The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-02-20
Race Track Bills In

The long-expected fight over the con-
tinuance of racetrack betting in Mary
land started with the introduction of
three bills-two to create State racing
commission and heavily tax tbs tracks,
at the same time giving them full legal
protection, and the other fat anti-gam-
bling bill.
Mr. Burke, of Baltimore county, in
troduced in the House bill
which is said to have the sanction
of the owners of the Pimlico track
Senate Frick introduced a bill in the
Senate which also would create State
racing commission, but the details are
different from those of the Burke bill
Senator Nuttle, of Caroline, offered
the anti gambling bill, which was drawn
by the Antiracetrack Gambling Associa
ton, backed by DR.. Howard A Kelly,
Henry F. Baker, John I. Stone anC
other Baltimoreans.
The first bill provides for the ap-
pointment by the Governor of a State
Racing Commission, to be composed OF
three members, none of whom shall
have any connection with racetrack IL
terests. Tney are to be appointed for
two, four and six years and their sue
cessors are to be named for full six
year terms. They are to be paid So, 0O0
year each, with 50, 900 for the chair
man. The. Comnissioners are to givs
bond to the State in the sum sof $780,
900 each.and $4,000 year allowed for
expenses.
The commission is to have charge of
all racing in the State and issue lcen-
ses on the payment of tax of S., 600
day. In addition, sthere sis provided 3
tax of Is per cent of the net earnings
of each track, to be figured on detailed
financial reports submitted by the race
track owners to the commission The
number Of racing days is limited to l12
in any one year and to 81 days on any
one track or by any one association.
There shall be on each track no more
than two meetings a year. It is further
provided that the special tax of $1,000
day now paid by the Pimlco track to
Baltimore county shall continue. Coun-
tY fair tracks are mot affected, except
that they must pay daily tax of $50.
The revenue provided by the Burke
bill is to be used for highway purposes
and is to be distributed among the couG-
ties and Baltimore city in proportion to
their representation in the General AS
sembly.
Regarding the Is per cent tax on net
revenue, Mr.. Burke said he would offer
an amendment to strike that out and
substitute tax which would include
all the earnings of the track over and
ABOVE 10 per cent on the amount in
cluded in the properties.
Mr. Tricks bill follows closely the
lines of the bill ne offered two and four
years ago. 1t provides for the appoint
ment by the Governor of an unpaid
commission of three members, who
shall serve for four-year terms and on
which commission there shall be minor
ity representation.
The tax to be imposed is fixed a.
5000 d day, and the betting is limited
to the pari-Inutuel system, with the
commission or rake-off to the tracks set
at five per cent of the amount Of money
bet. The number of racing days in q
year is limited to 100 While this
measure, like the bill introduced by MRS
Burke, abolished the Baltimore County
and The Hartford County Racing Com
missions, it provides that the special Ii
cense fees now paid by the track
under their jurisdiction shall continue
The effect OF either Of the Commiss
ion bills would be to permit the Laure
track, which Is III Anne Aundle county
and under the jurisdiction of no racing
commission, the right to run in the
spring as we'll as in the autumn. Here
tofore it has been able to operate only
in October because it can run only I'm.
der special county fair exemption
left in the Anti-R 4cing bill passed year
ago when State Senator John s. Writ
drove the outlaw tracks from Ceci
county. Further the bill would give
the Bowie track, now operated under
a doubtful law, clear legal status
Further, tracks could be operated any
where in the State with the permission
Of the Commission.