The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-01-12
RACE TRACKS THE BIG PROBLEM
AT THE STATE CAPITAL NOW
Sentiment Against Them But Com
mOnwealth Needs the Money.
Baltimore News)

race tracks will undoubtedly be very
strong in the Legislature and while
the indications at the moment seem
rather that the tracks may be put
out of business, there is a financial
element which enters into the situa-
ton and which may complicate mat
tiers considerably.
The tracks are revenue producers.
Under the Burke law, passed at the
last legislative session, they are
bringing into the State at least $780,
900 year. The Governors budget
is predicated to a considerable extent
upon this race track revenue and it is
worth noting that the anticipated re-
duction of 5 cents in the State tax
rate would amount to about $750,0OO
a year, which is almost the sum the
State would lose were the tracks to
be abolished
The reports are that the farmers
this year are giving even greater at
tention than usual to taxes and to
expenses generally. The farmers are
having bad times. The inevitable pro-
cess Of readjustment throughout the
country has hit them hard 1t is in
some degree in Difference to the farm
ers' desire for economy that so pow
erful an organization as the Anti
Saloon League has refrained from in
cooperating in its State prohibition
enforcement bill provision for the es-
Establishment of a State prohibition
commissioner with a staff of depu-
ties. The farmers want no increase
in offices because they argue that
means an increase in expenses, and
they feel in no position at present to
have their expenses increased.
When Governor Richie in his mes
sage to the General Assembly fore
cast a reduction of five cents in the
State tax rate the announcement ere
ated much applause. Throughout the
State the reduction is now expected,
and if the Democratic party (budget
analyses apart would profit from
lowering of the tax rate, the effect
upon the voters occasioned by the
failure of the anticipated reduction
to materialize would, it is felt, be
unfortunate from the party's point
of view.
There is some question. too,
whether the animosity throughout the
State against the tracks may not be
tempered by the reflection that there
are hard times when the State should
think twice about throwing away
three-quarters of a million dollars.
Of course, should it be possible to
replace this money by some indirect
and comparatively painless method of
taxation, the situation would be diff
ferent. To maintain the present tax
rate, to say nothing of an actual in
crease, when a reduction has been in
Dictated, would throw a responsibility
upon the overwhelmingly Democratic
Legislature that the party might not
care to accept. Cuts could, of course,
be made in the budget. But the Gov
ernor has done all the cutting that he
thinks the best interests of the State
will permit. Consequently, further re-
duction in the budget might be such
an upsetting of the Administration
program as loyal Democrats would
hesitate to favor.
The financial problem, then, is one
of the battling elements in the So
luton of the race track problem.
Without this complication, the tracks
would appear doomed-not merely the
pari-mutuel machines but the racing
institutions, for many solons who are
against the tracks feel that the evils
of betting as practiced without ma
chimes are greater than those evils
with the machines. There are said
to be some Is or 16 votes in the Sem
ate against the tracks. In the House
sentiment is regarded as adverse.
But the members of the House are
fresh from "the people. They know,
especially those who come from the
rural sections, how big a dollar is
getting to look in these pinching days
Of reconstruction, and it may be hard
for them to vote to divorce the State
Treasury from 100000 or more of
easy, annual revenue.
In the event that the race tracks
are allowed to continue it is forecast
that they will have to pay more for
the privilege of existence. At present
each of the four one-mile tracks
Pimlico, Laurel, Havre de Grace and
Bowie-pay the State $4,000 for each
day of racing it has. In addition, the
tracks pay the State Is per cent on
their net income.
But this Is per cent business has
been found unsatisfactory. The COM
putation of what should be consid-
cred net revenue and of what deduc-
ton should be allowed has created
differences of opinion between the
racinO NEGOTIATIONS ond tho Doo;xc.