Evening star., 1934-06-03
RACING BILL DUE
FOR EARLY RULING
Senate Committee to Fix
Fate of Measure at Meet
ing in Few Days.
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(Continued From First Page)
against horse racing, boat racing or
any other kind. It's the gambling
feature, which has been illegal for
the past 26 years, that is objection
able"
Associations Differ.
He said the Benning association
disa greed with the federation's stand
against the bill, but that the Kenil-
worth association agreed with the
federation. Sullivan said people here
can go to nearby States to race tracks,
but the greater the distance they have
to go, the more resistance there is
to the opportunity to gamble.
Replying to the argument that bet
ting would not increase, Sullivan
said supporters of the bill had ad-
mitted racing meets here would not
be held in conflict with those in
Maryland.
Winn described the bill as vicious
in character and said it is "unbe-
lievable and inconceivable" that Con-
gress would pass it.
In denying that the bulk of the
money bet under the system contem-
plated by the bill is redistributed to
the patrons, Winn declared that if
10000 persons took 100000 to the
track. they would take away from the
track only about half that amount.
He emphasized that the District Com
missloners reported adversely on the
bill, and summed up his opposition on
two grounds: First, that the citizens
OF the District generally do not want
open gambling, encouraged by law;
second, that Congress, while doing all
in its power to improve the economic
condition of the people under the new
deal, should not encourage diversion
Of large amounts of money from food,
clothing and other necessities to bet
ting on horse racing.
Reynolds Quizzes Witnesses.
H. N. Pringle of the International
Reform Federation, argued that the
trend In State Legislatures from 1914
to 1888 was against laws of this kind.
Senator Reynolds, Democrat, of North
Carolina, cross-examined opponents OF
the bill and took issue with some OF
their contentious.
Speaking in rebuttal for supporters
OF the bill, Representative Black criti-
cized the Commissioners for holding a
public hearing on the racing bill, ar
guing that was a function performed
by Congress. He argued that they
misinterpreted public sentiment. Cor
poration Counsel Prettyman defended
the Commissioners, declaring they re-
ported what they believed sentiment
to be.
Evan H. Tucker, president Of the
Northeast Washington Citizens As
sociation, opposing the bill, declared
that liquor and gambling go to-
gether." He told the committee that
if this bill passes men will go first
to a liquor store when they get paid
then to the races and arrive home
with empty pockets. Their families,
he said, would not be able to pay
for the necessities of life.
After referring to passage OF the
liquor law. the boxing law and the
introduction of the racing bill, Tucker
added: I'm watching now to see If
some one introduces a bill for bull
fighting"
Canon Chase Is Heard.
Closing the argument against the
bill, Canon Chase declared: I'VE are
asked as part of the new deal to go
back to the old deal in liquor laws,
prize fights and gambling" After
stating that Prime Minister MacDon-
aid of England had referred to gam
bling as a disease, DR.. Chase said it
would be most dangerous for Con-
gress to set up an institution to
spread this disease" He added that
it would be unfortunate if the Sen
ate approved the race track bill after
having voted not long ago to
strengthen the laws against gambling
here.
Among others who were recorded
in opposition to the bill were Rev. w
L. Darby, secretary of the Washing
ton Federation of Churches; Miss
Ibora Scott of the W. C. T. u; Rev
Thomas E Boorde, and Rev. Charles
H. Butler.