The morning times., 1895-10-02

Austin. Texas. Oct ct1.-Pursuant to the
call of Gov Culberson the legislature CON-
vened to-day in extraordinary session to
legislate against the Corbctt-Fitzsimmons
prize fight.
After the roll had been called the pre-
siding officer of the senate briefly eX-
planned the Governors purpose in calling
the legislature in special session. He
expressed the belief that the pronlptness
with which the senators had responded
was an indication that they would pass
the proposed anti-fight measure. He
closed with the hope that the session might
be harmonious and brief
The presence of Il quorum being estab-
lished. lis both houses, The Governors nlesI
sage was thercupon laid before the two
bodies. 1t was short, sharp and decisive
1t contained no uncertain sound as to his
attitude concerning prize fighting in gen
eral, and the proposed contest between
Corbett and Fitzsimmons in particular.
The Governor reviewed the past legis-
lation relating to prize fighting, which
sport Ee cIara acterized as brutal and de-
noraliZing aud denounced 10y every State
in the union. He enumerated the States
which have enacted laws making prize
fighting a felony, and urged that such
4aws should he operative from their pas
sage
BIG MONEY INVOLVED.
He referred to the opposition TO the
"emergency'' bill because of the large
amount o money involved by the managers
of the Florida Athletic Club and said that
such opposition was characteristic of such
an exhibition.
.'It rests" lie continued, upon the au-
dacious proposition that a free people can
mr. Inph lNt right
TO preserve the public peace, the public
morals and the public safety
The message concluded in these words:
''If no law now exists the State does
not give any assurance OF come under any
obligation that is legal upon the subject,
but heseprinciples need not be here invoked
by proclamation. All persons have been
given notice that this exhibition would
not be permitted and what ever has been
done by its projectors was with full re-
sponsibiiity for the consequences.
'The public interests require that this
exhibition especially should be suppressed.
DiScountenanced by Mexico and territories
outlawed and driven from every State, it
is proposed TO assemble horde of ruffians
and gamblers and offer here this command
ing insult to public decency against the pride
of the people, and your prompt and resolute
action will spare them the ignomiDy.
NO BUSINESS BENEFIT.
1T will do another thing. 1t win recall
to the great city of the State, inhabited by
a manly and generous and enlightened peo-
pie, the wholesale and assuring truth now
obscured by anger and misconception, for
which itwillhereafterthank you, thatnopart
of its material prosperity no part of its So
cial and intellectual and industrial prog
ress, no partofits splendid destiny, is bound
up in an endeavOr to hold within its limits
one of the most disgraceful orgies ever per
mitted to discredit and dishonor Texas.
Impelled by sense of duty to exert every
executive power to avert this calamity, You
have been called in special session, and the
responsibility for the consequences is now
divided with you. That you will meet ii as
becomes the representatives of the whole
people anxious and ready TO protect the
fair name of the State is not doubted
LEWIS PRESENTED THE BILL.
The first step in the direction Of legls-
lation inimical to prize fighting was taken
in the senate by Mr.. Lewis, of San Antonio,
who introduced a bill to that effect. 1t is
understood to reflect the views of the admin
istration, and provides that any person
who engages in pugiistic encounter be
tween man and man, or fight between
a man and any animal, upon the result OF
which money is wagered, shall be deemed
guilty of felony, and be punished by i'm
prisonment in the penltentiary for not
less then two years nor more than five
years. The bill further provides that
public propriety demands that this law
shall take effect and be in force from and
after its passage. A similar bill was in
troduced in the house by Mr.. Ward, of
Travis. The Lewis and Ward bills were
referred to judiciary committee No. z, which
has jurisdiction of criminal, as distin-
sfx-fl f4rE