New-York tribune., 1908-06-10
REPORT RACING BILLS
HOPE FELT At CAPITAL.
assembly pote Expected Today
No FIibuster, Says R@nes.
GBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]

tBy Telegraph to The Tribune.
Albany June 9-Committees of both branches
OF the Legislature reported the Agnew-Hart
ant1-racetrack gambling bills o-day. Under the
hotlce OF intent to suspend the rules given by
Mr. Hart 1ast night, an endeavor to pass them
In the Assembly will be made tomorrow, and
the bills undoubtedly will go through by ap
proximately the vote received at the regular
sion, If there be a quorum present That is the
danger point in the lower house just now.
word was received here tonight that Senator
rocker would leave Staatsburg for this city to-
morrow night to be at Thursdays session. To-
gether with that came assurances from Senator
Rafnes. majority leader, that nc filibuster would
be permitted to delay final action on these meas
ures Taken altogether, the developments of the
day were favorable. and unless sudden
shift in the situation comes the Governors sup
porters think they have good reason for feeling
satisfied
One occurrence, though. is causing much COM
ment in connection with previous gossip that
Senator Sanford w. Smith, of Chatham. was
likely to switch and vote against the Governors
bills Senator Smith present at this morn
ing's session of the Senate. Immediately after
the session the Judiciary Committee met to con-
slider the PerCy-Gray repeal bill introduced by
Senator Agnew. Mr.. Smith did not attend the
meeting and nowhere to be found Hughes
in his county which is largely rural and strongly
for the bills. and the political situation there, he
will not change his attitude. Since the extra
session he has made secret of his determina-
tion that if the prolongation of the Governors
fight seemed likely to interfere with his business
or his vacation he would reverse his position,
and thus end the battle.
The Assembly Codes Committee met tonight,
absent members having been summoned by tele-
graph. Both the racing bills were reported with
out difficulty The vote was to /, Cuvier
the only Democrat present, voting against re-
porting. He also tried to amend the bills to
take effect on September l. and to provide
fine for gambling instead of one years imprison-
ment but was voted down.
This means that shall pass the bills, by
vote little short of the vote last time. too ex-
pect" said Chairman Murphy Il think we will
pass them tomorrow and put the job up to the
Senate"
In the Senate the Judiciary and Codes commit
tees both voted to report the racing bills to-
morrow The Judiciary Committee had the
Percy-Gray repeal bill The vote on that was
4 to > Senators Grattan and Cohaan voting
against It, McCarren, Grady. Cobb and Smith
were absent The code bill was reported to 8,
Senators Cassidy Gilchrist and McCarren voting
against it. McCarren and Cassidy proposed
amendments to make the Imprisonment penalty
apply to gambling OF every description" but
were voted down.
Senator Agnew has given notice that he will
try TO suspend the rules to pass his bills. If
the Assembly passes the Hart bills tomorrow,
as expected, they will come to the Senate on
Thursday. Then. if Senator Foelker is in at
tendance. and there have been no defections
from the Governors side Agnew should be able
to substitute them for his bills and pass
them.
We'll endeavor to get the opposition to agree
TO vote on Thursday said Senator Raines to-
day 'I do not know whether or not Foelker will
be here. and 1 am making no predictions as to
the result; but there certainly will be vote
and it will not be prevented by any flibuster
The Rules Committee, consisting of Senators
Armstrong. Grady and myself, would take charge
in that case and report rule which would pre-
vent any long speeches or dilatory motions. If
Foelker is here there will be twenty-six votes
for such rule. and We'll get cur vote and the
bills ought to pass all right If not
The racing leaders for the first time began TO
feel some anxiety tonight when they heard that
Foelker intended to return tomorrow night
Nevertheless they kept up appearances of con-
fdence. and declared positively that the bills
would be beaten by one of several things that
might happen Some of them limited that Foel-
ker might have a relapse or his doctor declare
that he was i'll to move yet; others that not
one but two three of the most unsuspected
Senators would flop at the last moment. The
situation tonight is that all appearances indi-
cate the passage of the bills; yet ALL the
most optimistic, who saw them defeated at the
regular session by Cassdy's flop cannot feel that
the Governor will win this victory until the bills
are on their way to the executive chamber for
his signature.