The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-08
CONSPIRACY BY GAMBLERS.
Remarkable Attempt to secure Bogus Leg
ialntIon IN Delaware,

WILMINGTON. Del. April -Attorney-Gen-
eral White and Deputy Cooper are Investigate
ing the peculiar methods by which a very re-
markable bill was sent to tho Governor Tor his
approynl. The bill was one. OF the shortest that
reached the Governor after the close oil the
session Of the General Assembly. but 1t was so
effectively loaded that had it become a law all
kinds OF gambling would have been practically
legalized In this State.
The Constitution Of 1897 forbade gambling.
and said The General Assembly shall en-
force this section by appropriate legislation"
On March | there was introduced in the State
Senate a bill intended to make the laws in re-
lation to gambling conform TO the constitu-
tional provision. 1t was passed without OBJ
lection. That was the last heard OF 1t until
several days after the General Assembly had
adjourned when the Governor found a bill in
his possession that read:
An act providing a penalty for the violation Of
section II OF Article II. of the amended Constitution.
BE II enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives OF the state of Delaware in General As
sembly met:
SECTION 1. That II any person shall violate any ofthe
provisions OF section II of Article II. OF the amended
Constitution of this State he. she. or II shall he fined.
after conviction therefor. q sum not exceeding $500
in any one year.
SEC. 2. All laws inconsistent with this act are
hereby repeal ed.
Passed at Dover March 13. 1899.
Then came the furry. The words " in any
one year" would have had the effect practically
OF providing for q license fee Of $500 each year
for every gambler who saw fit to go into bust
ness in this State. There could be only one
fine in any one year. and freedom from punish
ment was thus provided for. The investiga-
ton thus far has shown that the bill originally
drawn did not contain tho words in any one
year." and that they were added by some one
not authorized to do so. But that is not all.
There is n record in the Senate journal OF the
passage Of the original bill. but there is no rec
ord OF the bills having either gone through or
the original. bill was destroyed. that the Senate
indorsement was forged on the substituted bill.
that the House Endorsement was forged, that
the enrolment was not done by the. regular
clerk: and that the presiding officers OF the two
It's9 fno s'sRse x shs en Il %esn ei'' T Tlthoa sss es snsIrs
Dill was a forgery from beginning to end. SO far
as can be discovered This States officers are
trying to discover who were responsible for the
most brazen ATTEMPT to secure legislation ever
attempted In the State.
both houses. The trick was. discovered and. In
most drastic law Of the kind ever put upon the
statute books OF any state. 1t was written and
~ buried 6rs dt to a passage nssHEgos and nd. became !, a lay az inside
nor more thar. $4,000 and costs Of prosecution.
shal! be publicly whipped with not less than
ten nor more than thirty lashes. and shall also
be imprisoned not less than one nor more than
ten years.
For several years there have been covert at
tempts to- secure legislation favorable to
gamblers. but they have always failed. and the
manner in which the act now under investiga.
ton was pushed so as to get into the. hands OF
the Governor was the most remarkable in
stance Of the kind ever discovered. Prior to
the special session Of 1898 the passage OF an
act by the Legislature made, it an act. The
veto power was not placed in the hands OF the
Governor until tho Constitution OF 1897 was
promulgated