Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-03
ORGANIZED.
Legislature Enters upon Bust
ness Of 9th Session.
UsuI Interest Taken in Drawing
Seats in House.
Some Close Contests in County Delegations
Over Councillors.

The assembling and organizing of the
9th legislature were favored
with excellent weather. Surely the new
lawmakers ought to have got favorable
impression of the State capital and the
city Wednesday morning if sunshine and
clear crisp winter air could exert any in.
iluence. The State house looks trim and
neat Us new pin. Gen. Harris may
always be relied upon for that. The old
and the new officials of the respective
bodies did their share in the work OF
getting in readiness, task of no small
magnitude
Quite number of spectators were at
tracted to the galleries and to the floors
of the branches to witness the ceremonies
attendant upon organizing. The admin
istcring of the oath by the governor and
executive council is a very impressive
ceremony and Governor Cleaves admira-
bly, conducted it.
Drawing the Seats.
The drawing of seats in the House be-
gan at As. BY courtesy of the House
Hon. Sylvester Bartlett of Eliot, Maj VIM
Dickcy of Fit. Kent, Hon. C. A. Packard of
Blanchard, Hon. Richard T. Bailey of
Bridgton We're allowed to choose seats
Mr.. Bartlett got seat SO on the left and
Maj. Dickey seat 81 ON the right of the
center aisle in front row. Mr.. Packard
chose seat 30 and Mr.. Bailey 143
the drawing of seats was fraught with
the usual interest. The uncertainty con-
nected with the lottery kept the interest
up until the last seat was drawn and the
unlucky members began to hustle to bet
ter their condition. Hon. S. W.
Lane drew seat So, the rear seat in the
middle aisle. The seat assigned by lot to
Hon. W. H. Williams was 131. Quite a
number of Others from the Kennebec dele
cation got rear seats
The number present was unusually
large for the first day, $50 only two of
the entire number being absent. The
first day of the Legislature of 1898 there
were lat present and at the previous ses-
sion 142 responded to the roll call.
Naturally there is good deal of gossip
concerning the committees. No one can
make definite announcement concerning
them, as neither the president of the SEN
ate or the speaker Of the House will do so
until today or tomorrow. The general i'm
preston is that Spofford of Hancock will
be chairman from the Senate of the judic
iary committee, either Shaw of Aroos-
took or Savage of Androscoggin
chairman of legal affairs, Wiggin of
Aroostook chairman of committee on
agriculture, Hill of kennebec chairman
of committee on railroads, Wood of Ken
nebec chairman of the finance, Ames of
Washington of banks and banking
Chairmen on the part of the House upon
some of the committees are belived to
have been decided upon. 1t is said that
1t is practically certain that Hamlin OF
Ellsworth will be chairman of the judi
ciary on the part of the House, Plummer
of Dexter of legal affairs, Coffin of Bangor
of finance, Merrill of Portland of banks
and banking, Fairbanks Of Bangor OF
insurance, Drummer of Weld of inland
fisheries, Patten Of Bath of seashore fish
cries, Twitchell of Bath of railroads.
Boothby of Saco of education, Gilbert OF
Green of insane hospital.
The councIIorships.
The Cumberland delegation met just
after the adjournment and balloted upon
the candidates for the councillorship OF
that district The vote resulted Andrew
Halves of Deeripg, II: e Dudley Free
man of Yarmouth, 10.
The Franklin county men in caucus at
2 P. NJ. balloted upon the candidates. for
councillor in the third district. The re-
suit was favorable to Hon. Joseph &.
Holman the contest heinp close, it is SAID