The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-01

For a time last evening il looked as
though there would be no more bicycle
racing in Salt Lake this year. Ar
engagements for Monday nights meet
had been called off and J. n. Sharp, N.
c. A. representative in Utah, had re-
fused to grant any sanctions for future
race meets.
The trouble arose over certain bills
amounting to a goodly sum which the
Salt Palace officials have failed to liqui-
date, and which they are unable at
present to hquidate. 1t has been the
custom of the management to give the
amateurs who won prizes orders on
local merchants for their prizes, in
stead of delivering the prizes them
selves. These orders were in all cases
promptly honored and the racing men.
received their prizes without difficulty
or delay.
Merchants Grow Uneasy.
But. some of the merchants who have
hOnored these orders have been grow
ing uneasy, as the Salt Palace manage
ment has failed to pay the bills for the
prizes. Claims amounting to some
thing over $500 were yesterday pre-
sented to the management and they re-
quested that The claimants wait few
days for the money, as sufficient funds
we're not on hand to liouidate them.
So one Of the claimants, whose bill
amounted to $24750, promptly sent a
list Of the prizes paid and amount due
TO J. n. Sharp, the n. c. A. representa-
tive. with a request that he "act in ac-
cordance with n. c. A. rules"
Now, the n. c. A. rules provide that
in case prizes are not paid to racing
men promptly the track upon which
they won them shall be suspended and
refused further sanctions Manager
Schefski of the Salt Palace track
showed up and asked for sanction
for Monday nights races. 1t was
promptly refused and the matter was
explained to him.
Schefski went to the phone and
talked to Director General Colborn.
The Judge Immediately asked Sharp
and Schefs1i to come to the Palace.
Down there there was a long confer
ence, as a result of which Mr.. Sharp
agreed to grant the sanctions.
What Rules Say.
Interpreting the n. C. A rules
strictly" said he afterwards, 81 find
that ] can take no action in this mat
ter. The rules say that if prizes are
not promptly paid to prize winners,
sanctions shall not be granted. Now,
all the racing men have received their
prizes promptly, and these claims
against the Salt Palace management
are in the same category as the bills
for lighting the track etc. My first
stand was taken after only cursorily
glancing over the rules, which l had
supposed covered such a case as this.
l cannot act as collection agency, so
1 shall grant the sanction"
Director General Colborn said he was
sorry that the question had come up.
ct VIII simply give US black eye,
that's all" he said THE matter stands
ia q
cash on hand to settle these claims on
the spot. We expect a big crowd every
day next week and We are sure we can
come out all right. Expenses have been
heavy and our receipts have not been
up TO what we expected. But there is
not the slightest doubt that we can set
tie up everything in another week.
Racers Not Satisfied.
The racing men have not been salts
fed for a long time with the prizes that
have been offered them by the Palace
management. They complain bitterly
Of the fact that The management eX-
poets the race track to pay all the
expenses of the institution. There is |
that Hagenback show" said John |
Chairman last night. They are paying |
for these animals SS75 week, just |
about twice as much as all the prizes |
they are offering to the racing men. We |
would not kick if the animals were a
drawing card but they are not. Every
body knows that it is the races that |
draw the crowds. Here we poor devils /
pull our lungs out every night and |
draw thousands of people to. see US do |
it. and those people w N the Salt Pal
ace get all the money. 1t isn't fair at |
all. and we've got a good right to kick, |
j think"
But now that the sanction has been
granted and the races viii come off as
usual, all is as lovely as a marriage
bell. ta