Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28

| session, It is thought to cut down the
| expenses of the judiciary, and II Is hkeiy
| that some legislation along this line VIII
| be enacted. Some banking laws VIII IN
| all probability be passed, and 1t Is on
assured fact that the betterment or the
| States public highways will receive con-
siderable attention.
PLUNS TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
The most important work that will &C.
| cupy the members of the two houses IN
the opening days Of the session VIII be
the election Of State officers, and when
they go to choose they will find ample
material from which to select for several
of the best offices, as there are some
spirited contests on, and the held Is
full of candidates.
The first duty that will devolve on the
solons. though, will be the organization
of their houses This will be done i'm
mediately upon the first day. The Demo
cratic members viii meet in caucus Tues
day night for this purpose, and decide
whom they will choose for the offices
I'm the respective branches. The warmest
contests over these offices will be in the
House In this body Hon. John F. Ryan,
of LOudoun, who has for two sessions
filed the Speakers chair, is a candidate
for that honor again, and opposed TO
him is Hon. E. w. Saunders, Of Frank
lin, an old member Of the House. and
one who has for several sessions been
the leader in the debates in that body
The fight between these two gentlemen
will be an exceedingly interesting one.
Both have numerous friends. and both
are men of ability. They are actively
at work through the medium of their
friends. and both are sanguine of victory.
wICKHAM THE PRESIDING OFFICER
In the Senate the Lieutenant Governor
is by virtue of his office the presiding
officer. but il has become a time-honored
custom to elect from among the senators
a president pro tenn, who presides in the
absence of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. IL
has been for years the tacft understand
ing that the Oldest member of the body
shall be honored by this office, and since
the death of Hon. William Lovenstein'
and the election TO the House Of Senator
Stubs. Hon. Henry r. Wickham, of Han
over. becomes I'm point of service, the
Oldest member. Hence ii is that he is a
candidate for the honor thus TO be be-
slowed and as no opposition has as yet
developed TO him, it is safe TO presume
that he will be made the temporary pre-
siding officer. Mr.. Wckham is an able
parliamentaran, and one Of the most
popular men in the Senate. and his cleo
ton, which Will plODdDly DE uHdHliiOuS'
will give general satisfaction.
CLERKS BIGGER AND BUTTON.
Colonel John Bell Bigger. the veteran
Clerk of the House. who has served IN
that capacity for many years, has no
opposition: indeed, he never does, and ne
will undoubtedly be reelected to the po-
sition which he has filled so acceptably
70 the members, and with such great Gre
dit both to himself and the State In the
Senate Mr.. Joseph Button, the popular
and efficient Clerk, will undoubtedly be
reelected. As yet no opposition has de-
veloped TO his candidacy. Both Mt But
ton and Colonel Bigger have the appoint
ment of the corps Of committee CLERKS
and scribes who work under their direc-
lion hut. with possibly few exceptions,
thew will re-engage the men who WORKED
so faithfully with them last session. The
Sneaker of the House and the Lieutenant
Governor appoint the pages for their re-
spective houses.
The caucus Tuesday night VIII have 10
decide as to the other employees In the
two branches. such as Sergeant-at-Arms
and doorkeepers, but as all OF the Ola
men are candidates for reelection, the
oninion prevails that they will not be
disturbed in their positions. In the Sen
ate Sergeant-at-Arms f. b. Watkins, or
charlotte. one Of the most popular ON