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Lausche Orders Board To Tighten Its Rules Governor Sends Letter to New Commission Chairman, Gombos COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 15.— Gov. Frank J. Lausche today ordered Zolton Gombos, new chairman of the Ohio Racing Commission, to tighten the commissions rules on race track operations. Gombos was named to head the commission Tuesday to succeed O. C. Belt, whose current term expires soon. The governor wrote Gombos that he was "bitterly disappointed" when Edwin T. Keller of Norway, Me., and Buffalo N. Y., attorney Ben Reisman refused to tell the commission how much they paid for stock to become new owners of Fort Miami raceway in Toledo. "Their refusal was an insult to the state of Ohio," Lausche wrote. "They asked for authority to conduct commercial horse racing, yet they refuse to divulge information needed by commissioners to know what is going on." "This brazen flouting of the authority of the state is identical with the recent refusal of a representative of the company to divulge the identity of the person to whom 5,000 was to be paid." The Governor, who wrote he was "chawa grined" when the commission failed to adopt suggestions he made several weeks ago, laid down four recommendations for the commission to follow in the future with Gombos in the chairmans seat. He suggested the commission: 1. — Fix uniform definite times for tracks to file financial reports. 2. — Require operators to submit, when requested, all vouchers, checks and other data on doubtful items in financial statements. 3. — Limit the number of races allowed each day. 4. — Provide forfeiture of a license when operators refuse to disclose requested information on ownership and track operations. "I will not tolerate the race track operators insulting and defying officials of the state in the performance of their duties. Lausche concluded in the letter, which went to all commission members.
