
a thing which is made felony by the law
in one spot is made innocent In another
i do know that men have been arrested
in the city of New York for registering a
bet, ana for that act have been exposed
to the pains and penalties of felony when
they could have recorded the same bet
within three-quarters of a mile of where
they stood and have defied the law, or at
least have secured exemption from its
operations.
In this matter, as in reference to other
propositions to change our statutes, 1 stand
of q lffxy
before the law of all citizens everywhere.
IF ii be proper TO bet at Benning, IL is
equally proper to bet on Capitol Hill. If IL
be proper to make betting felony in this
District. / do not recognize the right of
Congress to license felony anywhere. and
protest emphatically against measure
which enables private corporation 10 IL
cense felony. This measure allows me- IL 1
pay admission to a race track, TO indulge in
the luxury OF betting and in the freest ex-
ercise of the betting instinct. 1 am opposed
to granting to any institution or corpora
ton or individual any license or privilege
cannot be extended equally to all other cit
liens. For that reason hope this measure
will not prevail" (Applause)
After some further debate the bill was de-
feated by a vote of 81 noes to ca ayes
Water Main Assessment Bill Passed.
The bin relating to water main assess
ments was then passed. 1t is as follows:
That hereafter assessments levied for lay
ing water mains in the District of Columbia
shall be at the rate of sl.25 per linear front
foot against all lots or land abutting upon
the street, road or alley in which a water
main shall be laid: Provided. That corner
lots shall be taxed only on their front, with
a depth of not exceeding 100 feet; any ex-
cess of the other front over 100 feet shall
be subject to the above rate of assessment:
And provided further, That in all cases now
pending where assessments have been regu-
iarly made, and where there has not been
paid sum equal to Sl.23 per linear foot. as
estimated above, then only SO much shall
be collected as will make the whole sum
paid equal to si.25 per linear foot. But this
act is not intended to give any ground of
action for the refunding of any sum already
paid in excess of $l.25 per linear foot
The House then adjourned.