The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-30
Are Concerned Over Status
of Professional Boxing
After Nov. Is
MAY REVIVE OLD
MEMBERSHIP PLAN
Many Club Owners Are Now
Registering New Lists
Of Members
(By Associated Press,

New York, May SO-The status OF
professional boxing in New York
state after Nov. Is is causing promot-
| ers of bouts, and owners OF boxing
clubs considerable worry these days.
When Governor Whitman signed
the Slater bill at Albany recently, 1t
marked the beginning of the end or
| the Frawley law which, since July,
1911, permitted the holding of ten
round glove contests in the state in
| legally licensed clubs. The Slater Dill,
which will wipe the Frawley law of
the state statutes next November Is
expected to leave the legal issue as to
the holding Of glove fights in New
! York state just where 1T stood prior
to the passage Of the Horton law. "a
years ago.
Prior to 1896 fighting and sparring
were violations of the penal law in
the state, and boxing exhibitions with
or without gloves at which an admis-
sion fee was charged or received, eth
er directly or indirectly, were forbid
den.
Amend Law in 1896.
In 1896 the statute prohibiting spar
ring was amended, and allowed ath-
letic clubs to hold boxing and spaITing
building, or had a lease for at least
one year upon the building. This was
known as the Horton law.
On Sept. 1, 1900, the Horton law was
repealed, and boxing and sparring
were forbidden up to July, 1911. when
the Frawley law provided that the pro-
visions of the penal code should not
apply to any sparring match or exhi-
bition conducted by club licensed by
the State Athletic commission.
Many Notable Battles.
During the four years in which the
Horton law was in effect many notable
ring battles were fought in the empire
state, and several championships in
different classes changed hands. From
1900 to 1911 no contests of prominence
were decided in New York, but many
bouts were held, under the Club mem
bership" plan by which the promoters
claimed immunity from anv irlfraction
of the law on the ground that no ad-
mission fee was charged. The repeal
of the Frawley measure by the Slater
bill. which will go into effect next
November, has been anticipated by
many club owners and ; promoters
throughout New York state Several
OF them are engaged in polishing up
their charters which have lain on
dusty shelves for nearly six years, and
are registering new lists of members,
with the idea Of reviving the member
ship plan.
Big Revenue From Boxing.
That the F'rawley law was a fruit
full source of revenue to the state cof-
fers during the first five years Of its
enactment and operation is shown by
the annual reports Of the New York
State Athletic commission. Including
the latest, which was for the fifth
fiscal year, ending Nov. 80, 1916. these
reports show that the gross receipts OF
the several clubs amounted to $4.502,-
2S0.51 and the total tax on this amount
paid to the state treasurer was $3.50,
259.25. Taking into consideration that
almost a full year will have elapsed
before the Slater bill becomes oper-
alive, and that many important ring
contests are to be decided here in the
meantime it is fairly safe to predict
that the sixth and final years boxing
under the Frawley regime will be pro-
ductive of a tax which will bring the
total amount Of income to the state
from this source up to one-third of
million dollars.