, 1897-03-02
THE PRIZE FIGHT BILL.
A WARM DISCUSSION OVER THE
MEASURE IN HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Opinion Seems to Be Quite Evenly Di-
vided, but There are Friends of the
People There Who Do Not Care to
Have the Newspapers Put Under a
Government Censorship.

Washington, d. C. March 1.-Th,
house galleries were %thronged with Wis
itors all day but the crowds witnessed
nothing beyond the dullest routine mat
tiers till the last half houi in the session
when the bill to prohibit the transmits
sion OF detailed ccounts of prize fights
by mail or telegraph was brought up
This led to a lively skirmish, in which
prize fighting was denounced on al
sides and the advocates of the bill in.
! sisted that the "sickening details should
he suppressed in the interest of good
morals. But the bill met the most siren.
uous opposition on the ground thai il
would tend to establish a censorship OF
the press. The end of the debate, which
was participated in by Aldrich, republi-
can OF Illinois, Grosvenor, republican OF
Ohio, and Morse, republican of Massa-
chusetts, in favor OF the bill, and Dock,
cry, democrat Of Missouri and McCum-
mings, democrat of New York, in oppo-
sition, was quite interesting. The ad-
versaries Of the measure Outvo,ed the
friends of the bill or several filibuster-
ing motions but an agreement for a re-
cess until 10 o'clock tomorrow put an
end to hOstilities. The bill now becomes
unfinished business whenever the call
of the committee is reached. but as the
conference reports have the right OF
way this session it is doubtful whether
that order OF business will again he
reached this session. The senate bill to
test the merits of the patent postal car OF
the economical postal association was
laid on the table.
Aldrich. republican of Illinois, who
called up the prize fighting bill, said
while it would mo- prevent the mill
scheduled from taking place in Nevada
on March II or the transmission of the
news OF the result. it would prevent the
broadcast dissemination OF the 'sicken-
ing Details" and the demoralizing pre-
liminaries with which the columns of
the newspapers already teemed. Morse,
republican OF Massachusetts, advocated
passing the bill "as a protection to the
youth OF the country" He said hat he
hoped that the result of the fight would
be that these W brutes would kill each
other. General Grosvenor, republican OF
Ohio, expressed the opinion that the
necessities OF morality and public order
demanded the suppression of prize fight
ing. III we lived in a state" he said.
which had nothing else to commend it,
might favor prize fighting" Uaugh-
teri Dockery, democrat of Missouri,
vigorously opposed the bill. He oppos-
ed prize fighting, he said. as much as
any me. but this bill would establish a
censorship OF the press, and if carried TO
a logical conclusion, would necessitale
the bill as dangerous. He said if it ever
passed many books in the congressional
library could not be sent through the
mails. Hepburn, republican of Iowa,
closed the debate with an earnest plea
for the bill.
The sundry civil bill and p~ostofice
appropriation bill were sent to con-
ference. Van Horn, republican Of Mis-
souri,, secured the passage Of a rather pc
culiar bill. 1t authorized the Interstate
National bank Of Kansas City to move
from Kansas to Missouri. The bank is
In a building which is on the boundary
inc and wishes to move from one por-
ton OF the building, which is in Kansas,
10 another portion, which is in Missouri.
This REQUIRES an act of congress-.
The conference report on the bill to
protect national military parks was
agreed to. The bill passed provides for
the transmission to Washington presi-
Dental election returns by mail. The
bill abolishes the system of messengers
now employed.
The senate resolution to enable an
officer OF the United States army, to ac-
cept, unde the government OF the great
er republic OF Central America, a posi-
ton OF military instructor, was adopted.
AT 6:1O a recess was taken.
John Addison Potter, father of the
Hartford editor who, it is said, has been
selected by President-elect Mckinley as
his private secretary, was the first dean
OF the Sheffield Scientific school, estab-
lished by the bounty Of his father-in-
law. English literature was Professor
Porter's specially. His widow still
lives in New Haven. Her father. the
philanthropist Sheffield, came from the
south before the war and made a for
tune In railroads.
Vice President Hobart has been be-
sieged by begging letters every day
since election. One young woman wrote
from New Orleans, requesting $40, 900
with which to complete her musical
education. and asked Mr.. Hobart to tel
egraph when the money would arrive.
Another woman asked for IS for a set
Of false teeth, saying that her chances
OF getting a husband would be vastly
increased thereby.
Does your wife enjoy har ub;s.