The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-10-10
PRIzEFICHTINC LAWS
Extra Session of the Texas
Legislature Convenes.
POLITICALR OWIN CONSEQUENCE
Contest Between Governor Culberson
and lis Political Opponents Bills
Introduced in Both Houses.

Introduced in Both Houses
Austin, Tex, Oct. 3.-The Texas
legislature met at noon with quorum
present. The governor, in a message,
reviewed the laws against prizefght.
ing in Texas, calling attention to errors
therein, and closed by saying:
All persons have been given notice
that the Corbett- Fitzsimmons exhibit
ton would not be permitted, and what
ever has been done by the projectors
was with full knowledge of the con-
sequences. Public interests require
that this exhibition especially should
be suppressed. Discountenanced by
Mexico and the territories, outlawed
and driven from every state, it is pro-
posed to assemble here a herd of ruff
ans and gamblers and offer in this state
this commanding insult to public de-
cency. The instincts and pride of the
people revolt, and your prompt and res
olute action will spare them this igno-
miny and shame"
He recommends a law making prize
fighting felony.
There is strong lobby here from
Dallas, and the leaders of it claim to
have votes enough in the house to de-
feat the emergency clause. There are
only three senators opposed to the
emergency clause.
Several -prizefght bills were in
troduced in both houses, and adjourn
ment was taken until tomorrow.
The two bills introduced in both
houses today, contain the emergency
clause. One of the bills, introduced
by Senator Lewis, is recognized as the
administration bill, and prescribes that
fistic encounter between man and
man shall be deemed a felony, and
shall be punished by an imprisonment
of not less than one nor more than five
years. The other bill, preparded by
Senator Simpson, provides for an inn
prisonment of from five to ten years.
These bills were referred to the jul
dietary committee in either house, and
they were to take action thereon this
afternoon. The Dallas attorneys ap-
peared before them to ask for further
time, claiming that they could show
that the proposed law was unconstitu-
tional and class legislation, as well as
confscatory. In compliance with the
request, both committees adjourned
until morning at o'clock, and moth
ing further was done by either house
in the matter.
AS the matter now stands, it is po-
litical row between the friends of Gov
ernor Culberson and his personal op-
ponents, of which he has quite num-
Der in the legislature. There are
ninety-four members of the house and
twenty -four senators. In the house 1t
is necessary to get eighty'six votes to
make the law go into immediate effect,
and twenty-four votes are necessary IN
the senate In the house at the present
writing, there are fifteen 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 it's present roster. In the
senate, there are three against the
emergency clause and two are doubt
full, which places the bill in danger
there also. If vote was taken now
with only the present number ON hand,
there is little doubt that the emergency
clause would be defeated.
The administration forces do not pro-
pose to to come to vote in the mat
ter, however, until more of their men
arrive, and their absentees are expected
tomorrow afternoon. The Dallas
people also want delay to gather ad-
ditional forces, so every body is pleased
to delay the game at present.
Tonight, lobbying is being INDUCED
in right and left, and strong effort is
being made to put the twenty-five pop
ulists in the house over to the fight
side.