The Washington herald., 1908-03-27

HdCe-lIdck SahlDnng IN the District OF
Columbia is doomed; there can be no
room for doubt about that
The only uncertainty concerns the pre-
else day and date when it will be forever
obHterated from the Nations Capital
The meet now being conducted at Ben
ming will be the last at which profes-
sional gamblers Will be enabled to defy
the public opinion Of the people Of Wash
ington and of the District.
There is no intention to discourage rae
ing as a sport, but the passing of the
present meet viii see that sport put upon
the basis OF wholesome means OF re-
taxation. and relieved of the incubus OF
bookmaking.
The knen has been sounded by the
positive statements Of Senators who have
taken the trouble to find out that the
Senate is in line with the House 10 put
an end to gambling in this territory.
This statement, reiterated yesterday by
several Senators, cannot be controverted.
The next step toward realizing this con-
summation viii be taken in the. Senate
Committee on the District OF Columbia
to-day unless the unavoidable absence Of
Senators from the city should prevent the
attendance Of a sufficient number TO make
quorum.
Only Worried About Details.
The course Of that action will depend
upon which Of two opinions existing in
the committee as 70 the method that
should be pursued in this matter shall
prevail
Every member of the committee be-
lieves that the gaming evil should be
eliminated from the National Capital once
and for all time. but the absence from
the city of four members of the commit
! tee somewhat embarrasses the members
who remain.
! There is some question in the minds OF
a number Of the Senator's who are now in
the city as to whether it would be proper
TO act upon the bill in the absence OF
:heir colleagues.
Others, however, would have the bill re-
ported 10 the Senate at once, without be-
! ing referred TO a subcommittee, believing
that the desire of the people of Washing
ton that the gambling at the local track
should be stopped at the earliest possible
moment would justify them in the eyes
of the absent members in taking such ac-
ton
Last Chance for Gamblers.
Should the bill be referred to the sub
lcommittee. it viii, in all probability. not
be passed before the end Of the present
meeting at the race track. Senator Car
ter. chairman Of the subcommittee on
streets and avenues, TO which alone the
/ bin could be referred, is in Florida, but
viii be back Sunday. The other mem
bers of the subcommittee are situated as
/ follows: Senator Hansbrough. confined "a
his rooms at the Albany. by illness: Sen
ator Martin. out of town. owing to the
Illness of his wife but will return Mon
day; Senator Newlands, in California, tc
be gone three weeks; Senator Burkett, in
! Washington. and anxious that the gam
bling evil shall be stopped at once.
Should no further contingency arise tc
keep Mr. Carter and Mr. Martin away
they, with Mr.. Burkett, would form a
quorum of the subcommittee, which could
get together and report the bill back tc
the committee at its first meeting there
after. But it is not the disposition of the
members Of the committee to favor TEN
pOrary delay in acting on the bill 10 have
an extra session. in which event. suppos-
/ ing that the subcommittee should reach
an agreement early next week. the bill
could not be reported to the COMMITTEES
before Friday next.
May Not Have Quorum.
Then, unless the Senate should be in
session on Friday or Saturday of next
week, IL could not reach that body before
the following Monday, when the Bennine
meet now in progress would have only a
very few days more to run Therefore
should the bill to-day be referred TO the
subcommittee, it is unlikely that the peo-
Continued on Page :, Column q.
Abe Ruef Again Indicted.