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PARI-MUTUEL BILL PASSED IN MONTANA Both Houses of Legislature Approve Measure That Will Mean Revival of Racing. HELENA, Mont., February 2S. The revival of racing in Montana is practically assured with the passing of a bill permitting pari-mutuel betting by the legislature here yesterday afternoon. The bill proposed in the interest of state and county fairs was approved in the senate by a vote of twenty-six to ten, having passed the house after an interesting discussion Monday forty-nine to thirty-eight. Efforts to kill the bill were frustrated by members of both houses presenting statistics showing the decline, in attendance at fairs since the abolition of the pari-mutuel system two years ago. Appeals from various sections of the state favoring the revival of the siwrt under state supervision were presented to prove popular sentiment in- favor of the measure. It was explained that the surplus at the state . fair alone had dwindled from 3,000 to ,000 since racing stopped, and that some county fairs had been forced to discontinue on account of lack of support. The increased value of horses and aid to raising the standard, of breeding stock was also argued with good effect on some wavering members. The bill is now in the hands of the governor, who, while not committing himself on the subject, is expected to sign it.
