The Washington herald., 1908-04-09

Senators Carter and Burkett, constitute
ing a majority Of the available men,
bership Of the subcommittee on streets
and avenues of the Senate District Com
mittee. yesterday decided upon two minor
amendments to the bin to widen the
Benning road which carries the Sims
amendment to prohibit gambling at the
Benning race track, and Senator Carter
viii tomorrow report the bin TO the Dis
trict Committee at its regular weekly
meeting, and recommend that It be re-
ported TO the Senate favorably.
Senator Martin. the only other avail
able member of the subcommittee, was
not present at the meeting yesterday. The
subcommittee is composed Of i've men,
bers. The two aot previously mentioned
are Senator Hansbrough, who is confined
to his aprtments by illness. and Senator
Newlands. who is in the West.
In Commissioners Hands.
The first OF the amendments which
the subcommittee will recommend pro-
vide that the street railway company
operating cars on the Benning road shall
remove its tracks TO the center Of the
road as widened in accordance with the
pending bin. when required to do so by
the District Commissioners. The other
change was made IN accordance with a
recommendation of the auditor of the |
District, and changes the phraseology
Of the bin to make it carry a definite |
appropriation. The language Of the bill |
in its original condition merely authorized
the expenditure Of the necessary funds for
widening the road. and this was held /
10 be insufficient TO authorize taking the /
money from the Treasury.
No Legal Obstacle Exists
The legal obstacle which Senator Carter |
feared would prove a detriment TO the
passage OF the bill has been found not to /
exist The railroad company owns a |
strip of ground thirty feet wide In the /
line of the proposed widening and 1t
was feared that as this strip is already
used for a quasi-public purpose by the
railway company. the District was de-
barred from eondemning it for road wild
ening purposes.
II developed upon investigation. how
ever. that there was a clause in the act
authorizing the company 10 extend its
tracks out TO the Benning road whichl
requires the corporation to dedicate the
strip in question to the District for public
purposes. when the road shall be widened
by act Of Congress.
Gambling section Unchanged.
There IS now no known obstacle TO The
adoption Of the report OF the subcommit-
tee by the District Committee at its meet
ing tomorrow. A statement was given
out rom the committee last Friday. when
the Benning bin was referred back to the
subcommittee for investigation of the
supposed legal obstacle above referred TO,
that the membership OF the committee
was practically unanimous for the anti
gambling section of the BILL. This sec
ton, the adoption of which as an amend
ment 10 the road widening bill. Mr.. Sims.
Of Tennessee. secured ia the House over
TWO weeks ago, has in no manner been
changed by the subcommittee. It proposes
10 amend the anti-gambling laws OF the
District so as 10 remove the mile limit
provision Of that section Of the law re-
latng TO bookmaking, and to make the
anti-gambling laws apply to the entire
District alike.
Senate May Not MeetG
There was some talk about the CaBitol
yesterday to the effect that the Senate
would not meet tomorrow or Saturday.
but this could not be confirmed. Senator
Bankhead two weeks ago gave notice in
the Senate that he would on Saturday of
this week, ask the Senate 10 consider res
olutions in memory Of the late Senators
from Alabama. Messrs. Morgan and Pet :
tus. Il was said yesterday that pressure ,
had been brought 10 bear upon Mr.. Bank !
head 10 persuade him to postpone for q
week the memorial exercises, in order
that adjournment might be taken to-day {
until Monday. Z
There were also rumOrs yesterday that
sentiment in the District Committee upon !
the gambling question had undergone Z
some change since last week. but in Z
luiries failed 70 develop any basis for
-nis statement Senator Carter said last
nigat that he had no doubt at all that
the District Committee would tomorrow
adopt the bin as amended by the SUBJ
and order It reported TO the
B.