The Washington herald., 1908-03-25
BENNING BILL UP
TO TEN SENATORS
Continued from rnge one.


makers and have never been stopped in
He said
/ ! sm exceedingly glad that the House adopted
The Sims amendment ard Trust the Senate may
adot, il soon enough 20 step The gambling A. pcn
ming during the present meeting. I stir think
chat II could have been broken ND by vigorous action
undtT the present law. tut in view II thr difference
ot opinion about the law. amendment of II seems
I mere necessary than ever. The Commissioners rec
commended logis,atiun az the most crr:ain method
q stamping ont this evil. Just Gov. Hughes did
IN New York, and IN this. in their other encTts
IN this matter have met with similar opposition
and misrepresentation. Fer example. the suggestion
has been made that II not respectful 20 the
law and the courts 70 make vigorous effort TO
/ break mp The opCations II the gamblers az Rem
ming. in view of a curt decision that a particular
case based On certain evidence and on indiot-
ment drawn IN certain way could not be main-
tanned. There nothing IN the decision TO @how
that with a better indictment and different
evidence would not be upheld BY the curt.
Have Not Attacked Law.
No court has ever suggested that the present law
is void fer uncorsinficnality or any other reason
As matter Of fact. the police are preparing to
rle infornaiions en- evidence collected under the
very Law which Il has been claimed would
not permit 10 make arrests. My idea is that the
best way to show respect to the law is 10 enforce
/
amendment viii stop the gambling at Benning and
every good citizen should advocate 1t earnestly.
In speaking Of the action of the House
IN the matter Commissioner West said:
The passage Of the Sine bill in the House. repeal.
ing the law which lcsslizes bookmakiug az the Ben
ming race track, meets with my heary approval.
and hope that it can be taken up promptly in the
Senate and enacted into law
Under the law passed in 1901 bookmaking and
pool selling lesalised in the territory occupied
BY the race track. and the law has been upheld BY
the courts Under these circumstances the way 70
abolish racc-track gambling in the District Of Co
lulnbia is 10 repeal this law The action Of the
House is, 70 my mind step IN the right direction.
and I do not believe that the Senate viii fail 10
act when that body appreciates the fact that public
sentiment IN this District is, in my judgment over
whelmingly in favor Of the abolition Of Tace-track
gambling here.
Numerous communications are being re-
ceived by the Commissioners. asking
their cooperation in favor OF the Sims
bill, and some OF the letter-writers men
tion particular instances where the losses
sustained by members of their families
have brought misery and crime in their
wake
Briscoe Goodhart. secretary OF Lafay-
ette Post, No, %, c.. A. r., wrote that
"all efforts should be used to suppress
all forms OF gambling. and especially that
going on this week at Benning. It is
running our very best young men and
women besides taking the very food and
clothing away from many homes that
can III afford H. running homes. and
breaking up and separating families
every year"
Damages City's Interests,
In answer 10 this. Commissioner Mac
farland wrote:
have done everything in my power 10 break up
the gambling at the Bennng race track believing
that II is damaging 20 the economic and moral in-
teress Of the National Capital. II 7 could have had
ny way the gamblers would have been ssded by
the qolice in force every day As il - cases have
been made by the police department which has sub
mitted the evidence 20 the United States district
attorney. who has declined 20 prosecute. Al ths
stage there 10 be nothing for citizens 10 do
except 10 urge the passage by the Senate of the
Sims amendment. passed yesterday by the House
which would stop the gambling at Benning.