Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-11
Boxing Commission
Ruled in Error in
UIine Arena Row
Boord Refused to Let
Ring Show Go on With
1 ) Rows Of Scots on Ice
BY LEWIS ATCHTSON.

by LEWIS ATCHISON.
The District Commissioners heard
the District Boxing Commission S
version OF last Tuesday nights battle
q Uline Arena today and concluded
the Boxing Commission had made
q mistake"
The meeting between members of
the board and the Commissioners
was the aftermath of scramble at
the arena when Thomas P. Morgan,
lr,, and 1t. John J. Agnew, members
OF the boxing body, refused the
arena permission to open its doors
Tor a scheduled show until three
rows of seats had been removed from
the ice.
The trouble first arose last week
When Goldie Ahearn, matchmaker
Tor the Liberty Athletic Club, an
neunced a reduction in prices for
ain all-heavyweight card, a move the
commission forbade. 1t was fol-
lowed by an order from the latter to
remove the ice from the hockey rink
before staging the show.
Planking Put Over Ice.
Two previous shows had been held.
at which planking was placed over
the ice and ringside chairs placed
on 1t. Mr.. Ahearn Immediately an
nounced he would sell no ringside
seats and the commission approved
the reduced prices.
But when MI. Morgan and 1t.
Agnew arrived at the arena the
night Of the show and found three
rows of seats on the ice around the
ring they ordered them removed be-
tore fans could be admitted and
the first bout started. An argu-
ment followed. while fans milled
around the lobby but the commits
sioners were adamant and the seats
finally were removed
Claude w. Owen, chairman of the
commission, not present Tuesday
night, and Dick OBrien, secretary,
also attended todays meeting.
Commissioner j. Russell Young.
Col. Charles w. Kutz, Richmond B.
Keech, corporation counsel, and
Charles Stofberg, Commissioner
Young's special assistant, were
present.
Charge Ahearn Broke Promise.
The meeting was not open to the
public, but 1t was alleged that Mr..
Ahearn had promised to remove the
ice before the first of three shows
staged at the arena and had failed
to keep his agreement. Mr.. Morgan
was questioned about the number of
passes requested by him, but denied
asking them for himself, pointing
out that he had merely requested
them for all members of the COM
mission. They usually receive So.
The ring board said it had received
complaints about sitting at the ring
side from timekeeper who said he
caught cold at the previous show
and was confined to bed three weeks,
and also from an internal revenue
collector assigned to the arena.
Concerning reduction in prices.
Mr.. Morgan said cutting prices
would hurt club fights in Washing
tor. 1t was brought out that there
Is a certain degree of friction be-
tween Uline Arena and Joe Turner's
Arena, the only other place in town
where boxing shows are held.
Seats on Ice at Skating Shows.
1t was pointed out that boxing
matches have been held before with |
spectators seated on boards covering
the ice Kinks at both Uline and |
Stadium and that fans
also have been seated on the ice for .
skating extravaganzas.
Summing up, Commissioner Young
said:
The commission feels it will not |
be difficult to bring about a salts |
factory solution to the present sit !
uation and it is my opinion that the !
entire problem centered about the
des'rability of having seats on the /
ice and that the opinion of the /
health officer, DR.. George C. Rub /.
land, will go a long way toward |
determining whether it is safe and |
in the interest of public health.
The Boxing Commission made
mistake in not seeking expert advice |
regarding seats on ice before per-
uniting the first show
The Commissioners indicated they
were willing to grant a hearing to
Mr.. Uline and Mr.. Ahearn.