The Washington herald., 1908-03-28


the District Committee OF the Senate 10
attend the weekly meeting OF that COM
mittee yesterday gave the bookmakers at
Benning brief reprieve, but the meeting
OF the FIVE Senators demonstrated even
more forcibly than avowals which have
been made by members of the committee
that its membership viii be unit for the
anti-sambling bill when il comes TO a
vote in the committee,
While Congress is making slow but
steady strides toward the elimination OF
gambling from the District, the book
makers and their influential friends are
not unmindful of their imperiled inter
ests. and they have plan 10 defeat in
part the object Of the pending bill. should
it become lasv before the end Of the
present meet at Benning.
The proposition is that when betting IS
made illegal in the District the RACES
shall continue to be run at Benning. IS
al present. but that the ''bookies' and
their paraphernalia shall be moved Just
across the District line into Maryland,
and system Of copmunication inaugu-
rated between the track and the betting
ring, which, thus detached, would TO
certain extent defeat the objects OF the
pending legislation.
Thus the powers behind the "bOokles"
propose; whether the law would be found
to dispose otherwise is another question.
Plan Track I'm Maryland.
Another proposition looking 10 The fu-
ture. is that the Benniug track shall be
abandoned and new course erected IN
Maryland. a half-mile or so outside the
District line, where the merry game OF
despoiling careless youths and dissipated
elders OF their coin could go on without
Eiadrance and in defiance Of the District
authorities
Maryland howeveI, has law which
might be found to conflict with this plan.
1t limits the number Of days Of racing
in that State, and there Is already one
track near Baltimore which does much
to consume the time. Whether another
could enter the State under the circum-
stances IS a question to be determined
when the contingency arises.
The fact that the gamblers are con-
sidering measures such as are above de-
scribed is sufficient indication that they
realize that "the Jig is up. or will be
in a very few days
Meetings Of Senate committees are ex-
eeutive affairs, whether quorum attends
or not Therefore no statement as TO
who was present or the details of the con-
ference were given out.
1t is known. however. that Senators
Gallinger, Dillingham;. Burkett. Gamble.
and Long were present, and that the Ben
ming bill was earnestly discussed. 1t is
known also that not a single voice was
raised against it. and that regret was ex-
pressed that the absence of majority of
the members made it impossible for i'm
mediate action to be taken upon it.
Bin Goes to subcommittee.
Senator Hansbrough was unable to at
tend the meeting on account Of illness.
and SENATOR Paynter and Johnston. the
only other members of the body who are
in Washington. were engaged in other
important business. Senator GalIinger
was informally authorized to refer the
bill carrying the Sims amendment to the
subcommittee on streets and avenues.
Senator Carter. of Montana. chairman of
the subcommittee, Will return TO Wash
ington from Florida tomorrow. and Sena-
Tor Martin, also member of that sub
committee, will be in Washington on Mon
day. With Senator Burkett, these two
Senator's will compose a majority Of the
subcommittee. Senator Hansbrough is
2nother member, and Senator Newlands.
the remaining member, is out West for
several weeks.
Early Meeting Is Planned
1t is the understanding that the sub
committee will have a meeting early in
the coming week, and that decisive action
may be expected. The bill will be re-
ported back to the full committee at its
meeting next Friday. and will then be
reported to the Senate. doubtless on the
next day on which that body meets. prob
ably Monday week.
Senator Burkett is heart and soul in
the movement to stop the boOkmaking
and to stop it az once. He yesterday in
troduced in the Senate as a separate bin
the amendment which Mr.. Sims secured
to the bill 10 widen the Benning road.
abolishing the mile-limit as the area pro-
tected against gambling. and making the
District apti-gambling law prohibit gam
bling anywhere within the confines Of the
District.
1t is understood also that the chances
are against the Benning road bills being
divided so that the anti-gamblng section
shall be reported as a separate measure.
MIR. Burkett introduced his bill yesterday
after a conference with friends OF the
movement TO rid Washington of the BOOK
makers, and merely as a measure of pre-
caution.
He believes that in the interest Of ex-
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