New Britain herald., 1928-01-10
ANNUAL LICENSES
 FOR SPORTS SHOWS
Ordinance Committee FaIorS NsV Regulation in This City

eAtO VI AuunAuCo COAlAuICtOo Ol lQo COIIl.
 mon council last night towards
 bringing local sporting events under
 supervision of tho license committee
 ot the council. and the corporation
 counsel will be requested to prepare
 the necessary ordinance. which will
 include . fee to be tpaid by pro-
 motors or managers! The intention
 of the ordinance committee is to re-
 quire that annual licenses be issued
 for basketball. baseball, football. rol-
 Ter hockey, boxing. wrestling and all other games, with the provision that
 revocation may be ordered in the event that conditions arise neces- sitating it. Councilman Harry N.
 Robertson. chairman of the license committee. was agreeable to having a proposed ordinance prepared for
 action at later meeting.
 The ordinance committee went on
 record in favor of m ordinance to permit the playing of roller hockey
 in New Britain on Sunday between
 the hours of 2 and p. m. There
 was no opposition to the proposed
 ordinance. Judge William F. Man.
 gan told the committee he believed
 the playing of rpller hockey games Sunday afternoons would harm mo-
 body. He made it plain that he was
 not before the committee as an at- torney representing any interests.
 but as a citizen interested in sports.
 Roller hockey is clean and orderly,
 he said, and entirely fit for women and children to witness. He has ob- served many of the older residents
 present at the games he has attend ed. and he believes they would ap-
 preciate the opportunity of attending Sunday games as they would not be obliged to be away from their homes at night.
 Patrick J. McInerney of Beaver street spoke in favor of the Sunday afternoon sport. He said football is allowed Sunday afternoons and he knew of no reason why there should be any opposition to roller hockey. Councilman Samuel Sablotsky said he is 8 regular attendant at the games and he was strongly in favor of Sunday sports. He made the point that church services would not be interfered with in any way. be- cause the games would be played between,2 and 6 p. m. Manager Frank F. McDonough of the New Britain team in the American league, assured the committee that the Sum- day games would be conducted in a manner that would leave no room for criticism, and in reply to a ques- ton by Alderman D. l.. Nair. he said there would be no increase in prices for Sunday games.
 Councilman Bartlett asked Judge Mangan if he thought the same class of people as attend the evening games would patronize Sunday games and Judge Mangan replied affirmatively. Some of the best people" in the city are patrons of the game, Judge Mangan said. On motion of Councilman Boyle, second ed by Councilman Bartlett, it was voted to recommend that the or dinance be adopted.
 Secretary James Savers of the Mo- hawk A. c. of Hartford and Vice president Edward J. Hurley of the A. A. U., were quizzed at some length relative to the conduct of amateur boxing exhibitions in this city, the club having petitions for a reduction in the license fee from $25 to $10. Sablotsky inquired the reason for stating in the petition that the prices were 50 and 75 cents, when as matter of fact, s1.15 has been charged. MT. Savers replied that the club has decided to charge 75 cents for all seats. doing away with 50 cent and S1.15 seats. Coun- Sablotsky' criticized the club for failing to have all the boxers appear who were advertised. MT. Sayers replied that it is impossible to prevant the failure of boxers to appear when the club is notified of injuries at the last moment.
 Councilman w. s. Warner asked Mir. Hurley to define an amateur" and MT. Hurley replied that the A. A. U. classes as m amateur a boxer w ho competes for the love of the sport receiving only trophies, such as medals, watches. silverware and other prizes. Councilman Warner asked whether or not it was possible for the winners to dispose of their prizes and Mir. Hurley replied that cases had come to light in which boxers sold their prizes. They were promptly suspended from the A. A. U., he said.
 MT. Hurley pointed out that pro- moters of amateur exhibitions have many obstacles to overcome, and they cannot be blamed in the major ity of cases, because boxers report that they are injured, or their will not allow them to com- pete, and although the show must go on, the advertised performers do not appear. Then, too. he pointed out, ! boxer may weigh 147 pounds W hen signed to perform. but the night of the exhibition he is found to have gained six pounds or so and cannot go on in the 147 pound class.