The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-02
THE LAW MAX ERS MEET
THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
TEXAS LEGISLATURE NOW
IN SESSION.
GOVERNOR CULBERSON'S MESSAGE

QuestIOn and Reviews at Length the
Situation Which has Made the Cali
ing of the BODY Together Necessary.
Two Bills Alre. dy Introduced Em-
ergency Clause Cannot be Passed as
the Legislature Now Stands. -
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. I'm compliance
| with the proclamation of Gov Culber-
son, c0Dvening the Legislature in this
city on Oct /, to take action on the
prize fighting question, which has been
agitated by the proposed Corbett- Fitz-
simmons mill at Dallas, October 81,
quorum Of both houses responded to
roll call to-day at high noon and were in
working shape within thirty minutes
and at 1890 O'Clock promptly received
message from Gov. Culberson.
The Governor c0nfn I'd himself solely
to the prize fight question, and reviewed
at length the situation which has made
the calling of the Legislature necessary
He said he regretted that he had to call
the solons together, that this quest on
was being wrangled over ia the courts,
he deemed it advisable to stop further
discussion by having the Legislature
enact law that would be clear and
specific on this subject, and he desires il
to go into immediate effect.
His message is concluded as follows:
by proclamation, all persons have
been given notice that this exhibition
would not be permitted, and whatever
has been done by its projectors was with
full responsibility for the consequences.
''Tna pubic interests require that
this exhibition especially, should be
suppressed Discountenanced By Mex
leo and the territories, outlaWed
and driven from every State, it Is
proposed to assemble a horde of
ruffians and gamblers and offer here this
commanding insult to pu0l:c decency
Ag linst it, the instincts and the pride of
the people revolt and your prompt and
resolute action will spare them tho ig
n0my and the shame. It will do another
thing 1t will recall to the great city of
this State, inhabited by a manly and
generous and enlightened people, the
wholesome and assuring truth, now nb-
scured b. anger and misconception, for
which it will hereafter thank you, that
no part of its material prosperity, no
part of its social and intellectual and in
dustrial progress, no part of its splendid
destiny is bound up in an endeavor to
hold within its limits one of the most
disgraceful orgies that ever promised to
discredit and dishonor Texas
"Impeiled by a sense of duty to exert
every executive power to divert this
calamity, You have been called ia special
session and the responsibility for the con-
sequences is now divided with you That
you will meet it as becomes the represen-
tatives Of the whole people, anxious and
ready TO protect the fair name Of the State
Is not doubted"
As soon as the message was read, in
compliance with lis command, two bills
we're introduced in both houses.
The respective bills in the two houses
are Identical. The one introduced in
the Senate by Senator Lewis, of Bsxor,
and the one In the House by Represent
tive Ward, of Travil, are generally con-
ceded to be the meas lres Of he adniuis-
tration. They defins tina. pre- fl shting,
or any pugillstie encounter, shall
be deemed felony and shall
be punished by i'm mrrisonment of
not less than one, nor more thal two
years This bill, of course, has the
emergency clause. The other bill, in
troduced in the Senate by Senator Simp-
son, provides penalty OF not less than
| five, nor more than ten years, and fur
| ther provides that anyone, who, Ia any
manner, aids or abets a fight wil lDe con
sldered participant and subject to the
above named punishment. The emer-
pIanca IC uion in %hfu hfli
These bills were referred to the Judic-
iary committee in either house, and they
were to take action thereon this after
noon. 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 legislation as well as confisca
tory. In compliance with their request,
both committees adjourned until morn
ing at o'clock, and nothing further
was done by either house in the matter.
AS the matter now stands, it is a po-
litical row between the friends of Gov.
ernor Culberson aud his present oppo-
nents, of which he has quite number
in the Legislature. There are ninety four
members of the House present and twenty
four Senators. Ia the House it is neces-
sary to get eighty six votes to make the
law go iato immediate effect aud 90 votes
are necessary in the Senate. Ia the
House at the present time there are tif-
teen out and.out men against putting the
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 a vote was taken now with only
these present, there is little doubt that the
emergency clauae would be defeated.
The administration forces do not