The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-13
MAKESA FUSION REPORT
COUNCIL COMMITTEE UNLOADS
PRIZE-FIGHTING ORDINANCE.
A Majority, However, Is Opposed to 1t
Clark Says 1t VIII Not En-
courage PugiIism.

There was meeting of the Council COM
mittee on public safety and comfort last
night to consider Councilman Clark's or
| dinance licensing sparring and boxing ex-
hibittons. The combined committee submit
| ted a report which conveys very little in
| formation to the public as to the attitude
| Of the different members on the ordinance.
| The report of the committee simply stated
| that a majority of the committee was
against the passage of the ordinance and
| a minority favored its passage Under or
binary circumstances there would have been
two reports, a majority report recommend
ing that the ordinance be defeated signed
by the members who are opposed to its
passage, and minority report, recommend
ing that the Council pass it, signed by those
who are in favor of it. This would have
been in accordance with parliamentary pro-
ceedings as generally understood, but Presi-
dent Mahoney, who was present with the
committee and participated in its delibera-
tions, was authority for the statement that
fusion report was strictly in accord
with parliamentary proceedings. A visitor
present asserted that there ought to have
been two separate reports, one from the
majority recommending the killing of the
ordinance and another from the minority
recommending its passage. His contention
was that when the ordinance came up in
Council the question would be on the sub
stitution of the minority for the majority
report. President Mahoney insisted that
fusion" report was perfectly in order
OF the five members that signed the COM
posite report-Frank S. Clark. DR.. Moffett,
A. E. Rauch, IT. A. Bowser and W. f.
Smith-it is known that DR.. Moffett and T.
A. Bowser were opposed to the passage of
the ordinance Frank S. Clark, the council
man who introduced the ordinance is the
| only one who is known to positively favor
| its passage. Whether Mr.. Rauch or Mr..
Smith was the other member that was in
| favor of the passage of the ordinance is
unknown, as there was a tendency among
| the members of the committee to conceal
| the attitude of their friends on the ques-
| ton. 1t is understood, however, that W. r.
| Smith is the member or the minority VINO
| will vote for the passage of the ordinance.
A E. Rauch, when asked as to his attitude,
refused to make any reply, saying that ne
could not disclose anything that was not
'SThe majority Of the committee" said
DR.. Moffett, lis opposed to the passage OF
the ordinance, because the members believe
its tendency will be to encourage prize
fighting against which there is law IN TINS
State. While it does not so appear on It's
face, we believe that 1T VIII open door
to pugilistic contests.
"As to the contention that the ordinance
opens the door Tor prize HBHllHS, Sdiu
Councilman Clark, the author of the ordl-
nance there is nothing in it, Sp1rring and
boxing contests constantly take place In
this city. They are not subject to any reg
ulations and are often given without any
police supervision whatever. This ordinance
is intended to secure police regulation OF
such affairs. It's effect will also be to Sc
cure to the city some revenue from this
sort of amusement. No one that Is inter
ested in it's passage believes for minute
that it would encourage prize hgAung. or
anything of the sort The very provisions
Of the ordinance which limit sparring and
boxing exhibits to ten-round contests for
scientific points does away with any such
idea. 1t is not the purpose of the ordnance
to open a way TO prize fighting or any other
sort of pugilistic contests al variance with
the State law on the subject.
While the members of the committee who
signed the peculiar report on the ordinance
last night were unwilling to express their
individual ideas as to it's merits and de-
fects they all seemed rather hilarious IN
asserting that 1t would lie with the Council
as a whole to decide whether or not spar
ring boxing and prize fighting IS to receive
the encouragement of the legislative body
of Indianapolis.
The committee decided to report against
the passage of Councilman Moffetts ordi-
nance requiring theaters to provide ashes
tos curtains with electric bells, enabling
the leader OF the orchestra to ring down
| the curtain in case OF fre.