Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-24

son or association of persons in the
District of Columbia to bet. gamble
or make books or pools the re-
suit of any trotting race or rum
ming race of horses. or boat race,
or race of any kind. on any cleo
ton or any contest of any kind. or
game of base ball.
Through the energy and legislative re-
sourcefulness of Representative Sims of
Tennessee ranking minority member of
the House District committee. betting at
Renning yesterday afternoon received
what may be it's death blow. Mr. Sims
managed to secure the passage. as an
amendment to the bill for the widening of
Bennng road of his measure, introduced in
the House last Friday. amending section
$50 of the District code SO as to prohibit
gambling and bookmaking in any form
anywhere in the District of Columbia.
The existing law against bookmaking on
races forbids it only within a mile of the
city's boundaries.
This happens to be one case where cred
it for a praiseworthy enactment of this
sort may justly he given to one man.
Representative Sims in this fight had no
help of his colleagues on the District
committee, that committee having voted
ri last Thursdays regular meeting against
the bill which passed the House yes
ler0dS- III Is true tnat tne cOInIni IIee ildu
under consideration an anti-gambling
measure prepared by Representative
Campbell of Kansas. chairman of the
Judiciary subcommittee. but it is per-
fectly safe bet that Mr.. Campbells bill.
which had been tabled. certainly would
not have seen the light OF day during
the present Benning meet if at all during
the present session.
The bill for the widening of Benning
road had no sooner been read in the
House sitting as the board of aldermen
of the District. when Mr.. Sims jumped to
his feet.
Mr. Sims Amendment.
MIR. Chairman" lie cried Il move to
amend the bill by inserting additional
section Here is the section-which later.
after trials. tribulations and considerable
opposition, was enacted:
THAT section $50 of the act of Con-
gress entitled An act to establish code
of laws for the District of Columbia ap-
proved March 3, 1901, be amended by
striking out the words in the cities of
Washington and Georgetown and the
words or within said District. within one
mile of the boundaries of said Cities
Representative Crumpacker of Indiana
reserved point of order upon the amend
ment, and Mr.. Sims. after reading section
$50 of the District code, explained as fol-
lows:
Under a decision of the court it has
been held. as l understand it. and as 1
am informed. that under this section of
the code it does not include the Benning
track. and does not make it, therefore,
unlawful Tor a1y person to bet on a
horse race at Benning; but by striking out
the words in the cities of Washington
and Georgetown and or within said Dis
trict within one mile of the boundaries
of said cities Il reads as follows
1T shall be unlawful for any person or
association of persons in the District of
Columbia to bet, gamble make books
or pools on the result of any trotting
race or running race of horses or boat
race. or race of any kind. or on any
election or any contest of any kind, or
game of base ball.
The object of the amendment is SIM
ply to extend the anti-gambling laws of
the District to the entire District, so as
to make gambling and betting unlawful
in every part of the District. Under
the language of the section as it is in the
act. 1t is within one mile of the limits
of the city of Washington. and one mile
does not extend to the limits of the Dis
trict of Columbia. and therefore the
courts are without jurisdiction to enforce
the law,
After few facetious remarks from the
irrepressible Charlie Lands, Mr.. Crum-
packer, who had reserved the point of
order againt the amendment, again Sc
cured the floor.
Il reserve the point of order,' he said.
FOR the purpose of ascertaining what the
amendment really meant and what its
significance really was. find that it is
ito extend the anti-gambling law to
the race tracks at Benning. where l sup
pose 1t ought To apply if it applies any
where. The amendment is doubtless
subject to point of order 1t is some
what Illogical To amend the bill in this
way but do not propose to stand in the
way or the enactment of proper anti
gambling laws for the District | believe
in that kind of legislation and. therefore.
Withdraw the point of order and will
support the amendment
Mr.. Sims thanked Mr.. Crumpacker and
Representative Kahn of California, a
member OF the House District COMMITTEES
to his feet
Point of Order Raised.
Il desire TO make the point of order"
said Mr.. Kahn, "and to say in that con-
nection that this matter has not been be-
Tore our committee in such a way that
the committee could take action on II
II IS az unusual way to come in here
and of-ss an al Iament on a bin of this
charac.er, ana submit it is of sufficiently
s,rouS Importance to be considered nv
the committee. make the point of or
porarily reserved his point of order that
Mr.. Sims might explain the attitude of the
District committee
a bin of this kind said. he, except
X
ing II unlawful to make wagering con-
tracts on futures, was introduced and
went TO the District committee l offered
tiils provision as a substitute for the bill
end 1t was voted down. Then after CON
sideration Of the bill, which included this
and other matters, the bill of the gentle
man from Kansas was tabled So 10
subject matter has been considered NV
the committee, but / am sorry to he com.
PEELED to say that IL did not meet with
the approval of majority of those nres-
ent. pe'
hope the gentleman from CaIiforni,
VIII not make the point of order. because
here is a law which plainly says il shall
DC unlawful to lay wagers and make bets
WITHIN one mile of the limits of Washing
ton and Georgetown. leaving all the rest
OF the District without protection of a Law
which is thought 10 be necessary within
the city. Now If the existing law I.
good law one mile beyond the limits of
these cities, why is il not good law :,
little ia Their, to the limits of the District
OF Columbia. which does not exceed tor
miles square. l hope the gentleman will
not insists upon his point % order -
But Mr.. Kahn was obdurate He in
sisted that the bill was brought I'M in
committee for the first time at the last
meeting and was not fully considered. He
said he was just anxious as Mr.. Sims
to limit gambling; that he had never laid
wager horse race in his life bur
he did not think this was a proper way
to legisate. and insisted on his point of