The New York herald., 1921-12-29
Commission Cannot Issue Iii.
censes for Contests in
Military Arenas.
BY CHARLES r.. MArHIsON.

by CHARLES II. MATHIsON.
Gov. Miller has decided TO investigate
ths question Of permitting professional
boxing in the armories Of the New
York State Guard. This is made clear
from an interview with the Governor by
the Albany representative OF TIE NEW
YORK HERALD, which is printed in an
other column.
The opposing forces IN the controversy
may as well. therefore. maintain a
peaceful attitude till the Chief Magis-
trate OF the Empire State finishes his
scrutiny OF the situation.
The announcement from the Adjutant-
Generals office that professional box
ing and wrestling would be permitted
In the armories crsated a furorc In box
ing circles. Billy Gibson and many Of
his fellow members OF the National
Sports Alliance are overjoyed because
OF the prospect It opens for them to get
into the game on largo scale.
Tex Rickard. the promoter Of the
Madison Square Garden Sporting Club,
Is not at all pleased over the proposal.
and William Muldoon. chairman Of the
State Athletic Commission. and Senator
James Walker, father OF the Walker
law. are opposed OF the plan.
Chairman Muldoon yesterday voiced
his opposition to the scheme, and de-
ciared that there we're too many boxing
clubs at the present time and that the
boxers were getting altogether too much
money IN comparison with their merits.
Mr.. Muldoon intimated that if the plan
to have professional boxing In the
armories was put into execution he
would not be inclined to undertake the
heavy task that would devolve upon the
commission.
Armories Tax Exempt.
. Senator Walker based his opposition
on the ground that it would be unjust
to promoters now in the boxing busi-
ness and who pay heavy taxes 10 turn
over tax exempt armories to others en-
gagged in boxing as business.
Tex Richard said II the armorfes,
which pay no taxes to the State can
be rented on occasions to boxing pro-
moters, there is no reason why the
same arrlories cannot be rented to dry
goods merchants or those engaged in
any branch Of mercantile business.
Jack Curley declared that boxing and
wrestling in tho armories would assist
In recruiting for the servico.t
All the above gentlemen have ex-
cellent reasons for their expressed opin-
ions, but all appear to have overlooked
the primo obstacle to the holding of
bouts in ormories This is section 7 OF
the Walker law. referring to licenses to
corporations and reads as follows:
The license committee may in its
discretion issue a license to conduct,
hold or give boxing or sparring
matches
the provisions hereof, TO any cor
poration duly incorporated under the
laws OF the State Of New York. but
not otherwise. Such corporation
must hold q lease for O term OF at
least one year OF the premisesA in
which such match or exhibition Is
to be held.
Adjt Gen Kincaid, in his no;I1caIion
10 armory officials, specifically declared
that bouts In armories must be con-
Quoted according to the State law and
under supervision and control of the
State Athletic Commission. '7
Must Hold n Years Lease.
When the present Boxing Commission
took charge OF the sport In this State a
rigid enforcement OF the law went into
effect. and 1t is n we'll known fact tha,
every corporation conducting boxing
bouts has been compelled to produce q
years lease OF the building in which the
contests were to be staged. Tex Riskn
has a ten years lease of Madison
Square Garden. and he Is under heavy
expense In the way of taxation. He
claims that II q promoter of boxina
could rent an armory, tax free, Il would
give that promoter an unfair advantage
However. until the Walker law Is
amended the State Athletic Commission
cannot issue license to any promoter
to stage boxing bouts In an armory, fol
no man can obtain q years Lease Of ar
armory.
It Is true that during tho nr Of the
Frawley law a similar provision was
violated. but since William Muldoon took
the Craftsmanship OF the State Athletic
Commission the law has been enforced
In the event that the law Is changed
or interpreted to permit OF armory box
Ing there will be at least one armory
for every ambitious promoter in this
vicinity. The list of armories In Greater
New York. with location and estimated
seating capacity. follows:
BOROUGH MANHATTAN.
Seventh Regiment Infantry. Seth st.
and Park av. Observation-Disclosures. 5.00t
Ninth Coast Defense Command, t25
West 18th st......,.............. 9,OU
Twelfth Regiment Infantry. SEA st and
Columbus av..................... 1,0Q(
Fifteenth Regiment Infantry. Firss
Battalion, 1th av. and 1924 ST.. ..... 1000
Twenty-second Regiment OF Engineers,
f6Sth 1T. and Fort Washington av. IL ,oOt
Sixty-ninth Regiment Infantry. 26th st.
and Lexington av................... D,0OC
ST and Park sv. .......::'.....'... 5000
Madison av.. ....:: -. 1000
First Regiment Field Artillery, 6sth
st. and Broadway .................. 2,0CC
West s1th st; .....,................. 1000
Second Battalion, second Regiment
Field Artillery, i6dth -. and Frank
IN sv.. ...:................. 1900
Eighth Coast Defense Command,
Kingsbridge road and Jerome ev.... 10000
BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN.
Thirteenth Coast Artillery. sumner and
Jefferson avs. ...................... 6,0Of
Fourteenth Regiment Infantry, 10Th st.
Second Battalion. Fifteenth Regiment
Infantry, Harrison av. and Gerry ST. 1000
Twenty-third Regiment Infantry, 1922
Bedford av.. ..1.................. 1900
rorty-seven,h battalion Engineers,
Mounted. Marcy av. and Hayward st. 1000
C..ss- A.