Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-06
BY GEORGE FLYNN
Star Stan Writer

ANNAPOLIS, Mar. 6.--Anti-
gambling forces hit the jackpot
in the 1858 session of the Gem
eral Assembly ending today.
Their two big restrictive meas
ures changed through the legis-I
lative machine yesterday, silence
ing the Juror which dominated
the 30-day session.
The result:
Jai alai, a sport with pari-
mutuel betting, is banned in
Maryland.
Slot machines on gambling
boat and on six piers on the
Virginia shore of the Potomac
River will be outlawed on
June 1, unless court action de-
lays the laws effect.
Operators Of the establish
ments are expected to chal-
lenge the legislation on grounds
it was aimed primarily at a
local situation. This session Of
the Legislature can deal only
with matters of Statewide con-
Germ.
Meanwhile, betting odds rose
sharply today that new attacks
on the multi-million dollar slot
machine industry will explode
in the 1859 season.
1O9-tO.5 Vote
The jai alai ban bill. stalled
for days by the maneuvers Of
q legislative enemy. Delegate
Ira Bird Kirkland of Anne
Arundel County, late last night
was enacted by the House, 109
to 5, after Mr.. Kirkland an
nounced, II give up"
Earlier, the Senate enacted
the House-passed bill to outlaw
casinos, 10 to 3.
Gov. McKeldin quickly signed
the casino bill into law today
and indicated he will sign jai
alai bill.
The casino bill was sponsored
by his party's floor leader, SEN
ator Harry Phoebus, Republican
of Somerset County, after the
Governor charged Maryland was
flouting Virginia law by permit
ting the piers.
Mr., Kirkland, in his 18th
hour attempt to kill the jai alai
bill, dashed out at racketeers
he charged were behind the
move to block construction Of
a jai alai arena near Fort
Meade.
He tried to tack on to the
bill an amendment which would
enforce disclosure of the names
Of persons with financial in
tereStS in race tracks, slot ma
chine casinos and bingo halls.
Red-faced, he shouted to a
packed House and galleries:
1.-THE people are entitled to
know just who reaps the as
Economical profits of Slots"
Delegate John M. Whitmore,
a fellow Democrat of Anne
Arundel County, called Mr..
Kirkland's stand a sudden
conversion" and "a phony ex-
cuse to kill the bill"
The amendment was spiked,
81 to AZ. Another amendment,
by Delegate Joseph Acker, Bal
timore Democrat. calling for the
outlawing of all slot machines
in the State, was defeated.
So to 8.
Mr.. Kirkland announced he
would carry his drive for pub
LEGATION of gambling promoters
names to his county commits
sioners. Delegate Joseph TyG-
ings, Democrat of Hartford
County, said he will sponsor
a Statewide bill aimed at the
same purpose.
Clergyman Plans Crusade
And the antigambling senti-
ment will be kept alive by the
Rev. Charles F. Kirkley, An
napoliS clergyman, who led a
community campaign agaist jai
alai. He has promised he will
seek tighter legislation against
gambling next year.
Caught in the middle of the
movement is Senator Louis N.
PhippS, Democrat of Anne
Arundel County. who sponsored
the jai alai bill and shepherded
1t through the Senate. His
county, together with Charles,
Calvert and st. Marys Counties,
permit slots.
On the casino vote, Mr..
Phipps was one Of eight Sena-
tors who refrained from vot-
ing as the bill won a Is to 3
majority. just one more vote
than required to enact the ban
The decisive vote was cast
by Senator Winship Wheatley
of Prince Georges County.