Evening capital., 1896-01-02
FIRST DAYS SESSION
MEETING or THE LEGISLATURE
or 1896.
a Large Gathering OF Spectators and once
Seekers Both Houses Organise and he

a Large Gathering OF Spectators and once
Seekers-Both Houses Organize and BE
gin BusIuess-A Protracted Session.
The Maryland Legislature of eighteen
hundred and ninetY-six met in their res
pectiye chambers at noon Yesterday for
the transaction Of business for the ensu-
ing session. As oa all occasions Of this
kind there was an unusual large crowd
Of spectators. politicians and ofIice-seek-
ers present, and much interest manifes-
ted rs to the appointments under the
new administration.
Both houses org g,nized for the first
time IN thirty years with opposing pre-
siding oiiicers-the Senate electing W.
Cabell Bruce, democrat. for President,
aud the House electing sydney +. Mudd,
republican, Speaker. The Senate stands
fourteen democrats and twelve republic
cans, while the House is overwhelming
republican. The Senate, therefore, will
hold in check all rash legislation that,
no doubt, would otherwise he passed.
The recent election Of DR. J. w. Herring,
Of Carroll county, 10 fll the vacancy oc-
casioned by tie death Of Senator Benz
nett, was the salvation Of the democrat
&c party Of this State, and will, no doubt,
be the turn-table for the future success
Of the party.
The election Of Senator Bruce, inde-
ff,
many, but when IL was found that the
democratic caucus could not elect their
candidate, J. Walter Smith, and that the
republicans, ia oIder 10 capture the or
ganizatiOu OF the Senate, would, un-
doubtedly, accept the independent demo-
cIat, who had refused to go into the
democratic caucus, and in order To take
the wind out Of their adyersaries' sails,
and for the sake of peace and harmony
of the party, and at the sacrifice Of all self
or personal interest to that of their party
the democratic caucus offered To make
Senator Bruce their presiding officer, and
upon motion of Senator CrotheIs, MIR.
Bruce WAS declared the party nominee
for President of the Senate A commit
tee composed Of Messrs. CarricO, IIerIng,
and Jackson went after Mr.. Bruce and
brought him into the caucus. Mr.. Brnee
made a brief speech, thanking his col
leagues for the nomination and promis-
lug that not one Of them would ever have
cause to regret it.
When the Senate met at noon it was
called to order under the constitution 10y
Mr.. j. Roger McSherry, secretary of the
Senate After calling the roll of the
hold-oYer and newly-elected Senators, he
announced the first order of business was
the election of temporary president.
Senator Crothers. of Cecil, nominated
Senator Joseph II. Johnson, of Dorches-
ter, as temporary president and Senator
Carrico seconded the nomination..
Senator John Writ Randall, of Anne
Arundel county, nominated Senator w.
Cabell Bruce, of the second district of
Baltimore, and the nomination was sec
onded by Senator y. Lincoln Dryden, of
Somerset, and Senator Washington Wilk-
insOn, of st. Mary's. Senator Bruce
crossed the chamber and conferred with
Senator Randall, after which the latter
withdrew the nomination of Senator
Bruce and Senator johnson was elected
temporary chairman by viva voce vote.
The secretary called upon Senator Croth
ers snd Senator II. w. Norwood. of Fred
erick, to escort the temporary president
to the chair, which they did.
Senator Johnson took the gavel and
and said that on account OF there being
10 members and change in thearrange-
ment of seats he might make some mis-
takes in recognizing Senator's, therefore
be would ask that If he did the gentle
men would correct him. lie requested
the Senator-elect to come forward aud
be sworn in This was done, the Sena-
tors approaching in groups OF three and
the oath beiug administered by the Presi-
dent. Here some discussion arose over
the swearing in of members whose seats
were contested by their republican oppo-
nents, and memorials presented.
Mr.. Bruce Elected President.
Chairman Johnson, after completing
the swearing in of the SenatOrs-elect, am
nonnced that the next business in order
would lie the election of a permanent
President. Senator jackson said that it
gave him great pleasure to nominate
Hon. William Cabell Bruce, of the sec
ond legislative district of Baltimore.
Senator Randall said that he was de-
lighted with the auspiciOus opening of
the session, and it was great pleasure
to him and those with whom he was as
sOciated politically to second the nomi-
nation of Senator Bruce. Secretary Nc
Sherry called the roll and each Senator
voted for Mr.. Bruce except himself, and
he did not vote. Chairman Johnson an
nounced that senator Bruce had receiv-
ed twenty-five votes and he declared him
duly elected President of the Senate
Senators Jackson and Randall were APP
pointed a acommittee to escort him to the
chair, which they did.
Thenewly elected President spoke brif-
IL and with much feeling. He thanked
the Senators most heartily for the signal
honor which had been dol him, coming
as il did with absolute unanmity from
both democrats and republicans. lie
would be lost TO every impulse of self
respect and manhood, he said, if, under
the circumstances, he should fail TO dis
charge his duties with absolute Impair
tiality. There were perhaps members
of the Senate better qualified intellec-
tually and by experience to ill the place,
but there was no one with astTOager de-
sire to perform his duties efficiently and
conscientiously. The present session
would be one of vital interest to the peo-
pie of the State. He referred to the re-
cent election and its results, and said that
certain definite promises and pledges had
been made by the successful party which
involved no party issues, but only issues