The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-12
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.
SENATORIAL AND GENERAL TALK
Kick About th. Commlttsrs-sOm, Personal
POIats-Wm There be a Caucus, and Will II
Secure uaauluIty Among the Democrats.
The DRIFT OF Public OplHIOu.

Secure unaulmitJ AmoHE the Democrats.
The Drift OF Public Opinion.
For the first working day Of the session, the
Legislature showed distinguished industry
yesterday. Thirty.six bills have already
been introduced and the hopes OF those who
prophesied a short and not very busy session
are ebbIng fast. None Of the bills are oil
specia! public importance or Of stFikingly
novel tenor. One bill introduced in the Sea-
ate by Mr. DOnehOO prohibits prize fighting
aud ailixes heavy penalties for engaging III
or assisting at such amusement. A bill pro.
posed by Mr.. Davis, IN the House, Is intended
10 limit the causes OF absolute divorce 10
marital infdeity. These were the most in
teresting changes Of the law suggested.
In the House some little amusement was
caused By resolution offered By Mr.. Evans.
approving the passage vi the Pendleton Civil
Service bill by Congress. When this was re-
ported By the Clerk, leading Democrats
looked at each other inquiriDgly, aud finally
Mr., Pennybacker arose aud remarked that
he did moi see what the Legislature Of West
Virginia had to do with PendleEOn's Civil Ser
vice bill. lie moved that the resolution lie
on the table. On this motion MrL5iIYans de-
manded the ayes and noes. CONSERVATION
and doubt were again depicted on the faces
of the Democratic leaders, but Judge Holt
had presence OF mind enough 10 object to the
Dreseut consideration OF the matter. Speaker
Woods ruled that this took precedence oil
the motion TO table. Mr.. DOvener wanted Ia
see the rule 10 this elect, but Mr.. Penny.
backer youched for the correctness OF the
Speakers decision, and that settled 1t.
Some little furry was caused by the two
resolutions TO seat the minority members To-
gether, but they both went over upon Objec
ton 10 tSeir consideration.
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE COMMITTEES,
The committees were appointed in the
Senate Yesterday, and part Of them In the
House. In the Senate 10 deep or general
dissatisfaction was manifest over the arrange
ment. Some of the Republican member!
thought il was scarcely the fair thing TO girt
the minority no representation at all on 81
important committee as that on the Judi
ciAry. and q few OF them thought II would
have been better to have had Mr.
Dawson or Mr.. McGTew or one OF The
older members, on the Committee on Fl
nance, instead ola new member, Mr.. FarneS
worth's colleague. But In the House there
was fun. Mr.. PenDybaCker considered him
self q sighted member His name CONT
second on the Judiciary Committee, while
Mr.. Armstrong; was first. This Mr., Penny
hacker said, meant that he was TO do all thu
work and Mr.. Armstrong was to get oil tht
credit, an get even with Joe Woods for
this before the end Of the session; you mari
my words. " said he. His words are marked
THE SENATORIAL SITUATION.
The se"atorial situation Is still the leading
tonic NJ conversation. There il constantly l
isrre numLer OF members Of both Houses Ia
ihs Lobby at the Mcclure House In the even
ING. and here the candidates who are IN tue
rity and their friends are occasionally seen
engaged in conversation. DIR. kGnna IS ap
parentIy the best mixer" and be is seldom
out OF sight, and always the centre OF an In
teres elgroup.
A Democratic member who is on the Inside
of a great many State secrets, and who II
noted for his franknesS, was approached By
an ISTELIIGESCRR man last eveniDgRnd asked
some leading questions about the state oil
affairs.
II will Just tell you how It stands" said
he. "The friends OF Senator Davis, who are
quietly working and talking in his interest,
begin 10 be alarmed. The candidacy OIL
Ksnna was proposed By the famous 'syndi
cate only as Il blind for Davis, but he him
self took il In good faith and has created, al
YOU know, quite little boom. Now Mr.
Da, ISIS friends are alarmed. They fear, mo-
that he can muster enough votes TO bC
elected, but that lie will be powerful enough Il
endanger Davis's prospects. They fear that
lie may first break the caucus through
his efforts 10 hold 1t together aud thus pre-
vent the Senator recollection
Said another Democrat, IN position IA
know the drift OF opinion among kennRi
friends. "There will be CAUCUS ne H week
tisextremely doubtful whether snythinJ
can be done in CAUCUS after the members do
meet. A fear Is gaining ground that there
Is trouble ahead"
The two absent Senators, DR.. Barbee, o
Point Pleasant, and Hon. Franklin Maxwell
of Clarksburg, reported yesterday, and wert
warmly welcomed by their old friends botl
In and out OF the Legislature. MI. James I
McMechen, the newly elected member iron
Wood county, and Mr.. l. J. Timms. OF Put
nam county, we're also In their places in thu
House for the first time. The Delegates art
now all on hands but Dr. Isaiah Bee. OF Aer
Ger county, who has been seriously Ill.
At Mr.. Cox's motion yesterday standing
committee OF three, consisting Of MeSsrs. Nc
Cullough, McCIung and Bond, HGs appoint
ed, TO see that the sanitary condition Of thi
hall Of the House is as good as possible Il
keep 1t. To this committee, later. vas re
ferred the proposition OF the Wheeling Elec
trical Light Company 10 furnish three cleo
trical lights for tho House and two for thu
Senate 10 burn from twilight till midnight
for $40 per month Of twenty working days
Mr.. DOveHer's strong point in favor OF thu
lights was that they would consume no oTy
gen, while the gas burned it fast.
Senator Scotts desk was beautltied and The
air made fragrant yesterday by massive
aud elegant bouquet, the gift Of admiFinG
lady friends who preferred TO remain iHs0g
nitG. The Senator has had rather busy
time OF It for day or 80, Mayor Egerter be
ing absent from the city and his duties de
vOlying upon Mr.. Scott as President OF tht
Second Branch OF Council.
Hon. W. L. Hearne gave tea party las
evening to some OF the members Of the two
houses at his elegant and hospitable residence
on the South Side. The gathering was very
select and small. Whether it was intended
10 have any delicate reference to the Sena
torial situation was matter OF conjecture
Gov Mathews was the most prominent guest
and the members invited were generally
doubtful ones on the important question,
PERSONAL MENTION.
News aud Gossip tn Reference 10 Variou'