Las Vegas optic., 1912-09-06
new LAW WORKED
WELL FOR THE
PROMOTERS
BOXING SHOWED INCREASE I'm
POPULARITY IN NEW YORK
STATE
(Ry Frank $. o'NeiI)

New York, Sept. 6. New York
state has become during the past the
object on which the eyes Of the intelli.
gent sporting world have been fixed
with all the interest that attaches to
"a novel experiment the management
and control of boxing by legislation.
We often hear a great deal about
the SO called Horton law which per-
mitted boxing in this state. mis- law
was passed on April II, 1896; went in
70 etfect on September /, 1896, and
provided as follows "Sparring exhi.
bitions with gloves Of not less than
five ounces in weight may be held by
q domestic Incorporated athletic as
ISOLATION in a building leased by it
for athletic purposes only for at least
one year. or in a building owned or
occupied by such association"
The Horton law was in the nature
of license to an athletic club and
provided for no control or jurisdiction
over the cubs promoting the contests
or over the contestants.
On September i, 1900. the day fol-
lowing the memorable contest between
James J. Corbett and Kid Mccoy at
the Garden, the legislature Of this
state repealed this act and enacted
the following legislation: Amy per-
son who, within this state, engages
in, instigates. aids, encourages or
does any act to further a contention,
or fight, without weapons, between
two on more persons, or a fight com
monty called a ring or prize fight, eth
er within or without the state, Or who
engages in public or private spar
ring exhibition, with or without gloves
within the state, at which an admis-
sion fee is charged or received, either
directly or indirectly, or who sends
or publishes challenge for such a
contention, exhibition or fight, or car
ries or delivers sue ha challenge or
acceptance, or trains or assists any
person in training or preparing for
such a contention. exhibition or fight,
is guilty Of misdemeanor.
After September /, 1900, boxing
died out in this state, in fact sparring
exhibitions were criminal. The legis-
lature even provided that any spoken
or written word expressing or imply
ing desire on challenge to engage
in a boxing exhibition was violation
of the penal law.
Again, the legislature enacted
law that person who leaves this
state to engage in a boxing contest
outside the state was guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and gave power to mag
istrate to issue a warrant to appre-
hend the boxers contemplating the
giving Of the exhibition and requiring
them to give bond in the sum Of
$1,000 conditioned that such boxers
will not for one year thereafter COM
NIT any such offense.
IN the statute prohibiting boxing
which repealed the Horton law, the
guilt or innocence of the participants
depended substantially upon whether
or not the prosecuting officer could
prove beyond reasonable doubt that
an admission fee was charged or re-
ceived from spectators witnessing the
contest, The promoters claimed that
no admission fee was charged They
further claimed that all spectators
were bona fide members of the club,
paying their monthly or yearly dues,
as the case may be.
This state Of affairs only created
endless litigation. raids and oppresA
sion. Senator James Frawley con-
ceived the idea Of legalizing boxing
and placing the game in the hands Of
a commission, giving the commission
jurisdiction over boxers and the pro
moters Of boxing.
The vast tax coming from the vari-
GUS clubs throughout the state which
Is constantly pouring into the treas
ury Of the state constitutes fund
which is annually disbursed for the
promotion Of agricultural and domes-
tic arts and for the promotion Of edu-
cation along agricultural lines, for the
promotion Of the improvement Of cat
tie, sheep. horses and other domestic
animals at the various fairs through
out the state
Up to date there are no less than
75 clubs operating under the Frawley
law. The capital invested in boxing
clubs reaches $s,5OO.OOO. The gross
receipts from boxing contests have
now reached nearly $1,OOO,OOO The
number Of licenses granted in the en-
tire state is 81. The number Of clubs