New-York tribune., 1908-04-02

constitution the Governor and his friends were
defvinr the Court of Appeals. the speaker
added He took a few more gibes at the Gov
ernor and other "reformers of morals" and pre-
dicted that if the bills passed poolrooms would
flourish by the score.
MCARREN ENTERS THE LISTS.
BY this time everybody weary and an
hours recess was declared. Senator McCarren
took up the burden after recess He said ne
hoped before the debate done some Senator
would give good reason for passing these oliis
1t would be impossible to change human nature
by legislation; therefore gambling couldn't be
stopped. The minister the bank cashier. yielded
to temptation. but nobody thought Of abolishing
churches banks: there always were drunk
ards but saloons not wiped out
This will not stop gambling he said; IT VIII
only subject the people who have millions in
vested in these properties to undeserVed hard-
ship" Senator Agnew's question whether Com
missioner Bingham didn't favor this proposition
and promise TO take care of all the poolrooms
started McCarren on wild denunciation OF that
official as a farce. joke and the most incom-
petent official Of his class in the country He
included the entire Police Department in this
category. Replying to Senator Fuller, he said
his only purpose in the September l amendment
TO make this code provision follow the usual
custom He declared the agitation from min
listers, church organizations and the rest of the
supporters of the anti-gambling bills didn't
amount much. These people were a small
force in the community, numerically or morally.
Finally he said If gambling must be punished
why not infct good stiff punishment You
trying 10 extermnate evil and doing it
with a feather. Why not make gambling
capital crime?" he asked.
Senator ONeil, disregardng legal bubbles
and technicalites declaSed boldly that the
Agnew-Hart bills represented the crystallized
sentiment of the state" Grady's genial sophis-
tries" could be used with more force against
him. and his arguments turned for the passage
of the bills. McCarren did not touch the
merits of the question, he said.
Society has right TO sanction any law TO
enable one man TO possess property of another
without giving therefor a fair equivalent. 1t
has more right to permit the racetrack sys-
TEN of highway robbery than the bucketshops
board Of trade. When they tell thess
laws cannot be enforced they forget that the
great Louisiana lottery, with its millions Of
dollars. wiped out by legislation
Senator Fuller pointed out clearly that the
only possible for the September l amend
ment TO enable the racing people to get
the Percy-Gray bill amended likewise. thus to
enable half the racing season TO be continued
under present conditions. Senator Cassidy,
who years ago introduced similar bills,
went in detail into the legal features Of the
legislation indicating from the tone OF his
speech a lack of faith in the efficacy of the
bills and a distinct bias against making them
take effect
Senator Hinman defended the measures Wig
orousIy. applauding the Governors stand
the question
Here have Governor, the servant of
the public, criticised" said he "for taking this
great question TO the people the source OF
thority for all our action. I prefer Execu-
tive who stands out in the open TO who by
devious means influences legslation-a man
who works squarely and deals the cards above
the table
WOULD NOT HELP POOLROOMS"
The question simmered down. he said, to the
appropriateness of any law to check or stop
gambling, and the Percy-Gray law plainly
! inappropriate since the Jockey Club people ad-
! mtted the existence OF gambling and OF its
necessity to the present standards Of racing.
He believed II the bills were passed not one ad-
ditionaI pooIroom would be opened because of
their passage and the police and district at
torneys would find they were much better able
10 cope with existing gambling houses.
Grady asked why the stock gambling shouldn't
be recognized by similar legislation. Hinman
retorte ed that there now existed Penal Code pro
| visions for strict punishment Of stock gambling
| and bucket shopping If proved.
The support for these bills" he said comes