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MARYLAND RACING IS SAFE BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHANCE IN THE SENATE. Test Votes Show the Senate Would Have Passed a State Commission Bill if Time Necessary Had Been Available. Annapolis. M 1.. April 4. — The session of the the Maryland legislature for 1916 expired by limitation last night at 12 oelock and with it died the Hall anti-racing bill, so that the sport is safe for two years more at least, as the legislature will not meet again until 101 S. Senator Williams, the head and front of the race track opjKisition in the senate, fought to the bitter end but it was of no use. for the friends of racing in the upper bouse were too strong for him. The Hall measure really received its quietus early yesterday afternoon when the senate rejected a motion from senator Williams to sus] end the rules and pass the bill to its third reading. It was necessary to carry this motion if the bill was to have a chance. The vote rejecting the Williams motion was 13 to 11. The bill was called up on its second reading and was amended by substituting the Frick bill, which would regulate racing through a commission of three and would charge tin- tracks ,000 a day for a license. The Frick bill was substituted by a vote of 15 to 8. Then a motion was made to suspend the rules and pass the amended bill. The vote on his motion was 16 to S. As eighteen votes were needed to suspend the rules, the motion wan lost and the bill died. There was considerable debate on the question at last nights session. Senator Williams spoke in favor of the Hall bill. Senator Archer of Harford opposed the measure on the grounds that it would encourage gambling on credit, one of the most insidious forms of gambling, he said. He said he favored the Frick bill as an amendment, although it was not all he desired. Thus ended the long fight against racing, started by a few agitators and nursed along by the politicians and the lobby. The ] eople of Maryland, as a whole, want racing, although many of them would have been glad if a state-wide commission had been established to regulate the sport. This might have been done had the race tracks agreed on a measure, but there were two factions and. between them, the racing commission idea fell to the ground.
