The evening times., 1896-03-26

| DIR. Wilbur F. Crafts OF the National Bu-
reau OF Reforms was before the CoEmis-
sioncrs today to discuss House bill 6179,
which is duplicated in the Senate as No.
1866, and which provides for the organ
ization by 'any number OF persons not less
than five" OF a corporation for "raising
and breeding horses and for improving
breeds of horses" under prescribed condi-
| tions, in the District.
| Dr.. Crafts entered protest against
the bill upon the grounds that under its
provisions race gambling may be per-
mitted without interruption. He said that
on Friday last the bill would have passed
| the House but for the opposition made by
himself and others just before the meas
| ure was TO be passed upon. Members of
the committee OF the House having 1t under
| consideration had admitted he said, that
| they were not advised of the true scope
and intent of the bill. 1t was asked of the
advocates of the projected incorporation
whether or not gambling would be author
lied by the legislation. and the assurance
Was mat no such thing was in contempia-
| tion.
1t was pointed out by DR.. Crafts that
race gambling could be carried on with i'm
punity under the law, II enacted, and not
only so, but ANY number OF persons from
anywhere, gamblers driven from other
States. for instance, could come into the
District and establish a race course and
Ike books and side bets.
Besides he said, ..any corporatiOn
heretofore organized under any of The
States, or under the United States" could
enter the District and open up race track
gambling establishment. and i'll neither in
stance Isl necessary that the company shall
have District citizen among its incorpo-
rators. 1T is the New York system dis
guised," he added.
Sundry amendments were suggested by
DR.. Crafts. among others, the striking CIT
of the word stake" where it occurs and the
elimination of three entire sections, num-
Dered 4, 3, and 9, as to personal liza
bilty To prosecution. as 10 trials of speed
and the record In books or On sheets or
paper OF bets or wagcrs. A section is
added providing that nothing in the act
shall be construed rs changing existing
laws against bookmaEing and gambling.
AGAINST THE TELEPHONE.
The Commissioners again registered their
dissent of tile proposition to grant tie
Home Telephone Company a District fran
chisc. this time yctuing the modified bin
In the report upon the measure tho board
says: Many OF the provisions of the hill
are taken from the Commissioners sub
way b!ll, heretofore recommended to Con-
grcsS, and IN those respects it is an improve
mrnt upon the bin heretofore introduced
in the interest of that company and all sim
liar bills.
The Commissioner bill provided. how
ever. TO sell to the highest bidder. for Il
period Of thirty years, what this bill pro-
poses TO grant to the Home Telephone Com
pany. for period or fifty years, as
gratuity.
This is a new company" they claim,
''ha wing no existing plant or vested rights
in the District. and it is difficult TO under
dcrstand upon what theory it claims so
valuable privilege"
The Commissioners forwarded with their
report copy OF a communication filed
with them by the company setting forth its
claims.
Mr. II. u. Walhrdge. one Of the largest
property owncrs through whose lands the
proposed Mount Pleasant and Zoo Gravity
RailrCld i 10 pas., in case the pro iect shall
suCCCcu was at the municipal building
today to enter n protest in his own be-
half and thr of others in his section. gainst
approval Of the plan by the District au-
thOriticS.
Mr. Walbridge sa VS. that Gen. Swain. Hon.
a. NJ. clapp and others have written let
tiers Condemnlng the proposition, and he
is himself decidedly opposed to it..
what we want said Mr. WalbridCe to
Commissioner Ross. 'is railway sys.
TEN that Will pick up passenger at the
navy yard or on East Capitol street, either |