Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-20
THE NEXT SESSION.
Prospects OF a H.ively Tune Ht the
DrganizntiOn-The Applicants for
official Positions.

Prospects of a lively Tune Gt the
DrgaDizNtiOn-The Applicants for
official Positions.
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
Dover, Dec. 1.-THE State House has re-
csived a fresh coat OF paint upon its ex-
terror surface, and the work OF interior re-
juvenation Is now under way. The General
Assembly will convene on New Years Day,
and as 1t will mark new era In the poll
tics OF Delaware, the State House will be
attired In the gayest rig for Its reception.
Clerks Moore and Cooper OF the last session,
have been to Philadelphia, and carefully
selected the regulation quantity OF paper,
pens, ink, mucilage, papsr-cutters, blotting-
pads, penknifes, shears, rulers, waste
paper baskets, corkserews, aud other use.
full legislative appurtenanees that ara In
cluded In the general term Of stationery,
not forgetting the inevitable spool OF red
tape, which few Legislators ever found any
more useful than for securing packages to
he sent to constituents and friends at home.
Guided by the practical experience of last
session, these gentlemen have attended to
their work In a manner that will furnish
the coming Solons with everything to be
desired In the way OF supplies.
The Senate and House caucusez will be
held ar the night OF Monday, December
3lst, and will be political events of much
moro than the usual interest this year. The
senatorial fesh-pots will fall into the hands
Of Democrats, while the more lucrative
House patronage, for the first time in 80
| years, will be distributed by the opposition
party. 1t is this feature that attaches such
| unusual interest to the organization.
Although three Of the seven Democratic
| aenators-Dr. Lewis, Mr.. Ferguson and Mr..
| Dorman--are candidates for the Speaker
| ship OF the Senate, 1t is generally believed
| that DR.. Lewis will be chosen. In the
event OF deadlock, however, 1t Is not Inn
| probable that John u. Collins OF Smyrna,
| who was Speaker OF the last Senate, may
| be renominated. The leading candidates
| for the clerkshfp are Ftancis NJ. Dunn, W.
| @. Kerbln and John ID. Hawkins OF Kent
county, with indications strongly pointing
to Dunn as the successful candidate.
There will be great scramble In the
| House caucus. John Fl. Hoffecker OF
| Smyrna, McKendree Downham OF George
town, and Charles Il. Maui OF Lewes, are
candidates for the epeakership, and neither
Is likely to have the required eight votes to
start with, Hoffecker's chances seem to be
the best, but he Is by no means certain OF
success. For the clerkship, the applicants
are William A. Gum OF Frankford, j. Frank
Bacon, Esq, o. Georgetown, Horace Gree.
Icy Knowles OF Wilmington, Beniah Watson,
ESQ.,, of Dover, and John j. Plunkett and
II, l.. Hynson OF Milford. The latter Is edi-
tor OF the Milford Mems and Advertiser, aud
son OF Garrett Hynson, one OF the Repub-
liean memhers.elect from Kent county
The fight is rough-and'tumbie
scramble, and there is no telling how
1t may turn out. Horace Greeley Knowles
starts in with quite boom, on the strength
OF having raised In Philadelphia, alone anc
unalded, the last $1,000 OF the corruption
fund that elected the Republican ticket Il
Sussex county. To offset this strong pull
the other applicants are tndustriously de
, claring that Knowles did not raise thu
money himself, but was simply sent to Phil
adelphia as messenger to get the money
which was all ready for the purpose, ant
carry 1t to sussex. Tnts charge is not true
, for Knowles really did raise the money b,
his own unaided efforts, but II is beint
o worked against him for all 1t is worth.
i Each house has about dozen applicant
for the position OF aergeant-at arms. an
altogether the prospects are good for a
lively an organizat ion as Dover ever saw.