The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-04-04
THE RACE TRACK ISSUE IN THE
SENATE

HERE is the real story of the Race
Track Bills, introduced by Senator
Williams. Redeeming the promises
made by both Democrats and Repub-
licans, in last Falls campaign, Mr..
Williams introduced in the early days
of the Legislature a Bill to abolish
the Havre de Grace Race Track. Be-
fore doing so, Mr.. Williams offered
Senator Archer, of Hartford county,
the opportunity to introduce such a
measure. Senator Archer declined
with thanks, twice Mr.. Williams then
went ahead. When his Bill came from
the Committee before the Senate, SEN
ator Archer protested against it as
discriminating against the one parti.
cular race track, and urged that if one
track was to be abolished, all should
be. Several Senators voted against
the Bill on this plea of Senatorial
courtesy" alone, enough to beat the
Bill. Anticipating this objection, Sen
ator Williams had in the meantime in
troduced a Statewide anti-betting
gambling race-tracks. This Bill was
which the new rules permit. Mr. Will
NSllI bCIOI Z Iilt VI
which Senator Benson was Chairman
and Senator Archer member, and de-
manded that his Bill be reported to
the Senate, "either favorabiy or UNI
favorably." If" said Mr.. Williams
finally, you do not report it, | shall
be forced to draw the Rule on You
compelling you to report it,
This happened on Friday. Where
upon it was agreed that the Bill be
reported on the following Tuesday.
When that Tuesday came, Senator
Benson, the Chairman, plead "indis-
position" to Senator Williams and
asked to be permitted to postpone the
report until the next day (Wednes-
day.. This was granted upon the ei-
press promise that the Bill would be
reported that day. This promise was
not kept; whereupon, on the floor o.
the Senate, Mr.. Williams demanded of
Senator Benson an explanation of why
he did not report the Bill. After
some considerable hedging Senator
Benson finally said, II have not re-
ported the Bill because the Committee
has not asked me to; ! am not the
Committee; / will report it when the
Committee asks it to be reported" The
Committee were all present in the Sell
ate Chamber during the controversy.
Mr.. Williams Immediately answered
Senator Benson by saying, "If the
Senator is willing to let such a state
ment as that go out to the public OF
Maryland and if the members of tn
Committee are willing to rest under
such statement and to ue publicly
Judged by it, | am content; if they can
stand the charge of refusing to report
the Bill, can" Whereupon the men,
bers of the Committee Immediately
gathered together on the floor and i-
sisted that the Bill be reported the
next day tThursday). 1t was reported
by Senator Benson, who Immediately
moved that its consideration be made
a special order for the following Tues
day March 3lst.) Mr.. Williams OPP
posed this motion, declaring that il
was only meant to kill the Bill as any
further ,i"lt.y would mai4 ii nnpns-
slble to have it printed for a third
reading and get over to the House.
There is no excuse for this delay"
said Mr.. Williams. "If Senator Ben
son wants to kill the Bill, why don't
he try to do it like man in a fair
fight on this tloor-not by endless sub
terfuges to avoid a lineup. | warn
the Senators now that they are not
going to escape their responsibility by
voting FOR this postponement as a pure
subterfuge. A vote to postpone at this
late day is vote to kill the Bill, and
no man so voting can save his face
with his constituents by voting for the
Bill next Tuesday. Such q vote will
be of no use then" That is what some
of them were doing. They did not
dare to vote fatty against the Bill,
knowing full well that their constitu-
ents would condemn such action. They
thought to dodge the responsibility by
voting for postponement (Which was
equivalent to voting to kilD and then
voting for the Bill when nothing could
come of such vote, except a chance
for them to say to the folks at home,
why, voted for that bill" This was
the point Senator Williams forced on
them in the debate. Some of them got
uncomfortable under the issue and
slipped out before the roil-call began.
Several, however, who voted for post
ponement and therefore for endanger-
ing, indeed for killing the Bill, will be
troubled by the record if they ever
face an election again in their respec-
tive localities. Some rather strong
organizations in this State will make
them look that record in the face if
they ever come up for election again.
When on Tuesday, March 31st, the
Bill came up for consideration, Sena-
tor Benson raised the question first on
his amendment, striking out the orr
ginal bill and providing instead for a
Racing Commission and a percentage
of the earnings of the tracks to go to
the State Treasury.
This amendment gave Senator
Campbell, who was against the Bill,
chance to ask for its reference to the
Finance Committee, which, of course,
meant to kill the Bill Senator Will
Hams opposed such reference and de-
bated the question of the State enter
ing into an "unholy alliance" with the
gambling fraternity for the purpose
of securing additional revenues to the
State, of Selling our sons and daugh-
tiers to pay our State debts" He was
supported by Senator Harper and op-
posed by Senators Campbell and Ben
son. After fierce fight through Tues
day evening, Senator Williams de-