Commissioner of the General Land Office with statement that if the bill be amended as suggested I had no objection to its enactment. I have further considered the matter at the request of the author of the bill, and conclude to withdraw that part of the suggested amendment which reads, "without compensation to the homestead entryman, patentee, his heirs or assigns, for use and occupation of the land in the prospecting for, mining, and removal of the minerals therefrom." With the elimination of this clause the provisions of section 9 of the stockraising homestead law would be applicable to entries made under the bill, if it becomes a law, which I think is sufficient. I therefore have no objection to the enactment of the bill if amended as otherwise suggested in the memorandum. Very truly yours, RAY LYMAN WILBUR. TO AUTHORIZE AMATEUR BOXING IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MARCH 7, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. MCLEOD, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9182] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9182) to prevent professional prize fighting and to authorize amateur boxing in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report it back with the following amendment and recommend that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass: Page 2, line 7, strike out the period after the word "Columbia" and insert the following: "one of whom shall be a member of the Police Department of the District of Columbia." This bill is identical with H. R. 13789 and S. 4085 of the Seventieth Congress. S. 4085 was passed by the Senate and reported favorably by our Committee to the House but was lost in the last rush of the session. The House report last Congress was No. 2681. The object of the bill is to legalize amateur boxing in the District of Columbia, while continuing in full force and effect the present law against professional prize fighting. Sections 320 and 321 of the Penal Code of the United States, applying to the Territories of the United States and the District of Columbia, prohibit, under penalty of imprisonment for not more than five years, participation in a "pugilistic encounter" for money or other thing of value, or for any championship, or upon the result of which any money or anything of value is bet or wagered, or to see which any admission fee is directly or indirectly charged. While this effectually prevents professional prize fighting, with its attendant abuses and evils, it is equally a restriction and prohibition of properly conducted and genuinely amateur boxing exhibitions, such as are permitted in practically every State of the country. The bill as reported is the result of very careful consideration and considerable revision of previous bills for the same purpose. It will, if enacted, continue the present effective prohibition of professional prize fighting and at the same time legalize properly conducted and supervised amateur boxing exhibitions. The boxing commission is authorized to charge such fees for licenses and permits as are necessary to cover its expenses. A penalty of not more than a year's imprisonment or a fine not to exceed $1,000 is provided for holding of a boxing exhibition without permit, or participation in such unlicensed exhibition, or violation of rules and regulations of the commission. With such carefully drawn restrictions, there is no possibility of professional prize fighting in the District of Columbia. The proposed legislation to legalize amateur boxing exhibitions in the District has the hearty approval and support of such individuals and organizations as the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, The City Club of Washington, D. C., The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Jewish Community Center, the schools and colleges of the District of Columbia, through their athletic departments, Gen. Anton Stephan, president of the Merchants and Manufacturers Association of the District of Columbia and various other civic and social organizations. O TO AMEND THE ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO SETTLE CLAIMS AND SUITS AGAINST THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MARCH 7, 1930.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. MCLEOD, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 9996] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 9996) to amend the act entitled "An act authorizing the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to settle claims and suits against the District of Columbia," approved February 11, 1929, having considered the same, report it back to the House with the following amendment and recommend that the amendment be agreed to and the bill do pass: Page 2, line 9, after the word "it" strike out the period and quotes and insert the following: or to give any person, corporation, partnership or association any right to institute any suit against the District of Columbia which did not exist prior to the passage of this act. This bill proposes to amend the present law, so as to authorize the settlement of claims and suits to which defense of governmental function could be interposed. The measure is in line with existing legislation relating to the departments of the Government, and by the act of April 10, 1928, the Comptroller General of the United States is directed to submit to Congress by a special report the claims or demands against the United States filed in the General Accounting Office, which may not lawfully be adjusted by the use of an appropriation theretofore made, but which claims or demands in the judgment of the Comptroller General contain such elements of legal liability or equity as to be deserving of the consideration of Congress. The bill has the approval of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia and its corporation counsel. О |