Evening star., 1936-03-13
Congress Hearings End With
Promise That Bill Will
Be Revised.
ESTIMATED REVENUE
OF 100000 DOUBTED
George E. Sullivan Presents Stand
of Citizens Groups on Basis
of Public Policy.
BY JAMES E. CHM.

managed the Laurel race IIdCk 1oE
many years, told the Judiciary Sub
committee of the House District Com
mittee today that If horse racing Is
legalized here the District would be
broke in six months"
Unexpectedly, Cummings headed q
parade of witnesses opposing the Nor
ton bill, which would permit Walter E.
OHara, operator of the Narragansett
track in Rhode Island, to establish a
similar race course on the site OF the
old Benning track.
Bill to Be Revised.
Chairman PalmiSano announced at
the conclusion of today's hearings
that if the subcommittee reports the
bill to the full committee, it will
be in a drastically revised form.
He said he would change particu-
larly, the revenue features of the
measure to follow the existing Mary
land law, under which the tracks are
licensed at the cost of $4,000 for
each day of racing There also would
be a definite limit placed on the
number of days Of racing allowed
each year. The bill now does not
set limit.
Cummings went into some of the
technicalities of race-track operation,
and pointed out that under the So
called 10 per cent and "breakage" pro-
vision, which, he said, really means
about 1913 per cent because under the
pari-mutuel system odd cents are not
paid to a winner, a player with 500
wouldn't have it long-it would soon
find its way to the track promoter.
"If your statement is true" re-
marked Representative Palmisano,
Democrat, of Maryland, chairman OF
the subcommittee, then I ought to
recommend that racing be abolished"
Emissions Fishing Trip.
"If you 60 to Baltimore Palmi-
sano's home) and recommend that"
replied Cummings, you and will be
together-fishing somewhere"
Cummings likewise said O'Hara was
''enthusiastic" in painting picture OF
q So, 800 900 racing plant at Benning.
since the grand stand and club house
at Laurel was built for less than
$500,00O.
And" he added, Laurel is the
best track in Maryland"
Furthermore, Cummings said he
could not see the need of a race track
In Washington because devoteeS OF
the sport here can spend more than
100 days on the Maryland tracks.
most of which can be reached in about
an hour.
Representative Dirksen, Republican,
of Illinois, who yesterday bet O'Hara
q new hat that his estimate of a
100000 return to the District from
IegaIized racing was excessive by
S500,000, asked Cummings what he
thought of the wager.
Predicts He Would Win Bet.
ST think you will win your hat" the
veteran sportsman answered.
Cummings also was questioned
about the honesty in race track gam
bling.
"Of course" he declared, "the sus-
picion of a race track is hereditary.
Anyhow, it's the Squarest gambling
game in the world if you protect your
track.
THE public has to be protected in
racing more so than the operator.
You break them and you break the
game"
c. M. Clark, who identified him
self as former newspaper man, ap-
peared as a representative of the
public to oppose the bill. I. He argued
that there is no need of a race track
here.
There are eight tracks in Mary
land" he declared. Every road out
of Washington leads to a race track"
Clark also told of the track at
Charlestown, w. Va, and said the
Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad will take
washingtonians there and inside the
track for $1.50.
ct am glad to say" he added, sit
leaves them ticket to come home"
Opposition of Citizens Voiced.
George E. Sullivan, chairman of
the Law and Legislation Committee
of the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, testified his organization Is
strongly opposed to the bill.
"Our position" he said, 'is based |
on public policy-not on religious
and moral grounds"
Sullivan argued that it never will |
be possible to eliminate gambling, but
declared that when you legalize
1t, you promote devotion to it."
He insisted that a race track would |
take money out Of Washington in
stead of attracting it.
Henry N. Pringle, assistant super
1ntendent Of the International Re
form Federation, attacked the bill
as an instrument that would legalize
and control vice. 1T will establish
an outdoor gambling place at time
when the police are trying to sup
press vice." he said.
Gives Gambling Figures.
Pringle pointed cut that in one year
approximately $185,000, 900 was gam
bled through the machines at 106
legal dog and horse tracks. OF this
amount, he declared, the State re-
ceives approximately $6,0o0.Oo0 in
cluding tax on admission charges.
For every legal gambler, he said, it is
estimated there are three absentee
gamblers, playing the same races
through bookmakers, indicating the
futility of attempting to end illegal
gambling by legalizing pari-mutuel
betting.
Pari-mutuel betting systems pit the