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HEAVY TAX FOR MONTREAL TRACKS. Measure Passed Calls for the Use of Mutuel Machines Next Year. Montreal. Que., December 22. That the tracks operating in Montreal and the vicinity next year will either use pari-nuituels or go out of existence, is shown by the passing of a bill late yesterday afternoon by the Quebec legislature, placing a tax on all Rice tracks in the province. The tax provided for the mile courses in Montreal and the neighborhood is ,000 per day in place of a percentage, as was originally suggested. The half-mile tracks charging not more than fifty cents gate admission will be taxed only 00 per racing day. This applies to tracks operating the pari-mutucl system of betting. For associations using the book-making system, the tax will be doubled and, in addition, each bookmaker will have io pay a license of 00 per racing day to receive a license to operate. The local jockey clubs were well represented at the sessions of the legislature when the bill was passed, and the majority of them have already decided to install the mutuels. Each of the half-mile track managements will be put to an expense of about 0,000 in installing the mutuel plants. The bill does not say what percentage is to be taken, but it is probable that the government will confine the percentage to eight per cent at the largest. There are now seven tracks being operated near Montreal, which give ninety-eight days of racing, so that the revenue derived from them will be a handsome one. The passing of the syndicate ring is looked upon as a good thing for the racing generally in the province.
