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Lausche Tavors Increase In Ohios Mutuel Share Measure a About Six Per Cent Hike Before State Taxation Body COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 10.— Gov. Frank J. Lausche has t rovvn his personal weight behind a House bill that would substantially incre?se Ohios share of the take on pari-mutuel wageiing. The measure, now before the House Taxation Committer is aimed to hike the states cut in the melon roughly to six per cent. Lausche claims that if betting remained on the same level as in 1954, the state would receive ,650,000 in additional revenue should the bill be enacted. The states share is on a graduated scale, depending on the amount wagered daily. Running race tracks are permitted to deduct 12.75 per cent from each race pool, while the night harness race plants take 14 per cent. Last year, the states share amounted to almost 5 per cent. Lausche, in appealing to members of the House committee to look favorably upon the tax increase, pointed out that additional funds are sorely needed for poor relief, the school foundation program and department of mental hygiene. Two years ago, when the state tax was hiked to its present figure, Lausche was outwardly critical of the state legislature for correspondingly increasing the track s take. He claimed racing fans, instead of the tracks, were paying for the increase. Under the bill now in the House Taxation Committee, the tracks share would remain unchanged, but the states cut would be raised. Non-partisan observers concede the measure has little chance of passage.
