New-York tribune., 1908-03-06
BLACK A BOOMERANG.
RACING MEN ADMIT THIS.
assembly. 1t IS BelieUed, WM Pass
Hart Bills.
rsy Telegraph TO The Tribune ]

Telec
Albany March 5.-The Assembly Codes Commit
zee probably will report next week the Hart anti
racetrack gambling amendments to the fercS-IfaY
law and the accompanying amendments 10 tne
Penal Code. II between now and the next meet
ing of the committee some weak-kneed members
switch and the bills cannot be reported, Charles
t. Murphy of Brooklyn, chairman OF the COM
mittee. will move on the floor OF the house that
his committee be discharged from Further consid-
Grafton of those measures. There is little DOUBT
in that case that bills will be taken from COM
Inittee and, once before the Assembly, viii be
passed.
on the other hand. the Senate Codes Committee
until last night considered rather certain TO report
The bills without pressure. has shown to-day sud
den accession of strength in favor OF the racing
interests The Judiciary Committee. which in the
upper house has charge of the amendment to the
Percy-Cray law, is believed TO be even stronger
for the racing people than the Codes Committee
STILL the passage OF the bills in the lower house.
now admitted by strong partisans of racing
be almost inevitable, will deprive the Senate
committees of all tactical advantage, since fhen in
spite OF these committees, the bills Will come before
the entire Senate for vote.
Racing people here in bad quandary- The
various lawyers lobbying against the Agnew-Hart
bills and of their legislative supporters seem
10 be working at cross purposes. There is consid-
cradle doubt whether the Jockey Clubs proposal
for -'credit betting will submitted in concrete
form to the Legslature-soTne of the racing people
say il viii; others say it wont. The speech OF eN-
Governor Black. effective in arouSing enthusiasm
yesterday. to-day is encountering the Inevitable
reaction attendant its want of logic and perti-
the present situation, and of the
racing people candid enough to admit that in
him they found a boomerang. The entire anti
Hughes camp is in confusion-little seems needed
it into rout.
OF by next week conditions may change
again. The racing people playing for de-
lay Ex-Judge T.. F. Coyne the chief of the
Jockey Clubs permanent lobby. says he will not
be able to appear at the hearing scheduled for
March IL before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He had asked that it be set over until March I8
when he promises 10 have his speakers ready 20
say the last word whatever amendments then
are before the Legislature. He says also that the
legislation carrying out the Jockey Clubs credit
betting" scheme Will be presented until the
cIuo has some assurance of its favorable accept
ance
Strange TO say. nobody has asked Governor
Hughes for his views on this plan except news
paper men Nobody representing the Jockey Club
or the Legislature has consulted him about it.
When asked to-day his opinion on the system he
said:
everybody knows where | stand on this propo-
sition, and know where | stand ] am not going
10 talk about anything know nothing about. when
1 have only got the label and the goods. All
l know about this matter is what you newspaper
men have informed me-
Senator Patrick H. McCarren. an authority alike
legislation racetracl doesn't take kindly 70
the Jockey Clubs idea.
What's the use of any COMPROMISED" he asked,
YEARLY We might as well stand 9r fall on the
main issue
Senator Agnew has no intention OF cumbering his
quite possible that the Jockey. Club may get other
legislators 10 introduce the amendments necessary
The Assembly Codes Committee held meeting
this morning, but three OF fits members absent,
therefore the anti-gambing bills con-
sidered.
In my judgment, the bills will be reported by
vote Of seven 70 six, said Chairman Murphy after
The meeting. When meet next Wednesday it
will be settled one way the other. We may get
some definite form of the Jockey Clubs suggestion,
and If will consider il, but I don't see why
we can't settle the affair next week
As the Codes Committee stands now, according 10
friends of the bills. IT is For-Murphy Kings,
Gray. 81. Lawrence: Surpess, Kings: Toombs, New
York; Scott, Chenango: Perkins Broome, and Troy
Kings Against-I4ammond. Onondaga; Gore.
Kings. who may shift; MacGresor, Erie; Grady,
Kings: Cuvillier and Keller. New York.
Up yesterday the Codes Committee had been
considered practically mpregnable by the racing peo
pie. Its shift largely is due to MI Murphy himself
Friends of his been telling him just what
would happen if he didn't get the bills reported. and
lie has told them in turn that he realized fully his
unanimous election "goat'-unpopuIar with his
political boss he reported the bills. dead politically
if he didn't, because he has district strongly for
them. He has made Up his mind and is committed
absolutely to the measures.
The Senate Codes Committee is regarded as
standing four to four with member in doubt.
The Judiciary Committee stands practically six
and six. with member in doubt; but with the
determined attitude Of the Assembly Consnttee on
bills opposition within the Senate committees loses
Importance.
Regarding his idea OF the prospects Of the pas
sage of the bills Senator Agnew said to-day:
Il cannot how they be beaten if they get
the floor. | don't think the Republican
party afford 10 beat them openly. If is
done all. it viii be in committee / doubt very
much whether the party could even afford 10 have
them beaten that way"