New-York tribune., 1908-03-09
TIE WEEK IN ALBANY.
Gambling Bills Nay Pass assembly
Fate Rests IN Senate.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune.

Albany. March S.--Nith the Assembly likely 10
pass the Governors ant-racetrack gambling iesis-
latlon this week. or at least advance 1t well on It's
road 10 passage. Of those measures seems
rest in the Senate. More particularly does it lie
in the Senate committees Codes and Judiciary
latter which consistently deed the Governor
in the Kelsey case.
II indications the careful calculation Of shrewd
observers and equally careful and detailed work oy
racing people and their friends the gamblers nav.
not gone astray is preparing to de1y .he
Governor also HIS anti-gambling recoHihehu"
ton. The prediction made by one senator 'o
night that racing people could summon I'D ue''
aid twenty-seven votes, and If necessary ano.he'
now considered held in reserve fhe pom u'ey
have taken privately is not unlike the rol, eau vi
tho original Kelsey vote which also totaiied TWEEN
tv-seven. although its personnel IN some Pa'''
lars is different
Three under consideration pS 'e 20
ing people who are going ahead as If they were
certain Of success Tie one weak point III '
plans is that they exhibiting indecs'on as -
what method to use 10 themselves of TINS 'rou
besome legislation and that indicates 10 Sol'e VI"
thev may not he certain or victory aS thes "
pretending to be They hesitatlns between hi:i
ing the bills in committee reporting them ana XIII
ing them the floor Or doing them 10 oea'' ~
ena sculatiuG amendments
The bills will come up for action III 'he ASSEM-
biy Codes Committee when that nooy l'oe'' ~
"Wednesday. Assembyman Murphy, It's chsi'r'hA'''
will urge that they be reported. lhere Is ho ~
doubt that his committee will stand with hin' Al
+t,o,,, II IL nossbIe that some member may have
shifted his position since the end OF last week l.
for some reason the committee will not report 'A
bills Mr. Murphy has told friends he VIII move OH
Tho floor of the House that his committee be dis
charged This Is drastic action-alrnost uhpreo-
edented-for chairman to ask the House thus 10
discinline his committee effect in this particu-
lar case would almost certainly be the discharge o
the committee. and even those legislators oPposed
the bills admit that once before the hsse"is
there will be little to stop their passage, athougH
the racing interests may make hard hght ana
cause confusion and delay by dhatory iaetics
and amendments Governor Hughes's vigorous diS-
course in New York and the reaction attendant on
ex-Governor Blacks remarkable pro-gaihoiihs
speech have practically rendered it certain that
bills Will pass the lower house once cohsiueIeo
the gambling peoples stronghold
In the Senate the situation is considerably ar
ferent. The racing people have devoted almost az
of their attention that branch of the Legislature
for the last three four days. Ihefe tie coii-
stitutional sharps will attack the problem WIN
their fine arguments and hair line distlnctlohs.
Senator Cassidy, a member OF the constitutional
Convention, also member OF the Codes Soilii'-
tee which the more important bill has oeen re-
fered has indicated that line OF attack already oy
his questions the various hearings Ihis ar
ference OF opinion the legislators as 10 the
merits of the legal proposition will fit in nicely with
the efforts of the racing people. since It VIII tend
TO bring about delay and the Jockey Club and the
gamblers are in hurry to have the question set
tied Immediately.
According to one man who wants to see the bills
killed the Senate Codes Committee at present
nds five to four against the amendment to the
Penal Code removing the discrimination in favor of
racetrack betting. The racing people have not de-
cided though. that It would be entirely wise TO have
the bills kept in committee They say that this
course would put Governor Hughes the onus of
making a campaign to get the bills reported, but
Hughes men think the racing people are somewhat
dubious about the length Of time their friends IN
the committee could stand fire.
Tho question of getting this code bill reported un
| doubtedly will be brought up at the meeting this
week. Senator Agnew has said he would move to
have the committee discharged if 1t did not report
| the bill There still is talk, though of another
hearing before the Codes Committee and other op-
portunities for delay which would stave off this
lineup of the Senate.
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before the
| Judiciary Committee the Agnew bill amending
! the Percy-Gray law. This the Jockey Club people
| have asked to have adjourned until March 1S be
| cause their speakers will be unable to appear this
| week. Meanwhile the hearing has not been post
poned officially 1t is possible that the Jockey
Clubs proposition credit betting may be pre-
sented in form this week for the consideration
| of the committee.
Despite the excellent prospects for delay fur
nshed by the present status of the anti-gaInbling
| bills the leaders in both houses hustling other
| business in preparation for an early adjournment.
The Senate Finance Committee is working hard on
the appropriation bill. and hopes get it into final
| form this week. Then it VIII be reported TO the
upper house and a conference committee appointed
/ to take il up with the Assembly. The Assembly
| Committee Ways and Means its part, has
introduced the supply bill, and is going over
that document getting 1t into revised shape. Mr..
| Merritt. chairman hopes have it ready to send
TO Senate by the last OF this week early next
| week at the latest
The banking reform legislation is we'll In hand.
most of the bills having been reported from the
| committees There will be little serious opposition
to the passage this legislation. most OF the fight
cause serious delay Aside from this there is little
| legislation the Governors direct nominations
| and Massachusetts ballot measures to hold the
LEGISLATURE in session. The Massachusetts ballot
nroposition seems dead. The Governor his friends
say still expects his direct nominations bill
| passed. There will be considerable opposition 10
| this though may not be so holly contested as II
| was last year The question OF some auendment 10
| the constitution to exempt subway bonds from the
| New York CITY debt limit the passage OF some
| Of the numerous bills amending the rapid transit
law to make easier and more favorahis terms Tor
private capital still pressing. Leaders are talk
ing now about adjournment the latter part OF April
or perhaps very early in May. instead of April 10
| Some time around the first of May seems more
| likely than the middle of April.