Evening star., 1941-03-30
Delegates Ask
Jai.A|ai Bettinq
In Montgomery
S250,000 Arena
With Puri-MutueI
System Sought
BY BEN III. PEARSE,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT,


ANNAPOLIS, March s29. - The
Spanish basque sport of jai alai with
pari-mutuel system of betting
would be legalized in Montgomery
County under a bill introduced to-
day in the House by four of the
county Delegates.
A sports arena about the size of
an ice hockey rink would be con-
structed near the District line at a
cost of not less than $250,000 accord
ing to the provisions of the bill
Its ultimate cost would be conSid-
erably more than that amount,
sponsors of the bill, who are now
operating the sport in Florida, esti-
mate.
Revenue accruing to the county
has been estimated at between $780,
900 and 100000 year and to the
State at more than 100000, ac-
cording to Delegate E. Brooke Lee,
who with Delegates James w. Gill,
Stanton c. Peelle and Ruth Shoe
maker, sponsored the measure.
AS the measure passed along to
the third reading under suspension
of the rules last night. Delegate
Charles C. Jones. the fifth member
of the delegation whose name has
appeared on none of the delegation
bills, made his first floor speech
of the session in opposition.
Describing it as Hi Ii, 10 Ii.
PrnnHn oaf rNrnnnco1 hn lnplornI
it was being "crammed down our
throatS to make money for busted
politicians"
We don't have to bring this South
American game from the dog tracks
and race tracks of Miami into Mont
gomery County and intend to vote
against it,
Ten others joined him in voting
no but the measure went across
the hall to the Senate.
Opposed by Majority.
A bill to legalize the game In
Prince Georges County was intro
duced about two weeks ago by that
county's delegation, but is known
to be opposed by most of the Dele
gates because of the race track at
Bowie and Upper Marlboro and the
desire not to have another major
sporting interest in the county.
The bid to construct the jai alai
court in Montgomery County came
within the past 48 hours, according
to the Montgomery Delegates. They
announced they will take the mat
ter up with residents of the county,
including the Democratic County
Congress, Should subsequent de-
velopmerits make it appear unwise
Gov. O'Conor will be asked to veto
the measure, it was announced.
Included in the proposed bill, in
troduced under a suspension of the
rules, was a provision for an initial
S50000 license fee and posting of
a $4,000 bond to guarantee COM
pliance with provisions of the
agreement including the provision
that the building shall not cost
less than s250,000, for labor and
material.
Under Racing Commission.
The court would be operated
under the Maryland Racing Com
mission, which would receive for
the State l per cent of the pari-
mutuel pool. The county would
get per cent of the total amount
wagered in the pool. In addition,
the county would receive 10 cents
on each admission ticket up to
IS cents. and 20 per cent on tickets
costing more than that amount.
At least IS per cent of the en-
ployes at the court would be resi-
dents of Maryland and at least go
per cent Of Montgomery County,
the bill provides.
Several sites for the court already
have been looked over, but none
decided upon. About five acres is
required. The bill authorizes con-
struction of the court on any site
approved by the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion The building would be on a
secondary commercial site.