New-York tribune., 1895-10-02
TO PREVENT PRIZE-FIGHTS.
A VIGOROUS MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR
CULBERSON.
THE TEXAs LEGISLATIVE MEETS IN SPECIAL
sEss1ON-A LIvELy sTRUGGLE EXPECTED
OVER THE BILL. INTRODUCED.

Austin Tex oct. 1.-The Legislature met in
special session here to-day. an' Governor Cuber-
sons message was laid before the two houses II
short. sharp and decisive 1t contained no un-
certain sound as to his attitude concerning prize
fighting in general and the proposed contest be-
tween Corbe,t and Fi,zsmmons In particular. The
Governor reviewed the past legislation relating To
prize nghting which Ae characterized brutal and
demoralizng. and denounced by every State In the
Union. He enumerated the States which have
enacted laws making prize-hghting felony, AMI
urged that such laws should be operative from ther
passage He referred to the opposition to the
emergency bill because of the large amount OF
money involved tc the managers OF the Florids
Athletic Club. and said that such opposition was
characteristic OF such exhibition 1T rests
he continued 'upcn the audacious proposition tha'
free people can forfeit or have bargained away
the public peace. the public morals and the
public safety 1t Is proposed TO assemble
horde OF ruffians and gamblers and offer here TINS
commanding insult to public decency against 'he
pride of the people. and your prompt ana resou'c
action will spare them the ignomny.
The first step In the direction OF legislation mimi
cal to fighting taken in the Senate py NJ
Lewis. of San Antonio. who introduced pI
encounter between man and man. or fight between
man and any animal, on the tueG reiu,t guitv Of a
felony. and be punished by imprisonment IN @ tne
penitentiary for not than two years nor aofe re-
tiie' the House HTe bS Mr ward of Travis
The situation In the Legislature may De cHdiIs an
tomorrow or Thursday by the presence OF a uo",i 81
or more absentees who nave been sent f0i' pua i.'
a been taken to-day on the biil mak.s ,. =
dehtine a felony II would have failed OF the two
thirds necessary to make il operative Only i.ii'e
ty-four members OF the House were preScl,. d"
rollcan to-day OF these fifteen have deTlai "a
against the and three are douptluii, ~ ~,
the Administration must have eghty-slN Notes ~ ~
pass an emergency bill. ii was short TO-DAY apouo @
ten votes In the Senate the conditions were ,o i'.
favorable, az twenty-fOur members OF that @ @pouS
were present, with every possibility that hot iioie %
than three OF the number would vote IN opppsi.o',
This would have passed the bill there without d
vote TO spare. ,,..,x ,ro -
There /, no question that an overwhe,mhg h, ma
ioritv OF both houses favorable to Dill prorp l
ing prize-fightng and making it felony, ihsLe ~
is however a little cotere who believe thdt me
hin should not become a law until ninety days after
the adjournment, and these claim strehgth - smoncw
to defeat the bill i'm the House with the eInerseIoS
clause attached The indications tonight are INA
the battle between the administration forces anu
the opposition will be spirited. but breI Inc more
influential members Of both houses are ANXIOUS
TO return 10 their homes as speedily as possp,e
and an effort will be made TO bring the measure W
a vote by Saturday afternoon.