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FRENCH TURF LEGISLATION Turf speculation is passing through another crisis in France says the London Sportsman A suggestion has been thrown out that book ¬ makers should have their winnings taxed This idea has however been abandoned owing to the difficulties which would arise from any at ¬ tempt to place an impost on profits which are too often only found on paper The reserve which we consider has most prudently been made by the French Jockey Club to parry any decrease in takiugs or different sources of rev onues from which the added money is derived has caused a great deal of controversy On the other hand it is a well known fact that the pickings etc arising from the manipulation of the 4 per cent levied on the mutuals for the payment of all expenses connected with the working of the race lottery has served to fatten more or less unscrupulous personages whose names are loudly whispered MEdmond Blanc Deputy for the Hautes Pyrenees has endeav ¬ ored to solve the difficulty by placing on the table of the chamber a bill tending to modify the law of June 27 1891 The bill runs as follows Racing societies cannot realize any profits and the amount of their receipts after deducting the cost of exploitation shall be dis ¬ tributed as added money to owners or premiums to breeders etc Societies may nevertheless be auhorized to constitute a reserve fund the amount of which shall be limited by the Minis ¬ ter of Agriculture The Upper Stud Commit ¬ tee under the presidency of M Meline Minister of Agriculture has held its final sitting and ex ¬ pressed a desire that no modification whatever shall be made in tho law of 1891 respecting tho betting and that the law fchall bo strictly en ¬ forced for the suppression of illegal wagering
