New-York tribune., 1908-03-30
THE WEEK In ALBANY.
Fate of 1nt-RacetracL GambEss
Bills To BE Decided
IBy Telegraph to TIE Tribune

|
| Albany. March 2s-Whether or not the r.~.
lstGre viii adopt the antiracetrack gambling Isvf.-
! latiOn in the form desired By Governor Ero..
I practically viii be decided BY the senata -
: Wednesday ON that day the bill wipins out N.
| special penalty for racetrack gambling and "a.
amendment to the Penal Code provfdinS a uen,I,,
! OF one years imprisonment for gambling VIII corn,
| UP as special order in the Senate. The rezulr
! will be the dominant factor in causing Goveruo-
/ Hughes to decide whether extra session az ~.
/ II gislature will be necessary.
The fight Will begin when Senator Georr. =
/ Agnew. Of New York introducer OF these bII1, g.
/ the upper house. asks the Senate 70 make ~.
/ Penal Code amendment take effect irlrnedia+alv
| on passage. This was the original form OF tb,
| bill. but the committee adopted an amendr,sp,
I offered by Senator McCarren. OF the racing &C.
hCrts. making 1t take effect on September l I.t-
/ became law in this form haIs the gambling and
racing season would be preserved under yress1,
/ conditions.
Governor Hughes has made no secret OF lis ar
dent desire that this amendment shall not prevail
of his view that this postponement "a a mer.
subterfuge on the part OF the racing interests
They seemingly are ready to make Il their lag.
ditch: to lose that means 10 them TO lose aI and
beyond hope OF recovery for many years. least
There IS small question that tho bills pass
the Senate with this September I amendment. T.
is possible. too, that the Assembly. rather than
have Il deadlock thrust it TO prevent adjourn
Hent speedily as may be- would ftsel.
and accept the Senate-5 views on this point. IN
that case. so strongly does the Governor feel on
this subject it would surprise nobody here to have
him call extra session to try it all over again
Hughes men with great confidence declare they
have the votes 10 wipe out this weakening amend
ment and pass the bills Those Senator'S certain to
vote kill the bills laugh contenptuousIy and Of
fer 10 bet large sums that the measures II passed
all. will be passed to take effect September /
All the efforts OF both sides are concentrated on a
few doubtful Senators. who are wavering II /,
significant that again tonight sinister reports OF
the use of political pressure and the potent argu-
ment OF cash have cropped with much direct
ness-the pressure being exerted this time 10
kill the bills outright. but retain the Septenbe-
l amendment.
Whatever the action taken On these bills il is
hardly probable that they Will be passed OF killed
finally this week. because on Thursday there VIII
be another special order in the Senate on all the
banking reform bills which have reached that body
More than a dozen OF these measures have besa
passed by the Assembly with more or less
objection Most OF them have been held Up
in the Senate by the objections OF Democratic
Senators. The question whether they confer
too radical powers on the Superintendent Of Banks
seems be the chief point issue. and there will
be much fireworks over the series. after which ths
bills Will be passed. There may be few amend
ments 10 two Of the bills. but these will not
interfere with the comprehensive scheme OF read
justment OF the banking laws TO v hich the Repub-
Hcan administration is committed.
Still another potent cause OF discord Will bs
brought the front Thursday. when there viii
be the first hearing on the Page-WanwEight bill tn
put telegraph and telephone companies. stage and
ferry companies and gas electric conduit con-
Germs under the jurisdiction of the Public Services
commissions far there has oeen nothing hers
to show exactly how the telephone and telegraph
companies regard this measure, although their
legislative agents have been much in evidences
around the Capitol It is known. though. that this
widening of scope IN the Jurisdiction Of tte COM
missions is all pleasing Chairman stevens
OF the upstate commission. who believes these
bodies have all they handle now. In view Of
ths fact, there is impression in certain quarters
that the Legislature viii pass only portions Of this
buI-those sections which have been urged by the
commissions, and constitute department recon-
mendations-and let the telephone and telegraph
proposition be dealt with in the future
Governor Hughes specifically recommended this
broadening Of the law in his annual message His
friends know it is OF his most desired projects
and quite prepared to see him urge It on ths
Legislature with great hrmness They know. too
that he does not intend to content with the one
vote bestowed by the Assembly Judiciary COM
mittee on the direct nominations bill, schers
recommended by him Hast year and this. The Ser
committee never has diSnifed the pill BY con-
sderins the question OF reporting il this year, al
though the Senate twice passed the measure last
session.
These two propositions and the much discussed
investigation of Attorney General Jackson are in
so indefinite shape that the date OF adjournnIent
Is entirely subject for speculation II the Legs
lature carries out what seems 10 be half forineo'
generally accepted plan. il viii adjourn about May
1, after having mutilated the Public Service corn
missions law amendments and refused - pass US
direct nominations bill The leaders all say az
JOurnment come ny April l.. but they GO u''
give detailed explanations Of how they expect 1"
do it. Such a course Will not satisfy the Governo.
by any means. and in itself. his friends say No1'a
he deemed sufficient cause for Sn extra SeSSiO'
Then there IS always the possibility that the fs--
bills may be killed BY fair means or foul 50 in11"
extra session talk prevails As 20 ths J4SNS
affair. there many rauidcatonS 20 Il - -
any moment something may b. deVeiopso W"
will cause the Governor 20 present deInaHl
his removal. the Assembly % conSlcer -
justified in beginning impeachment pro'ee-..s
Such a contingency would keep the Les'S'Aa-
here most of the summer, and the leslS'H-0'
only too afraid il may come TO pass
There will he a joint hearing on TuesdsF 80 80
the insurance committees on the HaEnn anu =,
cher bills amending the Armstrong insurance -
as to legitimate expenses FOR new business "a
seek 10 ease up A trife on the restricil'S 'i's
and arc advocated by the agents. but theE -, a.
at all alike as TO details II - hoped u -
some compromise after this hearing Ins o''' ss,
has not committed himself in any way Q"