Evening journal., 1907-03-06
RACING BILL
in THE HOUSE
Speaker HOdeSOn InCenSed at
Covert Methods of It's
Introduction
THOUGHT 1T SALARY BILL
special to me evening journal.


DOVER. March 6-Under the mis-
leading title OF "An act regarding the
salary OF the superintendent Of public
schools a bill TO legallze horse racing
in Delaware was introduced IN khe
House Of Representatives yesterday by
Mr.. Bennum, OF Sussex. one Of the
twelve sections permits boolxmaking,
The bin is a duplicate Of the Percy
Gray law Of New York.
When Speaker .Hodsson discovered
the nature OF the bill he said:
Il give warning to The puglic that 1
shall check any schemes for snake
legislation like the proposed measure.
and I give notice that an persons i'm
terested may look out for the conse-
quences. I consider the bin introduced
as one Of the most dangerous gambling
schemes ever presented here, and
propose to check ht as well as any
other which may present themselves"
Duplicate Of New York Law.
The measure is almost an exact
duplicate OF the Percy Gray law OF
New Yory, IL having been drawn liter
ally from the New York statutes. The
only difference is that instead OF pro-
widing for the imposition of a per
cent. tax upon the gross receipts OF
every racing association for the en-
.couragement Of agriculture. as IS done
in the State OF New York, the Della
ware bill siipulates that am annual tax
OF $4,000 shall be paid by each racing
association 10 the state for the com
struction OF good roads.
The bill provides that the Governor
shall appoint a Racing Commission OF
three members. as is dono by the
Governor OF New York. who shall serve
without pay for a term of five years.
They are empowered TO appoint "a Sec
retary, who shall have the same pow
ers as Is given this official IN New
York State. The total expenses OF the
| proposed Delaware Racing Commission
and the salary OF the secretary. how
ever, shall not exceed $1,000 per year
this amount to be paid by associations
holding licenses from the Commission
to conduct race meetings.
Section / Of the bill, relating 20 the
imposition OF a tax for good roads
throughout Delaware reads:
Money For Roads.
A tax Of $4,000 per annum by every
corporation organized under the pro-
visions OF this act from every rac'
meeting or meetings held within thl
state of Delaware shall be paid b,
sucn corporation or association holding
such races, or exercising any of tn
privileges conferred by Section 3 o
this act. Such tax shall be paid an
!. nually by said corporation or associa
ton to the State Treasurer within /
days otter the 18th of December in eac
year, and be by him equally distribute
among the three counties of the Stat
OF Delaware I'm like proportion, IN
state Treasurer making payment o
each part to the County Treasurer O
the several counties. who shall pay on
the same for the Improvement OF tn
public roads within the respectiv
counties upon the proper warrant O
the Levy Court OF each county upo
the County Treasurer. who shall hav
deposited his said countys shar i
some bank or trust company as
special deposit. From the first money
arising from said tax there shall
expended in Sussex county in the frs
year the whole of said sum in equa
proportions in Georgetown and North
west Fork hundreds and afterward a
the Levy Court directs; In Kent coun
ty in the first year the whole OF tn
said sum IN equal proportions in Mil
ford and Duck Greek hundreds and az
teuward as the Levy Court may direct
and in New Castle county in the frs
year the whole Of said sum in equi
proportions in Appoquinimink an
Blackbird hundreds and afterward a
the Levy Court may direct"
1t was at first intended to have IN
bill first introduced in the Senate, bt
at the last moment. when IL becam
apparent that It was a measure per
taining to revenue for the state,
was necessary to have It presente
originally in the House. For thi
reason II was introduced by Repre-
sentative Bennum under another it'll
It is proposed to establish race cours
of got less than a mile and an eight
in length. with appropriate building
field and Appropriate buildings be
beween Wilmington and Philadelphi
along the Delaware river, and ais
along the line Of the Pennsylvani
! Railroad directly.