Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-08
FRENCH SYSTEM
OF MUTUALS
Government Bookmaking Popular
With the People.

PARIS. August 6.-WiI wisdom result
| from the multitude of councillors, potent
and grave functionaries of the republic are
bordering over the question as to how to
| increase the number of golden eggs laid by
that very prolific bird the goose of the ''mu-
tuals." If the new system of turf invest
| ment may be taken a criterion. France
has every reason to congratulate herself on
the amount of money which has been
brought to racing during late years. From
the month of June 1891, when the law was
voted legalfzing the "mutuals' as the only
authorized system of investments to June
of this year $3.50 0O0.000 has been turned
over at the different offices on the race
course. The best year was 1903. when the
takings were computed at So. 900 600 OF
these sums the usual deductions are made
Of 1 per cent for the purchase of eligible
breeding material, per cent for the crea-
ton and ameloration of certain charitable
Institutions. per cent for the racing So
cieties for the payment of necessary eX-
penSes, and another per cent for the pur-
pose of bringing pure and drinkable water
to different districts where a supply is need
ed. Provincial societies have to confide
their interests for the organization of the
official system of betting to middlemen. and
have some trouble in making both ends
meet.
During the period referred to the capital
applied to sport has been reduced by S4t,-
100000, serious deduction when due con-
sideration is paid to the fact that racing
is supported by the same class of persons.
The habitueS of racing are drawn from all
sorts and conditions of mankind. who re-
gard the turf supplying them with open
air gambling under government control 1t
Is useless to examine the ethics of the ques-
ton. Ne good purpose can be served by
asking why the suburban residents are
waiting for Peter the Hermit to
preach a crusade against the followers or
racing-the scum of the turf-whO invade
the quiet suburban resorts of the Parf3ians
during the races. levying ransom, even on
the very race courses of the leading sOcie-
ties. 1t is useless to refer 10 the increase
Of crime. since the masses were taught that
they could play up a fiye-franc piece which
may bring them In over hundred times
the amount ofStheir investment. All is fish
that comes to the net of the government
lottery, and the small amount of the stakes
gives access to the men, women and youths
who throng round the offices on the race
course
Prohibitions against betting increase the
number OF the clandeStine layers of odds.
Good localities Is done in in outlying locali-
ties and about the central markets by those
who take small money from working people
and return the mutual prices" In the
first place they sure of per cent, and
then should the favorfte win they have
often the whole book for themselves as the
small SPECTATORS are always on the look
out for some outsider. Special committees
are being held at this moment for the pur-
pose Of regulating racing and taking ad-
vice of the different leading societies 70
the betting question. Pessimists think that
the small amount returned by the ''mu-
tuals' this year will decide the govern
ment to suppress the betting ring. They
pretend that there will be no bookmakers
at Deauville. 1t has, however. been clearly
established that the law cannot interfere
with one owner who backs his fancy with
another owner. and probably should there
be any interference. more than one fielder
who shows his colors on the course will
feel inclined to try the case.
Most probably the evidence given by the
gentlemen who are interested In racing will
simply lead to some attempt to levy tax
on the heIders In the meantime sportsmen
who have watched events since Baron La
Rochelle couched his quixotic lance against
the Engiishmen who had come over to
France to bet will regret that gentleman
who had the welfare of the turf at heart
should have been SO badly smitten with