The Washington herald., 1908-04-18
GAMBLING WILL STOP
Sims Bill Not to Be Buried
in the House.
LIES ON THE SPEAKERS TABLE
Asserted that Measure Amended by
Senate VIII Not BE Referred to
''UnioS" CaIendar-RepreSen
Sims Ready to Act-ReaIly Up to
AIr. Cannon TO Put Bill Through.

In spite Of rumors that concurrence
upon the part Of the House in the Senate
amendments to the Sims a2u-gambling
bin might not be forthcoming, it was as
serted last night that this necessary ae-
quiescence will be forthcoming.
The bin as amended by the Senate now
lies on the Speakers table. and can be
called up at any time under the rules. If
the Speaker permits.
Representative Sims, author Of the
original anti-gambling amendment, will
call the measure from the table upon The
first opportunity. so that unless Mr.. Can
non decides that the measure should be
referred to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State Of the Union and
placed on what is known as the Union"
calendar. il may be brought up at any
time.
viii BE Called Up.
It was asserted last night that the bill
viii remain on the Speakers table until
called up. II Mr.. Cannon should decide
that it should be referred to the ''Union"
calendar. it would mean that # might not
be reached this session, as there is a host
of bills already on that calendar, and the
Democ-ati flibuster is in continuous
operation against them.
The assertion that the bill viii lie upoa
the Speakers table, however, settles most
Of the doubt cast around its fate yester-
day.
Under a recent rule Of the House, II
was determined that an appropriation
bill. to which the Senate had made
amendments. might be called from the
table at any time. without interference,
and without the securing Of unanimous
consent This may be done for the pur-
pose Of securing concurrence or dissent
70 Senate amendments.
Within the last few days, this rule has
already been reserted to in reference to
the widows pension bill. so that no ten
able grounds for defeat Of the evident in
tentiOn Of both Houses can be found in
the fact that the bill lies on the Speakers
table with changes made by the Senate.
Some Efforts Made.
The statement that there has been some
effort by men high in the House to have
the bill effectualIy laid away, has not been
without some basis, since It has become
generally known that such effort was be-
ing made.
1t was stated yesterday that an effort
would be made to have the amended bin
referred back to the Committee on the
District OF Columbia, but this is evidently
not TO be done, since the information that
s- ,.--.,7,7 -,-,,o7, an ero CDoo1-arse 20 bla
is upon good authority.
Just how soon Mr. Sims, who has been
active all through the fight for tie abOli-
ton Of the gambling disgrace at Benning,
will be able TO have the bill called from
the table is somewhat in the nature OF
conjecture. as under present conditions
time is being counted as golden.
When the bill is brought up for concur
renee it is not at al! probable that there
win be any dissent, as the House, by an
overwhelming vote. has already placed
itself upon record as being in favor OF
stopping the Benning race-traek gambling.
Minority Is Mindful.
While It has been pointed out that the
Democratic hubuster. may interfere, It
is not likely that the minority viii care
happen-that 1t favors race-track gam
bling, especially on the eve Of a Presi-
Dental campaign, in which everything is
10 be counted.
The whole matter therefore, seems not
to rest with Chairman Smith. Of the Dis
trict Committee. which has already shown
its interest IN Washington by tabllng one
auti-gambling measure, but upon Speaker
Cannon, who, as the head of the House
Of Representatives, can say which dele
gate Of the people he viii recognize. or
which one he Will not see.
Whether he refers the bill. which is now
on the table. 10 the Union" calendar or
leave it where It is, It is up TO Mr. Can
non, a Presidential candidate, 20 say
whether or not it shall be given TO the
House for action. BY recognizing Mr..
Sims, Mr.. Cannon will enable the House
10 decide once and for all whether or
not It desires to permit the continuance
Of race-track gambling at Benning.