Evening star., 1949-07-29
Miller Asks Approval
BY Lawmakers for Cut
In N Boxing Rights
By Chris Mothisen

chairman Harvey l.. Miller OF
the District Boxing Commission
urged a joint Senate House Dis
trict Subcommittee today to ap-
prove legislation intended to
clarity and strengthen the COM
missions authority and assure it
a cut of television rights receipts
in boxing contests.
Col. Miller testified as the sub
committee began hearings on a bill
proposed by the boxing agency
and indorsed by the District Com
missioners.
He said the commission has
been concerned by the inroads on
fight attendance being made by
television. If the commission
does not have any specific guaran-
tee that its percentage of gross
receipts shall include a cut of
the television rights. it probably
will be unable in the future to
continue it's program of financial
assistance to amateur boxing. Col
Miller told the subcommittee.
He pointed out the commission
is authorized to purchase equip
ment for amateur groups. such as
boys clubs. but must maintain
itself exclusively from it's 10 per
cent rakeoff from the proceeds of
boxing shows it supervises.
Ring Sider5 Stay Home.
Already, he said. many former
regular ring-siders now stay at
home"-watching the fights on
television and contributing moth
ing to the gate"
Senator Hunt. Democrat, of
Wyoming, acting as chairman. of
the subcommittee. suggested it
might be better If the commission
presented fixed budget each year
and obtained an appropriation to
cover its expelss - 8.
Col. Mil16f "a this mfeht
be desirable, but pointed out the
commission Could not determine
in advance hnW naany boxing con-
tests it would be called on to
supervise in a given year. He said
the commission believes it has the
right to share in television pro-
ceeds under existing law, but
would like specific mention of the
new factor in the sport.
Col. Miller asked approval of
another feature of the bill which
would give the commission spe-
cific authority to assign dates.
He said this, too, was matter of
clariflcation prompted by a court
case two years ago involving dates.
Ford Disputes Commission.
A later witness, Attorney
Charles E. Ford. representing Mrs.
Florence Turner, promoter at
Turner's Arena, contended, how
ever. that the commission now has
ample authority to control boxing
He said the court case referred
to resulted in a finding that the
commission was empowered to
assign fight dates. but it had
abused" its authority.
Mr. Ford also took exception to
proposed language which would
result in payment of fighters nom
appearance forfeits to the COM
mission. He suggested the pro-
moter who suffers loss when a
contestant fails to show up should
be entitled to share in the forfeit
money.
The proposed legislation was in
dorsed at the hearing by District
Commissioner Mason.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Oliver Gasch explained it had
been drafted to bring the stated
authority of the commission in
line with that accorded compare
BILE agencies in important boxing
States.
The joint hearing was arranged
by agreement of Chairman Nc
Grath of the Senate District Com
mittee and Chairman Mcmillan of
the House District Committee.
Senator Hunt attempted to per-
suade Representative Harris, Dem
ocrat, of Arkansas. to act as chair
man of the joint subcommittee,
but the latter, author of the pres
ent District boxing law. deferred
smilingly to the representative of
the upper chamber.