Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-28
New Change
Sets Up 7-Yeur
Grace Period
BY WILLIAM DUKE
Star Staff Writer

ClonS anJl-SloC machine bill,
but only after it added an
amendment allowing slot oper-
ators to stay in business for
seven instead of five more
years.
The Judicial Proce edings
Committee also tackled on two
other amendments before CIV
ing the controversial bill a ia
Vorable report. If the amend
ments are enacted by the Sem
ate later today. the bill would
be returned to the House for
concurrence.
Supporters of the Governors
bill believe that eny amend
ing in the Senate would jeop-
ardize the entire measure. They
are trying to avoid any criss-
crossing from one house to the
other this later in the session.
With adjournment about 100
hours away, such a highly de-
DATED measure could be lost I'M
the shuttle.
Age Set at Over 2I
Other amendments. suggested
by two Senators from slot
machine counties today, would
make it illegal for anyone
under 81 years old to play the
one-armed bandits and would
make technical changes in the
bill. The effect of the changes
would be to give operators still
another three months. y
The bill, as amended before
1t left the House after a week
OF acrimonious debate, would,
grant slot operators a two-year
period OF grace beginning this
month before they would begin
a three-year Gradual reduction
IN the number of their ma
chimes. Yesterday, Senator Ed
} ward T. Hall, Republican Of
Calvert, tried to raise the grace
period and the phase-out period
to total OF 10 years. The
: motion failed in the committee
on tie vote.
Parran Compromise
Senator John T. Parran.
Democrat of Charles, made the
compromise motion today, ex-
tending the grace period to
THREE years and the phase-out
period to four years. Charles
and Calvert, along with st.
Marys and Anne Arundel. are
the four counties where the
machines are legal.
Senator John A. Derr, Re-
publican of Frederick, was the
: key man in today'S voting.
J Yesterday he voted against the
/ slot amendment but expressed
sorrow over the economic
plight Of Southern Maryland"
Today he switched his vote on
the compromise, allowing the
amendments to be approved
seven to five.
1t appeared from today's
committee action that Gov.
Tawes may not be able to get
an anti-Slot measure on which
he has placed his prestige
through the Assembly.
Senator Frederick c. NAL
kus, chairman of the Pro-
! ceedings Committee, said to-
day that he will fight to tack
on an amendment of his own
during Senate debate, to make
sure that slots could not be-
legalized in any other county
while they are PLEASING out in
Southern Maryland.
The Governors aides said
earlier this week they would
have difficulty getting the bill
out of Senator Malkus' COM
mittee unencumbered, but
claimed they have the votes
in the Senate to pass the bill.
Today, they were less sure.
After the committees action.
the Governor had mo COM
ment," but went into a strategy
huddle with majority leaders.
Race Tie-Up Fails
Southern Maryland Senators
have pushed for delay outlaw
ing the machines, claiming that
the economy Of all four coun-
ties involved would be crippled
by the loss of gambling rev.
enue.
Another tactic Of the South
ern Maryland legislators failed
yesterday. They wanted TO de-
4 lay the administrators racing
bill SO that 1t would have gone
into the home stretch, neck
and neck with the slots
measure.
The racing bill, major step
towards consolidating race
tracks in the state. passed 26.0
in the Senate yesterday. after
Slot county legislators hoped
that II racing and slots were
on the floor at the same time,
votes could he traded TO defeat
or add crippling amendments
10 the anti-slot machine bill.
Under the bill. Maryland's Il
tracks will be cut back 10 nine,
with the adjustment OF Belair.
Cumberland and Baltimore
Raceway. With the payment
OF So million, the 40 racing
days at these tracks would be
divided equally among Bowie,
Pimlico. Laurel and Timonium.
In addition the bill grants
extra days Of racing for harness
and half-mile tracks In the
State.
I In other General Assembly
action. the Senate Judicial
Proceedings Committee killed a
House-paSSed bill which would
have allowed teachers 10 con-
duct one minute Of silent medi-
tation In schools II present re-
ligious exercises are declared
unconstitutional.