Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-08

DOVER, Jan. Q THE hottest Legislative
fight that Dover ever Witnessed was ende,
about O'Clock this morning, when tn,
doors OF the Senate opened, aud the eepA
tore hled out after caucus that Ia. tee
nearly four hours. The House cAucu
finished at IL 80 O'Clock.
The result, 10 both houses, was some
what OF surprise, and considerably a
Variance with what had been anticipated
MP 10 yesterday. II had looked as though
John y. Salisbury would fLd the path I,
the speAkership Of the house Compare
lively easy one to tread, bu. shor tly aftsl
diuner IL became apparent that . bittel
warfare was made against him. There
were but two ndidates-Saulsbury and
W. A. Comegys Of St, Georges hun.
dred-but the latter was urged
with hkill, persistenoy and shrew dnesi
rarely equalled. II was known that two
OF the New Castle delegation were opposed
TO Comegys and that two others were
leaning strongly towards Salisbury. tt
oounteract the effect Of this detection,
which would have been fatal TO Comegys
chances, the Argument was used
that Saulsbnry was opposed "a
the representation amendment and
that 1t would be death 10 the amendment
TO put m avowed opponent Of its rAtifloa.
tion In the speakers chair. This argu
ment prevailed with Representatives
Palmer and Armstrong, bat Representa-
tves Moore Of Wilmington and Ferguson
Of Blaokbird held out to the end and
voted for Salisbury. Whit argument
was used to draw three Of the Kent dele
CATION from Saulsbury's support is not
known, but they came over to Comegys.
and their votes elected him. The result
OF the spsAkership gave Kent
the olerkship and Clinton l.. vii.
Hanson, the leading candidate. had an
easy victory, while John K. Bradford Of
Wilmington was remorselessly slaught
cred, and Sussex was awarded sergeant.
alarms.
The injection OF the representation
question into the epeakership contest Is
generally conceded to have been q very
Ill advised move. Six votes against the
ratification Of the amendment will defeat
II, and II Is feared that the result Of yes
terday q contest has thrown enough bitter
necs Of feeling into the Legislature to de
stroy whatever chances thu amendment
might have had.
The result Of the Senate caucus was
even more Of . surprise. When the
senators went into session 1t was
generally conceded that DR.. Chsud ler
would be nominated for speaker, but
after 10 ballots the oh0ioe fell upon
Alexander B. Cooper, Bsq., Of New Castle.
Sussex materially helped to decide the
contest by declining TO have any
candidate and deciding to stand
by their candidate for clerk, Charles 8.
MoFee, ESQ. Of Georgetown. Senator Roe
received two votes ard DR.. Chandler
three, tbs balance going to Mr.. Cooper,
who on the tenth ballot received FIVE
votes and was nominated. Toe senators
pledged themselves TO secrecy and would
not divulge the details Of their sessions.
The officers are as follows:
SpeAker-Alsxsn6er B. Cooper OF Nsw
Castle.
Clerk-ChArless 8. McPse Of Georgetown.
ssrgesnt-at-arms-R. II. Foster Of
Wilmington.
Ci apiain-The Rev. Thomas &. Martin.
dale Of Dover.
Pkgs--Major N. Holt Of Dover.
In selecting page several OF the
Juvenile applicants were called into the
chamber and = suitable lad picked out.
THE HOUSE CAUCUS.
Henry NJ. Barlow presided over the
House caucus, with G. Gundy Brown OF
Kent ~ clerk. On the first ballot for
speaker, W. A. Comegys received 10
votes, as follows: from New Castle, 8
from Kent and 5 from Sussex; John r.
Salisbury received votes from New
Castle, 4 from Kent and 2 from Sussex;
total, 8. Mr.. Comegys' nomination was
made unanimous.
On the first ballot for clerk, Clinton l.
Williamson received 10 votes John X.
Bradford, 4 John Lay ton Of Sussex, 8
R. R. Kenney Of Dover, q; Levin Sauis
bury and John @. Gray OF Sussex, i each.
The second ballot was as follows VIII
Hanson, IL; Layton, a; Rsuusy, a;
Bradford, l Salisbury, Mr.. William
son was declared nominated.
There were 20 candidates presented for
sergeant at arms, OF whom 15 were
bAlloted for. Josiah Mccall Of Whining
ton, receiving a votes on the frat and
second ballots. Thomas R Hopkins of
Kent, ran from a TO z votes, and r. w.
Price received A votes. The others re
oeived scattering single votes, excepting
WlltAhm - hSuhth vi ooIUJN lLlos pubzt4
county, who started In with one vote or
the first ballot, advanced 10 8 on the
second, 8 on the third, 5 on the fourth,
8 on the fifth, 10 on the sixth, aud wRs
nominated by l6 votes on the seventh.
The Rev. Stone Sypher Of Dover was
nominated for ohaplain aud Ridie Hart
new Of Dover for page.
THE oPPIcRRs,
Speakers Cooper and Comegys are we'll
known as members Of the last Legislature.
Clerk MoFee Of the Senate ia . young
Georgetown lawyer, editor Of the Dtla-
pd'e Democrat and son Of ex Insurance
Commissioner John r MoFee. Clerk VIII
lismson OF the House Ia 3 we'll known
young Kent county lawyer, and was re-
Gently assistant Secretary OF State.
Sergeant Foster OF the Senate Ia from
Wilmington, and is we'll known as having
several times been candidate for the
Democratic nomination for CORONER, always
polling good vote. The house sergeant,
William J. Rankin, has his residence at
6elbyville, Sussex county, but for
the past Eve years has been connected
with q commission house IL Now York.
Formerly he WAS school tesoher. He
did not come ont as candidate until Sat.
urdsy last.
The ohaplains and pages are residents
Of Dover.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Following ia the message Of Governor
S;ockley TO the General Assembly;
Fellou Citizens of lte Senate and Houseot
Representatives: In obedience to established
custom, and in conformity with the sprovi
sions Of the Constitution, 1t becomes my
pleasure to recommends for your consideration
and action such measures as,in my Judgment,
are necessary and expedient and for the best
interests of the State.
congratulate you upon the general obser-
vance OF law and the good order which prevails
among the people OF whom you are the
chosen representatives. Peace, prosperity,
contentment, and protection Of lawful rights,
the main and sole objects for which govern
ments were instituted, are here enjoyed.
While in many portions Of our common
country greet distress, discomfort and unrest
prevail by reason of depression OF the varied
industries and occupations in which the peo-
pie are engaged, 1t LIS cause Of thankfulnesa
that the year just has been one Of gradual
but sure progress in all that tends to the
material, social, and intellectual advance.
ment of our honored little commonwealth.
After the exciting and bitter national po-
litich contest through which we have just
passed, / hope and confidently trust that q
return TO the better days Of the republic
awaits us, when honest, just and faithful ad-
ministration of all that concerns the public
veal was the guiding principle, and the Con
stitution that protected and guarded the
fathers In their conservatism shall still be our
only lamp to light the way in this great pro
gressive age The great aud good men who
struggled for and established, as an enduring
monument to their wisdom, patriotism and
atataayn ar ahin tha Oon atitufion of the IInitef