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ILLINOIS HOUSE PASSES BILL I AMENDING HORSE ACT SPRINGFIELD, 111., April 27. The House today passed with the emergency clause the Weeks-Knauf-Randolph bill amending the horse racing act. It received 106 votes. The bill provides that the racing commission shall have the right to grant, refuse, suspend or withdraw licenses to horse owners, trainers, jockeys, apprentices, grooms, stable foremen, exercise boys, veterinarians, valets and platers. Such licenses shall be for the period ending December 31 in each year, for a fee of not more than .00. At least 85 per cent of all persons employed by race track associations, except racing officials, shall have been citizens and residents of this state for at least two years prior to their employment. Applications for licenses to conduct race meetings for the succeeding year to be filed prior to November 1, instead of March 1, such licenses to be acted upon during the last fifteen days of November, instead of during the first fifteen days of March. The commission may allot a different number of racing days to the several tracks, and different dates and days than those requested in their applications. HEAVY PENALTY. The bill prohibits administering to any horse a drug, stimulant or depressant internally, externally or by hypdermic method; the use of any battery, buzzer, electrical, mechanical or other appliances other than ordinary whip or spur; the sponging of a horses nostrils or windpipe, the possession of any such things or devices within the confines of a race track, stables, sheds, buildings or grounds. The Weeks bill, passed by the house, provides for punishing those guilty of administering stimulants or depressants to a horse as follows: "Anyone violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished for each offense by a fine of not less than 00 and not more than ,000, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment."
