The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-02
MARYLAND's LEGrsLATuRE.
RefOrmer Bruce Elected President Of
the senate

Annapolis Md, Jan. 1-The Maryland
legislature was organized to-day by the
election OF william Cabeu Brace OF Bal
timore as president of the Senate and ex-
Congressman Z. Mudd Of Charles county
as speaker of the House Of Delegates.
Every senator and member of the House
were in their respective chambers when
the gavels fell
What promised to be an annoying dead
lock in the Senate was happily averted
by the democrats reconsidering their last
nights caucus action and nominating
Alc, Bruce N place of John Walter Smith.
There was some very pretty politics IN
the deal. The Senate is made up of four
teen democrats and twelve republicans.
Mr.. Bruce is an independent democrat
with very pronounced reform ideas which
are exceedingly Objectionable TO Senator
German and his friends. Mr.. Bruce re-
fused to go into caucus with his demo-
cratic brethren until he was agreed upon
as the nominee. To this Mr.. German and
his friends would not for a moment con-
sent. After waiting hours for Mr.. Bruce
to appear, the democratic caucus. late
last night. nominated John Waiter Smith.
Meanwhile the republicans had made
| overtures TO Mr. Bruce. They offered to
nominate him and pledged every one Of
their twelve votes TO his support. Such
action would have left the Senate in a
| deddlock-lS 10 Is. Believing that one or
more of Mr. Bruce's democratic friends
would soon go to his support and thus give
the republicans the organization of the
Senate the democratic managers this
| morning rescinded their caucus action and
offered the presiding officers chair to Mr.
Bruce. His statement that he would be
impartial in the makeup of the commit
| tees and would not be Influenced by poll
ties in any particular, and that every re-
form measure would have his earnest sup
port, was applauded by the republicans.
The house Of delegates, over which eX-
| Congressman Mudd presides. has seventy
republican members and twenty-one demo-
Gratis. on joint ballot the legislature
stands: Republicans, 50: democrats, 50.
on Jan. IL each house win take vote
| for United States senator to succeed
| Charles II. Gibson. This legislature will
also elect a treasurer of Maryland and
| two police commissioners from Baltimore
| city.
| Bruce received the fun vote OF the Sen,
ate, there being no opposition to him. On
/ assuming the chair, he thanked the sena-
| tors for the signal honor done him, COM
| ing as 1t did with absolute unanimity from
both demoerats and republicans lie
would be lost to every impulse OF self
| respect he said, If he should fail to dis
| charge the duties of presiding officer with
absolute impartiality. He referred to the
result of the recent election and said that
| certain definite promises and pledges HAD
been made by the successful candidates
whch lnvolyed no parry issues, but only
| issues on which they all should be agreed
! He spoke of reassessment and hoped that
| the present session would not pass with
| out some measure Of relief on this subject
/ need of laws to provide for purity OF
| elections and civil service reform was also
| touched upon, and he hoped that the sena-
| tors would come together and meet all
| the responsibilities that would devolve
| upon them.
Two Protestant ministers We're proposed
/ for ehaplain, one compensation to. be d.
| vided between them.f Senator Wilkinson,
| rep, of St. Mary's county, insisted that
| the Roman Catholics should be recogniz-
| ed and proposed that Rev. William Brick
| should be placed on the list as the repre-
| sentative of the Catholic church. After
| considerable debate the amendment was
| agreed to by a vote of 13 to 12-and the
| trio of divines win alternate in looking
| after the spiritual welfare of the sena-
! tors during the session.
After the organization Gov. Born's BIZ
| ennial message was read in both houses
| and the two bodies went into conven-
| ton to canvass the returns of the recent
| gubernatorial election.
| Hon. Lloyd LOwndes was declared the
| governor-elect, and joint committee was
| appointed to notify him and arrange for
| the Inauguration ceremonies. which will
| take place on the Sth instant.
Both house then adjourned until Tues
| day next,