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1 1 j t " 3 :i 1 j ; DISPUTE OVER MARYLAND TAX Track Managements Differ with Racing Commission as to Methods of Computation. BALTIMOKE. Mil.-. December 27. Thursday. January 30 is the date for the hearing at which appeals may be made from the Maryland Itacing Commissions computation of the 15 per cent of the i:et earnings of the four one-mile tracks due the state. While only one of the racing associations has requested a hearing, the other three tracks are not allowing their interests to drag and they will have their representatives, in the event that they, too. may decide to make an appeal in the same matter. The one which lias asked for the hearing is the Maryland State Fair, which conducts the racing at the Laurel track. .1. F. Hay ward, secretary to ihe racing commission, today advised .Tanney. Stuart and Ober as counsel for the Maryland State Fair of the granting of the request and of the date set for the hearing. C. L. Strauss, counsel for the Maryland Jockey Club, operating limlico. called at the offices of the racing commission a day or so ago and requested the privilege of conferring with the board, either directly or through Attorney General Armstrong. with leference to the boards computation of earnings in so far as the limlico track is concerned. Shirley Carter, counsel for the Southern Maryland Agricultural Association, which controls Howie, also paid the commission a call and secured some data relative to the apportionment of the 15 per cent tax. Judging from the action of the legal representatives of the limlico ami I.owie tracks, it is probable that they will take advantage of the opportunity to join in the appeal with the Laurel track interests. The racing commission has not yet asked the attorney general for a formal ruling as to its powers under the law in determining the projiortion of expense for new construction, etc., that can bo legally charged against the tracks for the year, or lather against that portion of the year during which the tracks have been under the jurisdiction of the commission. I Whether payment to the state treasurer of receipts from the track shall 1h made in a lump sum after the question of the 15 per cent tax has been decided luul -not been ruled upon this morning -liy the commission. The state has due it from the commission 1920.sh,000 for each of the sixty-nine racing days of the fall season, this amount totaling 14,000. The commission has the money in hand and can transmit it. less expenses and a working balance, by the first of the year. Such deductions would amount to approximately 0,000. so that the state would lecoive from the 0.000 per diem fee about 81,000. The commission has already fixed the tot--l of la IM-r cent tax due from the tracks at 32,000. The tracks estimate the amount of lax due at between S02.O0U and .!:!. 000. The amount that will ultimately be paid by the tracks will, therefore, not be in excess of 32,000, and if the commission consents to a revision on downward, it will be less than that amount.
