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NEW FRENCH BETTIiilG BILL Regulation, Taxation and an Open Market Its Chief Features Comment on Its Provisions by English Critic. I have had an opportunity to see the text of the new French betting bill, and, except that it Is based on the pari-mutuel system, it is a model of common sense. The sponsors of the bill, recognizing that people will bet, set to work to regulate and control race cpurse speculation on rensonnble lines, instead of refusing to recognize the inevitable, as do our obstinate legislators. I believe that 99 per cent of our chancellors of the exchequer would hall a tax on betting with delight, but they are too much afraid of that bogey the nonconformist conscience to include such a tax in the budget. The object of the present bill is to rope in he clandestine bookmaker, who has hitherto escaped taxation, and Is more often than not a rogue. He has for a long time been preying on the French public, which could not go racing yet wanted to have its "bit on." Now he will have to be registered and conduct his business according to definite rules, which are to be laid down for his observance. A certain number of towns and cities are to have these betting offices, licenses being granted by the municipality. Every town of 100.000 inhabitants is to have one Licensee. Paris, apparently will have twenty, and watering places and health resorts are. it seems, to have their "agencies," without reference to population. Further, every license holder is entitled to create three branches, which must bo under his direct control, and substantial deposits have to be lodged as security for the proper conduct of the business. These offices will have to pay the parl-mutuel rates, and ! per cent on the amount of the money bet with them. A proposed innovation, which is likely to find favor with French owners, is to the effect that bookmakers shall be allowed, under license and control, of course, in a special inclosure on race courses, to which owners of race horses only will be admitted. They, too, will pay a tax of 0 per cent on the money bet with them, but the bill Is not clear as to whether these liookmnkers will make their own prices or lay the machine odds. I suspect. however, that tin? idea is to form an open market, in which supply and demand will regulate the prices. This want lias long been felt by French sportsmen, and has done much to destroy the true sporting spirit of racing in that country.. Owners coiihl not, as they do hero, tell their friends when they fancied their horses chance, for they knew that .every fraiie bet on the animal would reduce their own price, whereas in the open market an owner who has taken a price does not, unless lie is of the dog-in-the-manger order, care how much money goes 011 his horse. There are heavy penalties for offenses against the provisions of the hill, and they fall equally 011 the layer and backer not! as our law provides, on the layer alone. Vigilant in Loudou Siwrtsman.
