Evening journal., 1895-10-03
CANNOT FIGHT IN TEXAS
State Legislature Makes Prize
Fighting a Felony.
THE BILL RAILRoADED THROUGH.

Both Houses Made Law 20 stop the Cor
ett-Fitzsimmons Contest by an Almost
Unanimous Vote ~ Governor Culberson
Receiving Congratulations.
AUSTIN, Oct. 3-There will be no prize
fight at Dallas on Oct. 81 between Corbett
and Fitzsimmons. This fact was settled
by tho Texas legislature in exactly three
hours by the watch
The two committecs-one in the senate
and the other in the house-gave an audi
enoe to the Dallas attorneys all Wcdnes-
day morning to ascertain their objections
and protests to the passage Of tho law.
After hearing the gentlemen until noon
the two committees adjourned.
When the two houses met again, both
committees were ready TO report, and the
senate bill was very promptly considered
From the time the bill was placed before
the senate until it finally passed il was
exactly % minutes. During this time
Senator Dean opposed tho bill, and Sena-
tor Lasker spoke in its favor. These were
the only two gentlemen who spoke ON the
bill, the balance satisfying themselves by
voting.
The vote on the final passage of the bill
was 81 yeas and 1 nay, Dean being the
negative voter, The bill was Immediately
sent over to the house. and that body be-
gan discussing it at once, substituting the
senate bill for the house bill.
After several gentlemen had spoken ON
the bill and the emergency feature pro
and con a final vote was reached, and the
bin passed the house by vote of 40 TO 3.
Thus within three hours did the Texas
legislature forever put an end to prize
fighting in Texas.
How the Bin wan Pushed Through.
1t would have been impossible to have
passed bill with the emergency clause
on Tuesday. There were only % members
present then, and of that number l5 We're
opposed TO the emergency clause. IL was
necessary to have S6 votes to carry the
emergency clause. The administration
forces readily saw that the minority would
defeat them II the matter came TO vote,
SO they Immediately wired all their friends
to .coine here Immediately and then sat
about killing time until their forces could
arrive. They had So votes only on Tues
day night but the absentees came flock
ing in on Wednesdays trains. Each addl-
tional arrival added to the administration
forces, and when everything was arranged
the rush for the vote was made.
The fight management was confused at
the way the solons swarmed in on Wodnes
day morning and practically gave up the
fight by 3 O'Clock in the afternoon. ltwas
almost a certainty on Wednesday morning
that the Populists would be called over to
the Dallas sldo of the question, but the
plan fell through, and ON the vote last
evening they voted with the administra-
tion forces, which decided the matter.
frt,
it great victory for him and lost no op-
portunity to congratulate his excellency
ON the outcome Of one of the hottest, and
it might be safely termed, one Of the bit
tercst as well as shortest political fights
over brought up in the Lone Star state by
any one single man.
The bill that will prohibit prize fighting
in Texas in tho future, as passed. reads as
follows.
Section l. BE it enacted by the lcgis
lature of the state Of pexas that any per-
son who shall voluntarily engage in
pugilistic encounter between man and
man, or fight between a man and bull
or any othcr animal for money or other
thing of value or for any championship,
or upon the result of which any money or
anything of value is bot or wagered, or to
see which any admission fee is charged,
either directly or indirectly, shall be
doomed guilty Of a felony, and upon con-
viction shall bo punished by imprison-
ment in the penitentiary not less than two
or more than five years.
Sec. ,. Ry the term 'pugilistic en-
counters - as used in this act, is meant
any voluntary fight or personal encounter,
by blows, by means Of the fists or other
wise, whether with or without gloves be-
tween two men for money. or for any
championship, or for any other thing of
value, or upon the result of which any
money or anything of value is bet or
wagered.
See g. That all laws and parts of laws
in conflict herewith be and the same are
hereby repealed.
Soc 4. The fact that there is now no
adequate penalty against prize fighting or
pugilism or against fights between man
and beasts creates an imperative public
necessity and emergency requiring the
suspension OF the constitutional rule re-
quiring bills to be read on three separate
dHys and that this law should be effective
and be in force from this passage, and it
is hereby so enacted.
Potter Maher OF Pittsburg, the heavy
weight who is to fight Steve O'Donnell,
arrived last night, accompanied by his
trainer. Maher said TO q correspondent:
al am going to train in Dallas. I will
be ready to meet O'Donnell whenever the
fight will be pulled of. Excuse me from
talking about the legislature or any OF
your state complications OYER the contest. "
Corbett Hears the News.
ATLANTA, Oct. 3.-Champion Jim Cor
I,tN a nod A