Evening star., 1934-06-14
RACING BILL SENT
TO SENATE FLOOR
Committee Approves Plan
Over Opposition of the
Commissioners.

Approved by the District Commit
tee late yesterday over the opposition
of the Commissioners, the bill to le-
galize horse racing in Washington will
be reported to the Senate today by
Senator Kean, Republican, of New
Jersey.
Passage of the measure by the Sen
ate, with adjournment so near, ap-
pears to depend, however, on whether
its advocates can succeed IN having
it taken up by unanimous consent
II an objection should be made to its
consideration in this way, it is doubt
full whether leaders would be able
to allot time to debate it. There is
talk of trying to end the session Sat-
urday, or next week.
If it should pass the Senate, the
bill would have to go back to the
House for action on an amendment
added in the Senate Committee, con-
ferring general power on the Com
missioners to make regulations to gov
CAA AoSS AACNtAASo aAAd W 1AA RClldA-
ties for violations of their rules, in
cluding the right to revoke licenses
If the bill should squeeze through the
Senate, House supporters probably
would accept the amendment rather
than 60 to conference.
Opposition Restated.
Before the Committee went into ex-
ecutive session to act on the bill, Cor
poration Counsel Prettyman restatec
the opposition of the Commissioners
who, he said, reached the conclusion
after public hearing that the ma
jority sentiment of the community is
against the bill. He also pointed out
that the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations and the Washington Fed
Grafton of Churches are opposing the
measure. 1t was supported at the
hearings recently by the Central La
Dor Union, the Merchants and Man.
ufacturers' Association and the Wash.
ington Hotel Association.
In brief open meeting before the
committee acted Senator McCarran
Democrat. of Nevada said he hac
been opposed to the bill, but that il
approximately 81 900 900 is to be spent
in developing a race track, he would
be willing to go a long way in
creating employment" The Nevada
Senator said he was informed that
one reason horse racing was stopped
here was because Government en-
ployes had been exceeding their
means on racing" He inquired
whether there was any basis for that
The corporation counsel said he did
not believe that was given as one
OF the reasons racing was stopped
but that it was one of the arguments
against the pending bill.
ALI Depends on Operation.
"It all depends on how a race track
is conducted" said Senator Kean. "It
1t Is a flrst-class track it may be an
advantage to Washington. But a rot
ten track is the rottenest thing In
the world"
Representative Black, Democrat. of
New York, who sponsored the bill in
the House, said Mrs. John Hay Whit
ney has an option looking to the DUR
chase of the old Benning race track
If the bill passes and that she would
make the track a model one.
Responding to inquiries by several
committee members, Black explained
the District government would get a
10 per cent tax on admissions and
per cent Of the total amount bet
through the pari-mutuel system. IT
was estimated the District would get
$500,000 year In revenue through
these taxes and the enhanced value
resulting from reconstruction Of the
track.
Following the favorable report on
the bill, Canon William Sheafe Chase
Of the International Reform Fedora
ton issued statement saying that
If Congress desires to discredit the
new deal, it should enact the Black
gambling bill"
This BILL" he said, docs not per-
init legal betting outside the track,
but it cannot do anything except in
crease the number Of handbooks and
Illegal gambling places in our city,
which are even now too numerous"
Referring to statement by Senator
Kean that if the track is well con-
Quoted it would be an advantage to
the Capital, he said:
"The stewards may do their full
duty and yet the racing may not be
conducted properly. The owners can
not be compelled to be honest in not
doping the horses. so as to deceive the
| gambling public. You cannot have an
honest horse race until the owners OF
horses are honest"