Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-01-03
Meeting of the State Legislature.

made short speech referring to the pop
ular reputation of Democratic blunders
and incompetency and the magnificent
Republican majority in Pennsylvania
which has made the Legislature almost
solidly Republican.
Emerson Collins put the names OF B. b
Focht of Union, W. o. Smith of Jefferson
and A. n. Pomeroy in nomination tor
secretaries and the gentlemen were elect
ed without opposition.
Henry F James of Venango presented
the name of Henry F. Walton of Phila-
delphis for speaker in neat speech, in
which he referred to him as the unsni-
nous choice of the members of the house
| for this session. Mr.. James referred TO
the popularity of Speaker Boyer CT the
session of 1887 and 1899, and of Speaker
Thompson of the session OF 1891 and 1893,
and said he believed Mr.. Walton was as
popular as capable, and would be esteem
I'd as highly as either of the two gentle
men named.
| Walton's nomination was seconded by
| Courtlsndt K. Bolles and William +.
Stewart of Philadelphia, and ne was then
made The unanimous choice of the csucus.
Mr.. Walton simply thanked the caucus
and said he would make his speech next
day.
Lytle of Huntington then offered the
resolution for the slate committee OF thlr-
ty, one from each congressional district,
which was agreed TO and Chairman An Niles
read the list. The Western Pennsylvania
members are Culbertson and Muehlbron-
nar of Allegheny; Lytle of Huntington,
chairman; J. G.. Stinemsn OF Cambria, D.
d. Murphy of Westmoreland, D. ~. An
derson of Washington, A. l.. Martin OF
Lawrence, John B. Compton of Crawford,
Henry F. James of Venango. John FL.
| Patchin of Clearfield. j. McB. Robb OF
Allegheny was appointed as one OF the
members at large. The committee met
at once, organized and selected a sub
committee of nine to prepare the slate.
TIE senate slate committee became tan
gled over the clerkships Mr.. Thorpe's
candidacy for journal clerk being the
chief disturbing element. For u time it
was thought Mr.. Carson might be outsed
as reading clerk. One of the argu nents
against him was that Robinson of Butler
is TO be appointed superintendent of pub
lie printing by Gov. Hastings, but 1t was
finally decided that Carson should re-
| main.
The senate slate principal positions
stood this way: Chief clerk, &. W. Smiley
of Venango; reading clerk, james NJ. Car
son, Butler; journal clerk, Robert Young
Phllat elphis; message clerk, W. j. Rob-
inson Erie; executive clerk, G. X. TbroFe
Mercer; sergeant at arms, James Harragh,
Beaver; assistant sergeant at- arms, X. W.
Greenman, Philadelphia; superintendent
of folding room, James Riley, OF Phila-
delphia Hon. s. NJ. Laherty will be
appointed j4nitor of the CLOAK room. The
others chosen for places are: Doorkeeper
| A. G. Little of Jefferson; assistant door
keeper, Lew Knott of Blair; postmaster,
John w. Seiders, Franklin; chaplain, Rev
W. l.. Bordens of the Tabernacle Baptist
church, Harrisburg; transcribing clerks,
Edward Milliken OF Allegheny and f.
Crago of Greene.
| Both branches met and organized at
noon of Tuesday.
| The senate was called to or der by Lieut..
Governor watres and the house by Chief
CLERK voorhees,. Prayer was offered in
| the senate by the new chaplain, Rsv. Bar
dens and in the house. by the chaplain,
Rev. DR.. B. B. Hamlin. The deputy
secretary of the common wealth at once
presented to the senate the returns OF
election tor Governor, lieutenant governor,
auditor general and secretary of internal
| affairs, with the decision of the court IN
the contested election case of Senator b.
| II. Laubach. To the house he presented
| the sealed returns oi the election which
were read by the retiring reading clerk,
Jere B. Rex.
| After the reading of the returns, Judge
Simonton administered the oath of office
TO the newly elected senators, and Judge
Mcpherson performed the like service Tor
| tre members of the house. The roll call
of the senate showed all the members
present. except Senator Baker, who ID con-
| fined to his home from the results OF a
| fall upon the ice. Senator George Handy
smith nominated c. Wesley Thomas for
| President pro tenn, and Senator Green
| nominated E. II. Laubach. Mr.. Thomas
received forty two votes and Mr.. Laubach
seven.
| Mr. Thomas was then escorted to the
chair by Senators Smith and Laubach and
delivered his inaugural address
The senate then elected clerks and en-
ployes as decided upon by the slate com
mittee Senator Lanbsch moved to a
mend by substituting other names for all
positions except that of chief clerk, but,
| of course, the motion was rejected. The
usual resolutions adopting rules aud Tor
| the appointment of notifications commit
tees were offered and adopted. Senators
Keefer, McCreary AMI Cochran were ap-
pointed to notify the house of senate or
gauization, and Senators Grady, McCsrel
and Green were appointed to notify the
governor. Senators Smith, Finn, Porter
Cochran and Laubach were appointed 10
act upon a joint committee with. mem
bers of the house, to arrange for the in
augural of Gov. Hastings, and then the
senate adjourned to O'Clock.
In the house. Mr.. Niles of Tioga nomi-
mated Henry f. Walton for speaker sec
onding speeches being made by Ritter Of
Philadelphia, aud North of Mexican. The
name of Mr. Fritz of Columbia was pre-
sented by Mr.. Fow of Philadelphia, sec
onded by PARCELS of Mifflin. On taking
the chair, Speaker Walton made clever
speech, earnestly requesting the co-opera-
alton of the house in the duties he would
be called upon to discharge.
After the election of clerks and other
employees the usual resolutions were
adopted, and George V. Lawrence of
Washington was invited to dedicate the
new hall of the house to the purpose for
| which it was intended. Uncle George
looked about upon the splendid hall With
its rich tints and pretty trappiDgs. and
spoke feelingy. In his address there Was
mingled history, reminiscence and g'Hnces
TO the future, regret at the disappearance
Of some of the old familiar features of the
house and satisfaction with the subStItU-
tion of modern progressive appliances. The
address was one of the most interesting
that has eyer been delivered before the
Pennsylvania house of representatives. Mr..