Evening star., 1949-02-27
S|otMachineBiII
ToBe0fferedfor
Charles County
Monroe to Introduce
Measure Tomorrow
For Referendum
By J. l. Michael

ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 26. State
Senator James B. Monroe an
nounced today that he will intro
duce bill in the General Assem-
bly, Monday providing for a ref
erendum June 81 on the question
of legalizing slot machines in
Charles County.
If the measure is approved.
Charles will become the fourth
Maryland county in which the de-
vice may operate legally.
The others are Anne Arundel
where the legislative act signed by
Gov. O'Conor made operation Of
the machines legal; Calvert and
ST. Marys. where voters sanctioned
the devices in special elections by
majorities Of almost two to one.
Neither Senator Monroe nor
other hackers of the bill would
forecast the attitude Of Charles
County voters, but it was learned
that opposition is expected from
church and civic groups.
To Net $4,000 a Year.
The bill is designed to bring the
county treasury approximately
$50, 1000 a year and requires the
county commissioners to allocate
annual revenues as follows:
l. Forty per cent to reduction Of
the county real estate tax
2. Thirty per cent of the re-
mainder to reduction of outstand-
ing school bonds.
3. The sum of $4,000 to a fire
company reserve fund, $500 Of
which would go to the La Plata
Volunteer Fire Department, $1,000
to the 5th district fire department
and 81 900 to the Hughesville Fire
Department.
| Any balance remaining the fire
reserve fund would be distributed
to any county fire department
which, in the discretion of the
county commissioners needs f1nan-
cial assistance.
4. The sum of $1,000 to a
Charles County library fund"
the money to be used to equal any
State fund which may be avail
able for establishment and MAIN
Itenance of free libraries.
Hospital to Get $4,000.
5. Physicians Memorial Hospi-
tai. La Plata, would get $4,000.
the funds to be distributed from
time to time by the county COM
nissioners in accordance with the
hospitals needs.
s. The sum of $500 would be
allocated to pay a $4,000 salary
and $500 expenses to a slot ma
chine license commissioner.
The commissioner would be ap.
pointed by the county heads.
The bill specifies that if rev.
enues are less than estimated, the
money shall be used first to re-
duce the tax rate, pay off school
bonds. and pay salary and ex-
penses of the license commits
sioner. The remainder would be
pro rated among the beneficiarieS
named.
License fees provided are: $3.50
for each machine not exceeding
J two, plus $50 for each additional
. machine-these rates to apply to
persons or firms who operate the
premises on which the machines
are located as owners, lessees or
licensees.
5 May Operate 10 Machines.
Applicants desiring to operate
more than two machines on the
same premises for the period May
1-October would be required to
pay a license fee of $1,000 which
would authorize operation OF up
to 10 devices. Additional machines
would be licensed to such appli-
cants at $3.50 each.
; The measure provides that ap-
plicants in either of the two cate
gories shall be bona fide property
owners as of July !. 1949. or regis
tered voters in Charles County.
License fees for distributors who
, do not operate machines them.
, selves are set at $4,000 and dis
tributors would be permitted to
, sell or lease machines only to those
, who have been licensed to oper-
ate the devices.
Must Report Sales.
Distributors also would be re-
quired to report before the 10th
day of each month the name and
address of every person or firm
in Charles County to whom a slot
machine had been sold or leased
during the preceding month.
Exempted from payment OF IL
cense fees are charitable and vet
erans' organizations and fire COM
panies which operate not more
> than five machines. The bill also
provides that any religious or VOL
unteer fireman's organization may
: operate up to 10 machines two
: days a year at carnival or social
! where the proceeds go exclusively
to the organization.
The measure provides penalties
of $50 for the first and $100 for
the second offense for owners and
operators who are convicted OF
> violations. Distributors guilty Of
violations would be fined $500 for
; first offense and $1,000 for second
offense. Revocation of licenses Of
, operators and distributors would
be mandatory.
DR.. Mitchell to Speak
Dr Harold Mitchell, director Of