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MEASURE IN MISSOURI LEGISLATURE. Bill for an Act to Create a State Racing Commission and Legalize Mutuels. Telegrams from Jefferson City. Mo., brings the information that representative Taylor has introduced a bill which, if passed by the legislature, will permit the revival of racing in Missouri, with limited meetings and the legal use of pari-mutucls. The bill is in part amendatory and in part creative and its provisions are as follows: AN ACT To Amend Article XV. of the Revised Statutes as Follows: First By substituting in section 3195. in line 21. thirteenth word the word fifty in place of ten. Second— In section MM in tenth line fourth word, the word fifty in place of ten. Third— By adding in section 3500 after the word "thereto" in the sixteenth line the following: "Fourth to promote and conduct contests of skill, speed and endurance between man or beast: provided that the powers conferred by subdivisions second, third and fourth of this section shall not bo exercised by any corporation organized under this article, unless one of the purposes of the organization of such corporation shall be those specified in subdivision first of this section. Fourth — By adding to section 350"_ the following: No dividend paid by any corporation organized under this act shall exceed the amount of eight per cent per annum. Should the net profits after fell fixed charges, salaries, percentages and other expenses have been paid exceed this amount, fifty per cent of the excess shall be paid into the state treasury where it shall be placed to the credit of a fund for the building and maintenance of the roads of the stat". The money in this fund shall be appropriated by law from time to time and shall lie distributed as the legislature may see fit. The other fifty per cent shall lie used for the development of the live stock of the state by the offering of premiums and the creation and maintenance of an annual live stock and horse show in the county in which the corporation is situated. The state auditor shall at all times have access to the books of any corporation formed under this act to see that all of the above provisions are carried out. Fifth--By adding sections 350S, 3509 and KM as follows: Section 3508. Any corporation formed under the provisions of this article, if so claimed in its certificate of organization, and if it shall comply with all the provisions of this article, and any other corporation entitled to the benefits and privileges of this article as hereinafter provided, shall have the power and right to hold one or more trotting and running race meetings in each year and to hold, maintain and conduct trotting, pacing or running races at such meetings. Such meetings shall not lie held for more than forty days in each year and shall be divided into two meetings not to exceed twenty days each, with a lapse of not less than thirty days between them. Section 3509. State Racing Commission: There shall hereafter be a State Racing Commission, consisting of three persons, to be appointed by the governor, and who shall hold office for the term of six years, no two of whom shall be members of the same racing association. They shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be paid the necessary traveling and other expenses. Such commission shall appoint a secretary, who shall serve during their pleasure, whose duty it shall be to keep a full and faithful record of the proceedings of such commission, preserve at the general office of such commission all liooks. maps, papers and documents entrusted to his care, prepare for service such papers and notices as may be required of him by the commission and perform such other duties us the commission may prescribe. He shall have the power, under the direction of the commission, to issue subpoenas for witnesses and to administer oaths in all cases pet tabling to the duties of his office. The total annual expenses of the commission, including the salary of the secretary, shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars. Such expenses shall be paid by the several racing associations or cor-ixirations owning or operating such race tracks, to lie apportioned by the commission, and such assessments shall be collected in the manner provided by law for the collection of taxes upon corporations. Such commission shall make a biannual report to the legislature of its proceedings witli such suggestions and recommendations as it shall deem desirable. Section 3510. License for Running Races. — Any corporation or association desiring to obtain the benefits of section 350S of this article may annually apply to the State Racing Commission for a license to conduct race meetings. If in the .judgment of the commission a proper case for the issuance of such license is shown it may grant such license for a term not to exceed forty days in any one year. Such license fee will be ,000 for each day of racing. Within forty-eight hours of the close of any meeting the license fee shall be paid into the state treasury to be placed to the credit of a fund for the building and maintenance of the roads of the state. The money in this fund shall 1m- appropriated by law from time to time and shall be distributed as the legislature may see fit. The State Racing Commission may grant to such associations or corporations, that may be licensed under this article, the right to arrange mutuel or eo operative pools, to record such pools by mechanical or other means, to issue a ticket or receipt for the identification of such peiMM who may subscribe to such pools. To provide proper stakes and prizes the association or corporation may deduct from such pools a reasonable percentage and such shall not be considered a violation of sections 474S of 4749 or any other sections of the revised statutes of this state. Any trotting or pacing association incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri and any state, county or other fair association shall be entitled to all privileges conferred by section 3508 of this article by filing in the office, wherein its certificate or incorporation is filed, a Certificate that shall set forth its intention to avail itself of such privileges; and any trotting or pacing association or state, county or otiier fair association shall not be required to obtain any license or obtain any other certificate. State, county or other fair associations entitled to conduct trotting and pacing races under the provisions of this article may also conduct running races in connection therewith under the same provisions but no running races shall be conducted on any track or grounds for more than six days in any one year, unless the license of the state lacing commission therefor is first obtained.
