view raw text
. i i i 1 I i I i I : • I • - - t - ; I TALK OF TAX IN MARYLAND FLAN FOR SPECIAL LEVY ON RACE TRACKS OF STATE IS BROACHED. Influential Baltimore Newspaper Enjoying Confidence of New State Adminstrandtion Discusses the Proposal in a Special Article. The Baltimore Sun, one of the influential newspapers of Maryland, is disposed to favor the taxation of race tracks in that state. Inasmuch as the Sun is a staunch supporter of Emerson C. Harrington, the Democrat governor-elect, who will soon assume the duties of chief executive of the state, it may be assumed that the views which it puts forth in the following article dealing with the racing situation in Maryland will receive due consideration at the hands of the administration — if, indeed, they do not represent its attitude ou tlie subject. The Sun says: "Considerable talk has lieen heard lately about the advisability of the state placing a special tax on the race tracks. There are four big ones in tlie state — Pimlieo, Havre de Grace, Laurel and Bowie— and it is argued by some |ieople that these ivurses are doing a business of such scope that they could easily afford to pay 00,000 or mv re iu s|iecial taxes, which sum would aid materially in bringing the revenues of the state up to the expenditures. "It is practically impossible to state accurately the amount of money that changes hands at these race tracks in a year. A man who possesses unusually good sources of information aliout such matters has said that in one year $:i.ihxi.ihiii went into the betting machines at Pimlieo. Laurel and Bowie. The amount used at Havre de Grace could not he estimated, he said, because betting is done there by the bookmaker system. "Of course, the »,0 HJ.000 which was estimated to have gone into the betting machines at the three tracks mentioned was not all fresh money. It Included the turnover again and again. That is, it included betting of winnings. "However, the 1915.sh,000,000 is significant as showing the volume and scope of race track betting, and is used by tliose who favor a special tax as an argument to prove that the racing game in this state has reached such size — bearing in mind Its nature — as to make it properly the subject of special taxation laws. When such an interest as horse racing reaches the proportions attained in Maryland. It ■ argued, the state would be entirely justified in making it bear a special burden, especially as the state is in fiancial straits. "Whenever in the past a movement has been made toward laying a special tax upon tlie race tracks there has lieen opposition upon the ground that it would make the state a partner in gambling enter- prises. Those who want a special tax say that it is true, in a sense, just as it is true, in a sense, that the heavy fees for liquor licenses make the state a partner in tlie liquor business. But, special tax advocates further argue, if race tracks are so immoral that the state cannot profit by a special tax because the tax would make the state a partner, in a sense, then tlie race tracks should be abolished. "Most of those who feel an interest in the subject say they prefer a special tax. They regard atioli-1 tlon of race tracks because of the attendant betting as futile. In the states where racing has been abol- ished. they say. betting people find ways to wager on •-•aces in tlie states where it is permitted. "Tlie special tax advocates reason that just as the state has taken the position in the past that the sale of liquor should be regulated rigorously, ratlier than that efforts should lie made to stop it, so tlie state should endeavor rigorously to regulate race tracks, rather than to seek to abolish them in an effort to stop betting.]
