The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-29
STATE SoLoNS IN SESSION.
A JAM OF POLITICIANS AT THE
OPENING OF THE LEGISLATURE.

The Gathering "a Marsha1ing of the
Men Who Control and the New
Members Take the oath In the
Midst of Crowded FIOOr-The
Caucus Nominees For Officers EIec-
ted in Both HOuses-speaker Jen-
kins Makes n Highly Patriotic
Speech.
Atlanta, Ca, Oct. 2S-1ne opening of
the legislature to-day was attended by
something more than the usual scenes of
liveliness and excitement. The numerous
contests for judgeships and solicitorships,
with the tensity of the situation over the
seat in the United States Senate soon to
be filled and. the possibility of another
gubernatorial election, brought into the
four walls of the state capitol probably the
most notable gathering of politicians that
ever assembled there. 1t was literally
a marshaling of the grand host of the men
who control. The galleries of both houses
were filled to the doors, and the political
leaders, who have their coats off in the
fight, so to speak, took possession of the
floor.
were sworn in amid a crush of politicians.
1t was impossible to clear the floors. The
effort would have been fruitless without
the aid of the local police department, or
perhaps the military, and smiling and
whiting statesmen made the best of the
situation by rushing through the organi-
zation as quickly as they could
In both houses the caucus programme
went through without dissent even from
the populists, who heretofore have been
in the habit of blocking things whenever
they could.
Hon. R. L. Berner of Monroe county was
elected president of the Senate, and Hon.
H A. Jenkins of Putnam, speaker of the
House.
William Clifton of Mcintosh was chosen
| secretary Of the Senate, and Hon. M. A.
Hardin, clerk of the House, both having
filled these Offices in the last legislature.
Mr.. Boifeuillett of Bibb was one of those
who seconded the nomination of Mr.. Jenk-
! ms. He had been his opponent and his
| speech was greeted by applause.
| c. G. Gray of Houston was made presi-
dent pro tenn of the Senate, and Repre-
| sentative Dodson of Sumter speaker pro-
/ TEN of the House.
| The minor officers Of the houses are:
| Messenger of the Senate-Flynn Har-
! gett of Harris county.
| Messenger of the House-John A. Booth
of Cobb.
Doorkeeper Of the Senator. E. Wilson
of Murray. -.
Doorkeeper Of the House,. H. Will
| ford of Fayette.
| The chaplains are yet to be chosen,
this duty having been placed in the hands
of committees by both the senate ana
| House.
In taking the gavel of the House, Speak
| er Jenkins made a short address in which
he said, after expressing his thanks
for the honor conferred upon him:
at is my ambition and my earnest de-
| sire that this legislature shall go down
| into the history of the state noted Tor
its wisdom. its justice and its modera-
| tion. There are many questions that
will come before you for consideration
and solution, which will tax your wisdom
and keenest sense of justice, and that
viii appeal to your moderation. A wise
| humane and economical disposition OF the
convicts of the state and the further
| extension of the public school
system will engage your at
tenuon. There are many
other questions, secondary only to these,
which will require a wise and patrlotlc
! discharge of your duties That you VIII
cone successfully with all emergencies as
| they arise and discharge your duties
| faithfully and well, l do not doubt. A
| great political contest has just occurred
! in our state, but the smoke of the battle
| has cleared away, ana left the nelu Oh
| duty clear We are part of the crystalized
result of that struggle. We meet to-day
| in the capital city of the state, not as
| partisans. but as patriots, less as popu-
| lists democrats or republicans, than as
| C1eogians interested only in the peace,
prosperity and happiness of our constitu-
! ents 1t matters not in this view OF the
| situation. under what banner we fought,
| or in which cause, or in what party. we
| were enlisted Here we are united with a
| common purpose with a common intent,
unsesishly laboring for the good of those
we represent"
Neither body undertook to transact any
| routine business, except the passage OF
| the usual resolutions for the appoint
ment of committees to wait upon the gov
ernor TO prepare for the Inauguration and
| the adoption of the old rules TO govern
until the new ones are reported
| Sneaker Jenkins will go to work upon
| his committees at once, and will, in All
probability, have them ready to announce
| early next week.
There are 175 democratic members of the
| House and Senate on joint ballot whicn
makes So votes necessary to choice In
the caucus for senator, judges and solic-
ors.
At11 o'clock tomorrow morning the leg
isIature will meet in joint session to open
| and consolidate the returns in the recent
election for governor. Tomorrow after
noon the caucus for judges and solicitors
will be held. This will settle this feature
of the election excitement now on and
leave a clean track for the senatorial
handicap The governors message was
read in the Senate to-day, but not in the
| House.
VnyUA