Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 478]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1943]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

475

Of the total amount of premiums which are to be paid to persons for exhibitions at its annual fair for the current year for exhibits of horticulture, agriculture, poultry, live stock, light horses, harness-racing and running horse races and domestic and mechanical arts, no one Department or class shall be paid State aid on premiums awarded in excess of 30% of the total premiums awarded by the fair association. In no case shall stall or pen rentals exceed one dollar per day for the duration of the fair. A reasonable entry fee for all classes may be charged with the maximum limit of seven dollars and fifty cents on each entry. No part of any appropriation made for the benefit of county fairs or agricultural societies shall be used in payments for acts which in the judgment of the director of the Department of Agriculture are primarily for the entertainment of persons attending any such county fair, or for acts which have been hired or contracted for by county fairs or agricultural societies: Provided, that prizes awarded for light horses, and for harness-racing and running horse races shall be payable from any such appropriation. Harness horse races and running horse races shall for the purpose of receiving State aid be considered one Department under this Act. Except as hereinafter provided for agricultural extension clubs, and for light horse exhibits, harness racing and running horse racing exhibits, the Department of Agriculture shall pay each such county fair or agricultural society: first, 85% of the first $1,000; second, 75% of the second $1,000; third, 65% of the next $2,000; fourth, 55% of the next $2,000. The Department shall pay each county fair or agricultural society as State aid 50% of the total amount of premiums awarded for light horses, harness racing and running horse races. From the amount remaining in such appropriation for the current year after such county fairs or agricultural societies have received the aforementioned percentages, the Department shall, except in the case of light horses, harness racing and running horse races, pay 50% of all premiums in excess of $6,000: Provided, that if the amount remaining in such appropriation for the current year is insufficient to pay 50'% of all premiums in excess of $6,000, then such remaining amount shall be distributed proportionately among county fairs or agricultural societies paying premiums in excess of $6,000 on the basis of the amount of total premiums paid in excess of this sum. However, in case any county fair or agricultural society has been unable to pay all premiums awarded but has paid a part thereof, the Department of Agriculture shall pay and reimburse such fair on the basis of the amount of premiums paid at the time the statement hereinafter required is filed; Provided, that no moneys shall be paid over to any county fair or agricultural society, unless such county fair or agricultural society has pro rated all receipts from any source other than from admission to the grandstand or amphitheatre and from entry fees for races, not necessary for the payment of labor or advertising, among all other claims and expenses or has paid all such other claims and expenses in full. On or before the 15th day of October of each year the president and secretary of each county fair or agricultural society claiming the benefit of any such appropriation shall file with the Department of Agriculture a sworn statement of the actual amount of cash premiums paid at the fair for the current season, which statement must correspond with the published offer of premiums, and that at such fair all gambling and gambling devices of whatsoever kind which are made unlawful by any law of this State, at such fairs, and the sale of alcoholic liquors other than beer have been prohibited and excluded from the grounds of such county fair or agricultural society, and on adjacent grounds, under their authority or control, except as hereinafter provided for agricultural extension clubs and that all receipts from any source other than from admissions to the grandstand or amphitheatre and from entry fees for races, not necessary tor the payment of labor and advertising, have been pro rated among all other claims and expenses or that all such other claims and expenses have been paid in full. Such statement shall be accompanied by an itemized list of all premiums paid upon the basis of the premiums herein provided and a copy of the published premium list of such fair and a full statement of receipts and expendi-