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Moral, Political Issues Sidetrack Tax Proposal Michigan Senate and House at Odds on Commissioners Powers LANSING, Mich., May 22.— Moral and political issues have sidetracked a tax proposal which would net the State of Michigan another ,500,000 from race track betting. Both the State Senate and House of Representatives have approved a change in the racing law increasing the pari-mutuel take from 11 to 12 per cent. The entire increase would go to the state. In approving the Senate version of the bill, the House tacked on amendments which the upper chamber opposes. Furthermore, the House refused to go along with some of the Senates ideas. Republicans in the Senate said that they would insist on stripping racing commissioner James H. Inglis of the power to fix track admission prices, salaries and fees and dictate rates in concessions. Miffed when the House wouldnt agree, the Senate forced the issue into a joint conference committee for a decision in the waning hours of the legislative session. Miffed when the House would not agree, "The main argument," said Senator Carlton H. Morris, Kalamazoo Republican, "is whether the commisisoner should be permitted to authorize track passes at a very nominal charge to attract those who cant afford to lose on the horses." Morris referred to the new season tickets being sold by the Michigan Racing Association. These cost 2 for the grandstand and 8 for the clubhouse and admit the holder for all 57 days of the 1953 meeting. Republicans in the state capital said that one chamber would give ground on the price-fixing powers to save the only part of Senator George Higgins "package" plan left as a revenue-producer. That is the increase in the pari-mutuel take. Target of the battle is Inglis. appointed In December by Democratic Governor G. • Mennen Williams. Detroit Democrats, headed by Senator Harold M. Ryan, demanded that the Senate restore Inglis powers to the bill and sent it to the governor. He charged that the issue was "strictly political." The Senate also objected to a House j maneuver to force the state to pick up the tab for the annual track audits. Finance leaders said that the cost would hit 0,000 a year.
