view raw text
CANNOT ENFORCE TAX ON PROFITS BALTIMORE Md April 30 Attorney General Alexander Armstrong has decreed that the pro jiosed plan for the distribution by the Maryland Racing Commission of the excess profits of the race tracks under Its supervision cannot be enforced and in his opinion points out that the commission has no power to exact a greater toll from the tracks than the license fee and the 15 per cent of net profits provided for by the Burke bill which created the commission commissionIt It is reported however that a working agree ¬ ment can legally be entered into between the com ¬ mission and the track managements for the dis ¬ tribution of profits and that James A Latane the newly appointed third commissioner will sponsor a resolution suggesting that the tracks adopt a profit distributing policy Tills move cannot be forced iiMiu the tracks under the opinion rendered by the atorney general but in case the directors of the race courses do not accept the suggestion of the commission the latter may further curtail race truck profits by lowering the percentage of takeoff from the mutuels by decreasing admission charges und by raising the purses pursesMr Mr Armstrong furthermore points out that the commission has no right to invade the field of race truck operation Out of this point has grotvn an argument as to whether the commission can legally enter upon a career as a licensing body for trainers and jockeys Without regard to the legal techni ¬ calities of this aspect of the case commissioner La ¬ tane is believed to be inclining toward the issu ¬ ance of licenses if such action can be taken with ¬ out fear of Maryland degenerating into a dumping ground for jockeys and trainers who are in bad standing elsewhere Mr Latanes vote will decide this question since commissioner Olivier ia opposed to licensing and commissioner Tlmanus is in favor ot it
