New Britain herald., 1919-03-20
WALKER PRESENTS
new BOXING BILL
New Measure Gives Power to
Army, Navy and Civilian Board

AlnahN March 20.-The ARMY and
Navy and Civilian Board of Roxing
'tol Yesterday launched n nation
"'Ue movement to place the sport of
ooHlnS on solid ba sis. The initial
move took the form Of the introduce
non or bill by Senator James ].
y Walker lesalizing the sport and pro
wang for its supervision by q COM
missioner
The vital feature Of the bill is a
clause placing in the hands of the
BOARD the power 10 issue licenses to
boxers, managers. prom oters and in
tact all connected with the business
OF boxing and to discipline offenders
against the rules and regulations OF
the board. In the event of the pas.
sage Of this measure fifteen promi-
nent members of the board will act
as n tribunal for the investigation
and judicial settlement of all cases
against those charged with violation
of laws. Duplicates of this bill will
be introduced in the legislatures of
every state in the union.
With the exception Of the naval
branch the board is now complete and
prepared for a vigorous campaign
Major BiddIe President.
Major Anthony ]. nrexel Biddle,
noted athlete, society man and SOL
der of Philadelphia, who is a fine
amateur boxer, has accepted the pres
idency of the board. and 1t is point
ed out by tho advocates of the meas
ure that it would be difficult to find
more uncompromising champion of
clean sport than the PhiIadelphian.
Major-Gen. Leonard Wood has ac-
ceptcd the Craftsmanship of the COM
mittec in charge of army boxing and
Admiral Henry T. Mayo has been
asked to take the craftsmanship of
the naval committee.
Gutzon Borglum, the famous sculp-
tor, has accepted the craftsmanship
of the civilian committee, and all
these chairmen will work in harmony
with President Biddle.
IT is set forth by the proponents
of the bill that the personal, business
and social standing of the men at the
head of the board is assurance that
they are actuated purely by a desire
to elevate the sport, and that there
fore they should be clothed with the
powers asked for in the Walker bill.
Similar TO Gibbs Blu.
Aside from the licensing feature
the Walker bill does not differ radi-f
callT from the Gibbs measure. The
Walker bill would divide the state
into three boxing districts and en-
power the governor TO appoint a
commissioner at $500 a year He
would have authority to name a dep
uty for each district. The commits =
sioner and all his deputies would have
full control of all boxing bouts, but
it would be tho duty of the Boxing
club to have in attendance at every
boxing or sparring match a physi-
clan to observe the physical condition :
of the contestants.
Twelve round bouts would be au-
thorized. Gloves weis hing a mini
mum of five ounces arc provided for,
and the decision would be given by
the two Judges If they were ur-
able to agree the referee shall make
the decision. No promoter would be
permitted to have any financial in
terest in a boxer competing on prem F
ises in which he is interested.
License fees would be as follows:
Corporations in cities of the first
class, $500; second class cities $500;
other cities, 5000; if a professional
boxer. 81; If manager. S25; a train
er, So; a second, So; a timekeeper.
So; a referee $25; a Judge, So; IL pro-
m oter 500.
Contestants would re required To ia
have passed their seventeenth year,