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referendum in California! • i Petitions Now Circulating to Put Racing Bill on Ballot. ♦ H. J. Macomber, hairman of anipiiii:n Committee — Measure Protitlrs for Mutucl netting. 9 SAN FRANCISCO. Calif.. June 21— After a long campaign the sportsmen and breeders of California have come out with a petition to have an initiative measure on the November ballot that, should it pass, will restore racing to the state of California. The petition is now in circulation in San Francisco. Oakland. Lea Angeles. San Diego and various other cities of California, seeking signatures, and there is high hope for a complete success. The proposed measure provides for the operation of race courses with the pari-mutuel. or certificate form of betting, such as has been used with such success in various other sections of the country. It will make book-making illegal, as did the Otis-Walker bill, whii-h banished racing from the state some fifteen years ago. All race track profits above 9 per cent a year on actual capital investment goes to the state for equal division between the Veterans" Welfare F.oard and the State Board of Agriculture, the latter to apply the money to state, district and county fairs. Among the men sponsoring the bill are H. .1. Macomber, Rudolph Spreckels, John H. Rosseter. Archibald Johnson and Joseph O. Tobin. all of San Francisco . James Woods, W. W. Hines. Irving H. Hellmann. Charles W. Clark. Carlton F. Rurke. Joseph Toplitzky and Carrello Allen of Los Angeles, and C. R. Seins of San Diego. MMOMIIF.K ISSUES STATEMENT. As chairman of the racing .board campaign committee Macomber today issued the following statement concerning the features of the measure: "After several years of study and practical investigation on the part of a number of men interested in horse breeding and agriculture, it has been decided t» submit an i initiative measure to the voters at the November election, of which the purpose is to restore horse racing as a pastime and bring added wealth to the state without reviving : the old system of bookmaking and pool selling "The measure permits only a limited nura-l»er of race meetings each year under strict .supervision of a state racing board, and •allows the pari-mutuel or totalizator wagering system to be conducted within the enclosures of race tracks only. "To avoid a multiplicity of race tracks and undue frequency of race meetings in any particular locality, the profits of licensed racing associations are limited to ;t per cent a year on the actual investment in race tracks and e nii| ment. and no new tracks can be located or established without first securing permission of the board. •"Net earnings of racing associations from all sources beyond the 9 per cent annually on capital invested will be divided, half going to the Veterans Welfare Board and half to the California State Board of Agriculture. FOK BENEFIT OF VETERANS. •Tin- half contributed to the Veterans Welfare Hoard will be used for any purpose set forth in tin- existing veterans welfare act. and for any similar benefit purposes that future legislatures may prescribe for the refief of war veterans and their dependants. ••The half devoted to the Board of Agriculture will be used for the purpose of encour-aging and improving the conditions of :igri-culture and stock breeding, and in aiding 6tate. district and county expositions, thereby reviving the popularity cif the county fairs. for which said aid is not now available. "The California Racing Hoard will consist of three members appointed by the governor, two of whom are to be selected from the State Board of Agriculture, and the third. a chairman, selected at large. No member of this hoard may be financially interested in horse racing. Fach will be required to furnish a 0,000 bond that he will faithfully perform his duties. The board to appoint inspectors, accountants, experts and such staff as may be necessary to enforce the act at a cost of not more than 0,000 a year from the revenue the proposed law provides. "Not more than two race meetings of not exceeding twenty-five days each and at least ninety days apart, can be held in a calendar year at any track, and only on licenses issued by the board to authorized racing associations. The board can refuse permits in cases "where it believes the applicant lacks sufficient financial responsibility or is not likely to conduct racing in strict accordance with the law. License fees for such meetings are fixed at 11 a day. but non-profit fairs or agricultui a I expositions may hold one six-day meeting a year for o daily license fee. 8 VI Ft.l AKPS PKOVIDFD. "Ample safeguards are provided throush-out the act to assure only the highest class of good, clean racing. The board, for instance, will have full power to prescribe rules and nKulaliiirs for rac.-s. and is vested with absolute authority over all race tracks and their employes. It max also revoke or suspend any license and such action by the board is subject to review by the superior courts on questions of law only. "Failure to make proper return of earnings in excess of I per cent net annual revenue subjects track owners to a fine of as much as 5,000. Inliccnsed ra m. -clings are penalized by fines of not less than 01. nor more than 0,000 for each da of an unauthorized meeting." In addition to the sponsors of the bill. Macomber announced the following names as among those on the advisory campaign eosn-mittee : IL Porter Ashe, Charks Boots. Q. A. Blanch. ltd, I. L. Horden. Charles Burns. Col. Daniel M. Burns. Ross Ambkr Cur-ran. Michael J. Casey, George T. Cameron. Victor .1 Cancpa. Alexander I vbiett ville. Charles iMinphy. Cornelius .1. 1easy. Milton H. Esbcrg. Charles W. Fay, Thomas M. Voles. Lrtust It Fotger, Herbert Fit i-h hacker. William Fltxhunh, William S. Guil-ford, Fugeiie II. drub I., Charles Glynn. Hose A. Ounst. Al Herbert, Charles A. HartareU, Charles F. Hanlon. C. M. ilanlon. George B. Hollis. Alexander Hamilton, Adm. Alexander and. Il.ilslead. II. O. Harrison, Walter Hobart, William F. Humphrey. P. J. Herold. George F. lrine. Walter W. Johnson. R. D. Lap-] ham. Sen. Daniel C. Murphy. John H. Miller. Richard S. MeOoary, Wait, 1 Martin, John . MeOae, Ernest Oteen, 1 r. Max RotbacbUdJ .ii.seph T. Rocker, Richard Roberta, front ott Scott, Arthui H. St. el. Dr. T. B. Shumate. 1:. l-. Schit stager, Charles H. Booey, Robert I Hays Smith. C. R Tobtn, Nion R. Tucker J Sen. Tallaut Tubbs. I an! Verdict . Ccorgej •naajfisM, Michael Weill and Vincent Whit-; nay.
