Evening star., 1948-06-27
Calvert County Voters
Settle Slot Machine
Issue Tomorrow
D. kX.~L~@f
By J. L. Michoel
by q stoff Cor,espondent OF Tbs S'ot


PRINCE FREDERICK, Md, June
26-Calvert County citizens will
settle the issue of legalized slot
machines in a special election Mon
day
Some 5000 voters are eligible to
ballot between am. and 7 pm. in
a referendum that will decide
whether Calvert becomes the third
Maryland County in which COIN
operated devices are legal. The
counties which now permit opera
ton are Anne Arundel and st.
Marys.
A heavy turnout and close de-
cision was predicted today by both
sides.
A bill passed at the last special
session of the legislature directed
the county commissioners to hold
referendum. If the machines are
approved they will become legal
Immediately.
Goldstein Introduced Bill.
State Senator Louis l.. Goldstein,
Democrat. of Calvert, introduced the
measure which provides that license
receipts shall be used first to pay
expenses of the special election. The
next S250000 would go toward con-
struction of new county hospital,
or moderniZation of the existing
hospital here.
After that, slot machine revenues
would be placed in the county's gen.
eral 1und.
The act provides for annual IL
cenSe fees of $3.50 for each machine
up to four Those who operate
more than four would be required to
obtain licenses for the first four
and $3.50 70 reach additional device
costing $1,000 Charitable and vet
panies would be permitted to ope
rate pto four machines without
licenses.
Another provision makes it a mis-
demeanor to permit any person un-
der l6 to play the machines.
Elected Officials Favor Legalization.
FaVoring legalization of the de-
vices are most of the county,s
elected officials, a large percentage
businessmen, and those who do
not regard the issue as moral one
Opposition is centered largely
around 500-member civic asso-
citation headed by oJhn c. Ward
tobacco grower and president of the
Calvert County Farm Bureau. Also
working against the proposal are
Protestant church leaders and a
small group of professional men.
Both sides conducted quiet cam
paigns until yesterday, when each
made last-minute appeal for the
voters support. Earlier. however
the North Beach Board of Trade
offered voters at the beach precinct
free chicken dinners and bus fare
refunds, as an inducement to vote
A l,600Word statement issued by
a group signing themselves prop
ertY owners and taxpayers" said
that voters are not urged to vote
for licensing, but added that the
following important facts should be
needed
The referendum has given us the
opportunity to solve the very diff
flCult hospital problem The county
cannot do without a hospital The
present hospital will be replaced at
the earliest possible moment. It
ranks as number one project among
all the hospitals of the State, and
has a special place at the top of
the list due to the fire hazard in
volved."
Tax Rate Held Too High.
The statement said that the frame
building recently had been inspected
by fire department authorities and
that the report was far from fiat
terlng." 1t added that IF there
were any other hospital facilities
closer than Annapolis, the present
building would be condemned and
abandoned"
Also. the statement continued,
"our SIT tax rate is too high. We
cannot sell additional bonds. In
fact, We cannot afford new hospi-
tai, yet we must have it-soon."
Courthouse employees said the
county's present bonded indebted
ness is all that the 100000 assess
able basis will justify and that no
more bonds can be issued legally.
Nearly all of the playing of slot
machines is done by Washington
people" the statement said. 1T is
from them the revenues will be re-
ceived. if the machines are licensed
and taxed. Very little county
money is involved"
The Property Owners and Tax
payers" further declared that re