New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-08
HEARINGS AT ALBANY.
assEMBLYMAN LEWIs'S BILL REPEAL
ING THE horton BOXING LAW
FAvoRABLY REPORTED.
fBr rrrrenAFH TO THE rRIBuxr.l


night by the Assembly Committee Codes IN
spite OF the protests OF the Tammany members
who strenuously defended the existing statute at
the hearing this afternoon. The decision of the
committee was reached after brief executive
session The only amendment attached TO the
bin is thar it shall go into effect before Sep
ternbsr !. 1900.
The advocates or prizehghting We're on hand
n fun force to-day 20 protest against the bill
Those who spoke against the measure were
headed by Assemblyman Roche. There were
also present several clergymen from New-York.
Rochester and other cities. who spoke in favor
Of the bill. Although the session a long
one. and the crowd exceedingly large for the
committee room. each speaker was listened 10
with deep interest
Charles L Feldman representing several ath-
Istic associations Of Buffalo. said that he OPP
,osed the bin because it interfered with the in
terests OF these clubs He added:
The boxing bouts as conducted in our city
cause no trouble. No injury has resulted from
these fights either to the combatants to the
xTectafors 1 have a telegram here from the
sI,nerinrendent of the Police Of Buffalo who
states that there have been violations Of the
Horton law in that city. Neither were there
suy complaints 10 these sparrin5 matches.
This measure results directly indirectly
from that section of the Governors message in
which he is said 10 advocate the repeal of the
existing statute IN regard 10 prlzehshtlng
Nevertheless If the words OF His Excellency are
more carefully considered. il will be seen that
al that the Governor desires is the enforcement
Of the Horton law.
I can safely say that the best people of Buff
,slo ATTEND these boxing matches. Professional
snd business men Of the highest stamp are there:
Now I Go not think that II is fair TO our city
70 prevent its people from enjoying themselves
A Rochester these bouts are the cause Of oc-
czsionaI disorder. Would you repeal the Excise
isw. because in some instances IL has been vfo-
lated?
When asked what he meant by the best peo-
ME attending these fights, he said:
why. there are lawyers"-he answered but
his remarks were suddenly cut short By the
laugh which around the table The mem
bers Of the Codes Committee are all lawyers.
BROOKLYN HEARD FROM
William r Mcclure spoke in opposition to the
hHt As 2 representative Of the Hercules Club, Of
BROOKLYN NJ Mcguire said that he had been
Knocked out several times in practice bouts, and
that after few seconds Of Inconsistencies he
felt IS good as ever. He showed a scar over
his Eeft eye where he said such blow had been
administered
was # corkscrew blow" asked a certain
member Of the committee
7 don't remember" answered Mr.. Mcclure
You say that n the regular bouts there are
10 knockout blows?'' asked Assemblyman Lewis.
NO. sir" replied Mr.. Mcclure. THE knock
cut blows I received were given by contestants
who we're practising for the ring"
Were there any knockout blows in the Mat
thews- MCFARLAND fight. held at the Hercules
Club. some nights ago."
NO nor knockout" One OF the contestants
slipped and fell on his head. He caught his
foot somehow and fell on his fist"
The result was practically the same. was it
rot7- asked . clergyman from Steuben County
M MCGUIRE was compelled to admit that it
Patrick Roche then addressed the committee
as a defender Of fhe existing statute. He said:
I used TO be q prizehghter myself. At pres
ent I represent three athletic clubs down in my
men from twenty 70 thirty years OF age engage
IN the contests for the pure love of the sport
Ter rounds made the limit in most Of the
cases, and not an injury has resulted to any
body When was fighter myself often got
z severe bruising, but it wore OF very soon in
each case
How many times you defeated in the
ring?" asked the chairman Of the comittee.
Not once" said Assemblyman Roche, proudly.
~And am not going to get licked now. either
THOSE WHO SPOKE.
Among those who spoke in favor Of the Lewis
bill we're the Rev DR.. Thomas L. PouIson and
the Rev. 7. De Quincy Tully. of Brooklyn; the
Rev Dr. Ostrander of Lyons the Rev. I n.
Dalbey and the Rev. DR.. Peoples. Of Rochester;
the Rev. Madison c. Peters ana Frederick W.
Block. Of the City Vigilance League, Of New
York
Al opposed the Horton law because of the de-
rnoraliZing Influences Of prizefg hting as con-
Quoted under the existing statute.
DR. PETERS ATTENDED FIGHT.
Dr. Peters said: I'VE are not opposed 10 box
ing or other forms of athletics simply because
are opposed to prtzehghting. Boxing and
prizehghting are two very different things as
everybody knows I am something of an athlete
myself
Then you are acquainted with the manly art
OF self-defsnce2" asked Assemblyman Saundera.
ceeded IN defending. myself without the use Of
my fists"
Have you ever seen prizehght?" was asked,
and the suazenent Of some Of the clergymen
from up the State DR.. Peters replied:
les, sir, l nave l am not among the lnno-
cents. pointing 70 the other ministers. Il went
70 prizehght what il wai
ike Everybody sneaked in II afraid OF
being detected Sir, I viii never go 20 anOthei-
one II was beastly. low down, degrading;
moralizng- I could not get the effects Of 1t
for weeks II was all could do TO justify my
self Tor being there happened 10 get an inter
view with a reporter. and he wrote great deal
ca not fully recover from that fight for nearly
Two years To my mind. the Spanish builhght
sno the cockhght are infinitely more refining.
AssemDiynan Dillon and Jimmy Oliver re-
pIied 10 the arguments Of the ciergynen- MI
Dillon maintained that Governor Roosevelt was
ter was e Police Commissioner Of New fork
City he was present al nearly all the fights. but
II no case did he attempt 10 stop them.
OPPOSED TO TAXING MORTGAGES.
kPcT-AFE-e-TG E3EApD pEEopE BOTH SENATE