Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-06
AT TIT = Il CAPITAL
Bill Making Prize Fighting a Felony
in Federal Territories Passed
Senate To-day.
PRESIDENT WILL SIGN BILL TOMORROW
Federal Authorities Preparing to En-
force the Measure-Populists Unite
Against Quay's Effort to Re-
commit Silver Substitute.

Washington, Feb. 6.-Secrstary Nor
ton has received a letter from the secre-
tary of the Bay State Agricultural society
of Massachusetts, inclosing resolution
adopted by that body approving of the
action in stopping seed distribution, and
condemning the old system of seed dis
tribution to members of congress as an
extravagant, unnecessary and wasteful
use OF public mes'ez.
THE ANTI-PRIzE FIGHT BILL.
The full text Of the anti prize fighting
bill which passed the. house yesterday is
as follows: "That any person who in any
of the territories or District Of Columbia
shall voluntarily engage in pngilistic
encounter between man and man, or
fight between OK and bull or any other
animals for money or for other things of
value or for any championship, or upon
the result of which any money or any
thing of value is bet or wagered, or to
see which any admission fee is charged
either directly or indirectly, shall be
deemed guilty Of felony and upon con-
viction be punished by imprisonment in
the penitentiary not less than one year
nor more than five years.
'By the term 'pugilistic encounter as
nsed in this bill is meant any voluntary
fight by blows, or by use of fist or other
wise, whether with or without gloves, be-
tween two or more men, for money or for
prize of any character, or for any other
thing of value, or for any championship,
or upon the result of which any money
or anything of value is bet or wagered,
or to see which any admission fee is
charged either directly or indirectly"
Catron, delegate from New Mexico, in
his speech yesterday afternoon, expressed
his opinion that the governor could have
stopped the Stuart fights if he had been
so disposed. "This bill will compel him
to stop them," he said.
The Catron anti-prize fight bill passed
the senate this afternoon.
CERTAIN TO BECOME LAW.
The Catron bill, to prohibit prize fight
ing in federal territory, probably will be
sent to the president tomorrow or next
day. It is considered almost certain that
it will be signed promptly, thus making
the law operative Immediately. Then
the whole government authority, judicial.
and, If necessary, the military, will be in.
voked to stop prize fights.
ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-PRIzE FIGHT BILL.
Army officers on duty at the war de-
partment are prepared to do all in their
power to execute the provisions of the
Catron bill, if called upon when the bill
becomes law. ss
The procedure of setting in motion
the machinery of the army would be for
the governor of New Mexico or any ter
rltory which may be the scene of an un-
lawful gathering to call upon the United
States marshal of the territory to act, and
he might. if he felt it necessary, call for
assistance from United States troops.
The war department authorities say
that they have an ample force in New
Mexico and adjacent to the border to
take care of any number of sports likely
to be there at the risk of arrest on the
charges Of felony by attending prize
fight.
Army officers feel confident that the
troops will not be called for, believing
that the law will compel the abandon
ment Of the project to pull the fight off
in the territory.
ORDERED TO LEAVE CUBA.
William F. Mannix, the American news
paper correspondent in Cuba, ordered by
the authorities to leave the island, wrote
to the Evening star here some days ago in
which he SAID that he had been informed
that he was black listed at the palace and
any more side trips would be the cause
of his being invited to leave.
SUICIDE OF A DEPARTMENT CLERK.
John Shea, first class clerk in the
pension and record division of the war
department and a veteran of the late war,
committed suicide in a closet of the de-
partment this morning by shooting him
self in the head. He was unbalanced
mentally from wound inflicted during
the war.
DRUNKENNESS CRIME.
Justice Morris, in announcing deci-
sion of the court of appeals of the Dis
trict of Columbia, ruled that while in
toxication may be disease, yet If it is
voluntary and leads to the commission
of crime, it is crime in itself.
~----------------------- -