The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-01-01
RACE TRACK TAX URGED

Considerable talk has been heard
lately about the advisability Of the
State placing special tax on the
racetracks. There are four big ones
in the State-Pimlico. Havre de
Grace, Laurel and Bowie-and it is
argued by some people that these
game in this State has reached such
scope that they could easily afford to
pay 100000 or more in special taxes.
which sum would aid materially in
bringing the revenues of the State up
to the expenditures.
1t is practically i'm "ssible to state
accurately the amount of money that
changes hands at these racetracks in a
year, A man who possesses unusually
good sources of information about
such matters has said that in one year
S900O,000 went into the betting ma
chimes at Pimlico. Laurel and Bowie
The amount used at Havre de Grace
could not be estimated. he said, be-
cause betting is done there by IN"
bookmaker system.
Not All Fresh" doney.
OF course, the $9,OOO,OO which was
estimated to nave gone into the bet
ting machines at the three tracks men
toned was not all fresh" money. Il
included the turnover again and
again. That is, it included betting of
winnings.
However, the $9,OO0,oOO is signiti-
cant as sho Tlng the volume and scope
of racetrack betting, ald is used by
those who favor a special tax as an
argument to prove that the racing
courses are doing a business of such
size-bearing in mind its nature-as
to make 1T properly the subject of
special taxation laws. When such an
interest as horse racing reaches the
proportions attained in Maryland, it
Is argued. the State would be entirely
Justltied in making it bear a specia
burden, especially as the State is II
financial straits.
Whenever in the past movemen
has been made toward laying specis L
tax upon racetracks there has bee @
opposition upon the ground that
would make the State a partner | 0
gambling enterprises. Those VIII '
want a special tax say that it is tru G.
in sense, just as it is true, in a sen
that the heavy costs for liquor licens
make the State a partner in the liqu
business. But, special tax advocat
further argue. if racetracks are Il
immoral that the State cannot Pre- NJ
by a special tax because the tax wo re
make the State partner, in a SCI M
then the racetracks should be aboli su
ed. or
Most of those who feel an inte: d.
IN the subject say they prefer s. p,l
lal tax. They regard abolition of r. eit
tracks because of the attendant SE
ting as futile. In the States we Vo
racing has been abolished, they, ele
betting people find ways to wagh H..
races in the States where it is as
mitted. res
The special tax advocates r,n rs
that just as the State has takele
position in the past that the sof TO
liquor should be regulated rigoty, apl
rather than that efforts sholbe ha
made to stop it, so the State I'D ahC ahC
endeovor vigorously to regulate De'
tracs, rather than to seek to ish org
them in an effort to stop betting Iall
1t is hardly necessary for theIG OF
or the WHIG'S Editor to stat,ere clei
we. stand as between these two of Ior' Go
opinion. We We're defeated tvars Gou
ago in our efforts to rid the of Ihgl
the racetrack evil; but war our l. y
opponents at that time that 3ped i pai i
to live to fight another day not not