Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-10-10
THE BILL PASSED.
Tho Texas Legislature Against
Pugilistic Encounters.
Gov. CuLBERSoSS GREAT VICTORY.
The Bill Prohibiting Prize Fighting in the
Lone Star State Was Passed In Three
Hours-The Four Sections
Of the Bill.

AUSTIN Tex, Oct a.--There will be
no prize fight at Dallas October 81 be-
tween Corbett and Fitzsimmona This
fast was settled yesterday afternoon
By The Texas Legislature in exactly
y three hours by the watch. The two
committees, one In the senate and the
other IN the house, gave an audience
70 thu Dallas attorneys all the morning
to ascertain their objections and
protests to the passage Of the law.
After hearing the gentlemen until
noon the two committees adjourned.
In the afternoon when the two houses
met at 8 o'clock both committees were
ready to report and the senate bill was
very promptly considered. From the
time the bill was placed before the
senator's to the time II passed
was exactly ffty.fve minutes Dur.
Ing this time Senator Dean opposed
the bill and Senator Lasker spoke In
its favor. There were only two gen
tlemen who spoke on the bill, the bal.
snce satisfying themselves by voting.
The vote on the final passage Of the
bill was 81 ayes and nay, Dean being
the negative voter. The bill was i'm
medistely sent over to the
house, and ut o'clock that
body began discussing 1t, sub
stituting the senate bill for the house
bill. After several gentlemen had
spoken on the bill and the emergency
feature, pro and con, final vote was
reached at o'clock precisely, and the
bill passed the house bya vote OF ITO
to s. Thus, within three hours, did
the Texas legislature forever put an
end to prize fighting in Texas.
This time Tuesday 1t would have
been impossible TO have passed this
bill with an emergency clause There
were only ninety-two members present
Tuesday, and Of that number tlfteeu
were opposed to the emergency clause.
II was necessary to have eighty-six
votes to carry the emergency clause.
The administration forces readily saw
that the minority would do them, II
the matter came To vote, so they imme-
diately wired all their friends to come
here Immediately and then sat about
killing time until their forces could
arrive. They had eighty.two only
Wednesday night, but the abscntees
came hocking In on Wednesdays
trains Each additional arrival added
10 the administration forces, and
when everything was arranged the
'ush for the vote was made. The I
light management were confused ,
It the way the solons swarmed
n yesterday morning and practically ,
rave up the fight by q o'clock in the
.ftsrnoon. 1t was almost h certainty
ssterday morning that the populists h
vould DO called over to the Dallas 4
do Of the question, but q cog was n
tipped and on the vote In the /,
vening they voted with tho I'D. 8,
forces, which cinched :,
10 matter. Gov Culbcrson's friends n
,nsider II u great victory h
r him and lost no opportunity last n
ght to congratulate his excellency /,
! the outcome Of the hottest and 1t a.
light be- safely termed, one Of the q
tterest, ns we'll as shortest, political o
hts ever brought up in the Lone
or state on any one single man. !,
The bill that will prohibit prize u
hitting In Texas In the future, as v
ssed yesterday, reads as follows y
,ection |. BE " enacted, by the legislature OF u
, state Of Texas, that any person who shall II
UNFAIRLY engage In q pugillstlc encounter h
tween man and man, or fight between man ~,
bull. or any other animal, for money or n
,er thing Of value. or for my championship, "
upon the result Of which any money or any 81
Ing Of value Is bet or wagered or to SEQ u
Itch any admission fec Is charged either d. In
'tly or indirectly, shall BIO deemed guilty OF
ebony, and, upon conviction shall DO pun
ed by imprisonment In the penltentiary not
8 than two nor more than Ave years. n
loo. . by the term "pugillstlc encounters" "
used In this act, Ia meant any voluntary W
ht or personal encounter, by blows by means q
the fists or otherwise, whether with or with d,
gloves, between two men for money, or for 10
'rize Of any character, or for my champion "
p or for any other thing Of value, or upon u
J result Of which any money or anything OF W
Tue Is bet or wagered. OF
loo. T. That oil laws and parts OF laws In In
lnict herewith be, and the same are, hereby
,ealed.
loo. l. The fact that there Is no adequate
nalty against prize fighting or pugilism, or IN
inst fights between man and beast, creates \,
imperative public necessity and emergency, "
luiring the suspension Of the constitutional ID
Q requiring bills to be rssd on three several Ia
", and that this law should take effect and r.
In force from and after Its passage, and II is a,
Ieby 90 enacted y,