Evening journal., 1895-10-02
TEXAS SOLONS AT WORK
Legislature Trying to Frame an
Anti-Prize Fight Law.
A BIG POLITICAL ROW ENsUEs,

Two Bills, Each Making Prize Fighting a
Felony. Are Before the judiciary Com
mittee but Both Sides Are Trying to De-
lay Test Vote on the same.
AUSTIN, Oct 2.-In compliance with
the proclamation issued by Governor Cul-
berson convening the legislature in this
city on Oct. / 10 take action on the prize
fight question which has been agitated by
the proposed Corbett Fitzsimmons mill at
Dallas on Oct 81 a quorum OF both houses
responded to roll call and were in working
shape within 80 minutes.
A message from Governor Culberson
was promptly received. The governor con-
fined himself solely to the prize fight ques-
tion and reviewed at length the situation
which has made the calling of the legisla-
ture necessary. He said he regretted that
he had to call the solons together but
that this question was being wrangled
over in the courts and he deemed it ad.
yisablo to stop further discussion by hav-
ing the legislature enact law that would
be clear and specific On this subject, and
ne desired it to go into immediate effect
His message concluded as follows, after a
careful review of the condition of the laws
in other states
$50 in this instance, If no law exists,
the state does not give any assurance or
como under any obligation that its legs-
lation upon this subject will remain I'M
changed, but these principles need not be
herein invoked. by proclamation all per-
sons have been given notice that this ex
hibition would not be permitted, and
whatever has been done by It's projectors
was with full responsibility for tho conse-
quonces.
"rhe public interests require that this
exhibition especially should he suppress
ed Discountenanced by Mexico and the
territories, outawed and driven from
every state, it is proposed to assemble
horde of ruilians and gamblers and offer
here this commanding insult to public
deoonoy. Against il the instincts and the
pride of the people revolt, and your prompt
and rosolute action will spare them the
ignominy and the shame.
Most DisgracefuI Orgy.
at will do another thing It will re-
call to the great city Of this state, inhab-
tied by manly and generous and onlight-
encd people the wholesome and assuring
truth. now obscured by anger and miscon-
ception, for which it will hereafter thank
you, that no part of its material prosperi-
ty, no part OF its social and intellectual
and Industrial progress no part Of its splen-
did destiny, is bound up in an endeayor
TO hold within its limits one of the most
disgraceful orgies that over promised to
discredit and dishonor Texas.
'lmpellcd by a sense of duty to exert
every executive power TO divert this calam-
ity you have been called in sPacial ses-
sion, and the responsibility for the conse-
quonce is now divided with you. That
you will meet it as becomes the represent
atives of the whole people, anxious and
ready to protect the fair name of the state
Is not doubted "
As soon as tho message was read i'm
compliance with its command, two bills
were introduced in both houses.
The respective bills i'm the two houses
are identical Tho ono introduced in the
senate by Senator Lewis OF Bexor and the
ono in the house by Representative Ward
of Travis are generally conceded TO be the
measures Of the administration. They de-
flno that prize fighting or any pugilistic
encounter shall be deemed a felony and
shall bo punished by an imprisonment Of
not less than one nor moro than two
years. This bill, OF course has the omer-
gency clause.
The othor bill, introduced i'm the senate
by Senator Simpson provides penalty OF
not less than five nor more than ten years,
and further provides that any one who in
any manner aids or abets a fight will be
considered a participant and subject to the
above named punishment The emergen'
cy clause is also in this bill.
These bills were referred TO the iudici-
AIRY committee in either house, and they
were 20 take action thereon at once. The
Dallas attorneys appeared before them,
however TO ask for further time, claiming
that they could show that the proposed
law was unconstitutional and class legis-
lation as we'll as conflscatorY. In compli-
ance with the request both committees
adjourned until this morning at O'Clock,
and nothing further was done by either
house in the matter
Lapses Into Political Row.
AS the matter now stands it is politi-
cal row between the friends Of Governor
Culborson and his present opponents, Of
which he has quite a number in the legis-
lature.
There are % members of the house pres
ent and "a senators. In the house il is
necessary To get SO votes Co make the law
go into immediate effect, and 81 votes are
necessary in the senate. In the house at
the present time thore are 10 out and out
men against putting an emergency clause
in the bill, while there are four who are
doubtful
This puts the two-thirds vote out OF the
question in the house with the present
roster. In the senate there are three
against the emergency clause and two
doubtful, which places the bill in serious
danger there also. If vote was taken
now with only the present number pres
emit there is little doubt that the emergen-
oy clause would be defeated.
The administration forces 10 not pro
pose to come to vote on the mattef how.
ever until more of their men arrive, and
these absenteos are expected by this after
noon at the latest. The Dallas people also
want a delay. 60 gather additional forces,
so everybody is pleased to delay the game
at present.
Today lobbying is being INDUCED in
right and left, and a strong effort is being
made to pull the % Populists in the house
over TO the fight side.
A Cigarette War on.
ROCHESTER, Oct. 2.-The war between
the American Tobacco company on one