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STATE-WIDE COMMISSION PROPOSED. Uniform Bill to Provide for Government of Racing in Maryland to Be Introduced, Ualtiinore. Md.. January y. A bill creating a slate-wide racing commission will be introduced in Ihe legislature within the next few days by Senator Hammond. indications are that then; will be a warm contest between the advocates of repeal of all racing privileges and those proimsiug a stat" tax and regulation, which will- practically put the state into partnership with the big racing enterprises iu Maryland. The P.altimore Sun prints the following from its legislative corresimiideiit at Annapolis concerning tho introduction of the bill aimed against the Havre do race track: Another uplift movement was inaugurated in t It--Slate Senate when Frank 1-7. Williams, r Cecil County, almost throw into spasms the members of the siKirting fraternity who hang out at Annapolis during legislative sessions by introducing a bill to put the Havre de race race track out of business. Thev were not the only ones who were surprised, however. Most oT the other senators were just as much astonished. These senators couldnt quite understand Tor a while why the representative or one county should undertake to introduce legislation relating solely to another county. Thev wondered whv Harrords own senator, James J. Archer, had not introduced the measure. Ihey couldnt see through the thing at all until Senator Williams explained that before he introduced the bill he told Senator Archer what lie proposed to do and offered to allow him to introduce the bill. "Rut even with that the state house still rings with talk about the encroachment by one senator upon another senators legislative preserves and the precedent against senatorial courtesy which Mr. Williams action establishes. These conventionalists contend that if Harford County doesnt see lit to break up racing within its borders it certainly isnt t!u business of auvone else to try to do so as long as racing is permitted in other sections of the state. "Thev are at something of a loss to understand whv Senator Williams, instead of concentrating liis efforts in an attempt to reieal the Harford County racing law, did not make his bill state-wide, and try to put the other Maryland tracks out of eoni-itiissioii. Thai is n question he has not explained as vet but it is not stretching things in the least to "sav that he has started not only the sporting traternity but everyone else to wondering. What is going to happen to Pimlico ami Laurel V is a question that is being asked on all shies. "The AVilliams bill is brief. It provides that the act passed in 1012 for the regulation, control and licensing of horse racing in Harford County, creating the Harford County Racing Commission and prescribing its powers and duties shall be repealed. "The act Mr. AVilliams would have repealed named Robert C. Richardson. James T. Jones. Ieon II. Tubbs, .1. Alexis Shriver and .Michael II. Fa hey as members of the Harford County Racing Commission, to hold office for four years, and bestowed upon thein authority to name their successors and till vacancies. It gave to these commissioners large powers. It required all associations wishing to establish race tracks or conduct horse races within the county to applv to them for licenses and to submit to them a list of the days upon which they desired to race. Under the law the commission is authorized to apportion the davs for racing in the county so as not to exceed an "aggregate of 00 days for the entire year, and no association can lie allowed more than 30 davs during anv one vear. the same to be divided into not more than two meetings. The license fee was fixed at 0 a dav up to seven days, for running race meetings and 00 a dav for each additional day in excess of seven. The fee for trotting races was axed at 0 a day and the act added that all associations except regularly incorporated agricultural associations should pay into the treasury of the county live per cent, of their gate receipts, the money to" be placed to the credit of the road fund. "This is the law that Senator AVilliams wishr-s to repeal. Rack oT him a good many people profess to see the hand of Governor Goldsborough. who has repeatedly declared against race track gambling. Senator AVilliams says that the Havre de Grace nice track Is just as detrimental and just as obnoxious to Cecil County as it is to a great many or the people of Harford. Furthermore, he says, that the Cecil County delegates here promised to introduce a bill to put the track out of business. He, having once been a regularly ordained minister of the Presbyterian church, is accredited with having conscientious scruples against horse racing. "Senator Archer had nothing to say with reference to Senator Williams course. lie asserted that he he does not care to discuss the subject at this time or say what he will do when the bill comes out upon the tloor of the senate for final disposition. Some of his Harford County people profess to believe that he will oppose the measure. Others regard his attitude as .uncurtain. Mini Archer has a head ol" his own. He is regarded in the senate as a man whose actions c-..nnot be dictated.
