Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-30

Ofl1Cf. 1ne Ilknl ~ NdtUls anu tDt ltdN'A
Il is Impossible to name. Mr. John w.
Richardson. OF Smyth county. the m
cumbent. Is doing effective work but l..
H. Lookabill OF Roanoke; Richard Drum
mond, OF Amherst; Leroy Lewis. Of Rock
ingham; Sterling Stratton. OF Appomat-
tox. and Carter Berkeley, OF Augusta, are
also IN the city, and are as energetic and
confident. Mr.. Lookablll did not arrive until
late last night, but his friends had been
hard at work for him, and he professed
himself we'll pleased with his prospect.
All the candidates are in the city.
ONLY TWO CONTESTANTS.
THE two candidates for the office OF
Sunerintendent of Public Printing are
Cautain j. H OBannon, the incumbent
ana Mr.. J. r. Marsh, of Bedford city.
Mr.. Marsh arrived yesterday and went
10 work at once. He was formerly resi-
dent of Richmond. and at one time WORK
ed under Captain OBannon. The hght
will probably be close.
General ]. c. Hill, Railway Commis-
sioner. says he IS as confident OF electloh
as possible, though there is opposition 10
him Senator Kane, Of Scott county, mas
had friends here several days urging his
claims, and he ana they are hopeiui' "
say the least.
CAUCUSES TONIGHT.
The caucuses OF the Democratic MEM
bers will be held tonight, and candl-
dates for the offices of the Senate ana
House will be named. Senator Henry 1.
Wickham. as the senior member in point
Of service. will be named for President
pro tenn. of the Senate. and Hon. j. +.
Ryan will be renominated for the speak
ership of the House. There was opposi-
ton 10 Speaker Ryan, but Hon. e. w.
Saunders. of Franklin, the only other
candidate, yesterday withdrew from the
race. Mr.. Ryan has been Speaker TWO
terms, and makes an efncient ana popu-
lar presiding officer
Mr.. Joseph Button will be nominated
unanimously for reelection as Clerk OF
the Senate. and Colonel John Bell Bigger
will receive a similar honor as the re-
cordlng officer of the House. Both OF
these gentlemen were busy yesterday ar
ranging their papers for the opening OF
their respective bodies tomorrow. Colo
mel Bigger has about completed the as
signment of the members to seats.
Mr. f. B. watkins, the Doorkeeper or
the Senate, has a very pronounced oppo-
neut i'm the person of Captain j. w. Tai
lev of Buena Vista, who reached the
city yesterday and began an active per-
sonal canvass. Mr.. Benjamin Gunter, OF
Accomac, is also a candidate.
Mr.. ]. Montgomery Johnson, the Ser
geant-at-Arms of the House, Is a candl-
date for reelection, but he also has OPP
position. though he thinks it not strong
enough TO defeat him. Mr.. r. 5. Thomas,
of Greene county, he regards as strong
candidate; also, Mr.. Drinkard, OF King
George. and Mr.. Christian, OF Louisa.
Mr.. Johnson is an eX-member OF the
House and quite popular.
There is no opposition for the other ornce'
of the House so far as known.
Speaker Ryan is oyerrun with appllca-
tions from boys for places as pages, and
is in a ouandary as to how he is TO de-
eide upon appointments. There are seve-
raj bright little fellows in the city seek
ing the honor of being allowed to wait
upon the lawmakers.
THE PERSONNEL
Those who are familiar with the per-
sonnel of the present Legislature regard
| il as rather above the average In
mental calbre OF the forty members
| of the Senate, twenty-one, or little
over 50 per cent, are lawyers The per
centage of lawyers in the House is only
about twenty-five. The remainder In
either branch are chiefly farmers anc
merchants. though the medical fraternity
| has four representatives,.
ECONOMY THE KEYNOTE.
From expressions collected from sena
| tors and delegates by Dispatch report
ers yesterday regarding the probable
character Of legisla:iqR this winter. II Is
! evident that very decided steps in th'
| direction OF economy Will be taken
| There is diversity o. opinion as to VIVA
Will be the nature Of such legislation
/ ie general Tnq1
economy will be the keynote Of every
thing. There are various methods sug
| gested whereby reduction in expense:
may be accomplished, the most interest
| ing being perhaps the abolition OF Ger
| tain basement offices and the Office o.
| County superintendent Of Schools.
There seems also to be opinion thai
| this Legislature should reduce taxation
| reform the election laws, reduce salaries
| and find new subjects for taxation.
WILL REDUCE OUR EXPENSES.
Speaker Ryan, OF Loudoun, was seen i
| the lobby of Murphy's Hotel and 'aske
| what he thought would be the most I'm
| portant legislation to be considered q
| this session Of the Legislature. He re
| plied that he thought the people wante
| IN reduce the expenses OF the state, an
that measures with this object In yieN
! would be the most important legisla
ton TO be considered. The question wit
| which the General Assembly would D
| confronted would be to provide for IN
| increased expenses, without addltiona
| taxation. What legislation would o
enacted to accomplish such a result IN
Speaker was not prepared to say
1 Mr.. Ryan, when asked as to the opposl
ton to his election as Speaker OF IN
i xHFhl
| would be some little opposition, he woui
be reelected without difficulty.
KING WILLIAM JUDGESHIP.
Mr.. Isaac Diggs. member of the Hous
| from King William. said the contest owe
the county judgeship was about the onl
| local issue with which his people had I
deal. Mr.. Coalter, of the firm Of Coalte
| e Wise this city, was opposing Judg
| q O. Gwathmey. who has held the ofilc
| for the past twelve years. Both gentle
men, he said, had strong friends. VIII
| were warmly advocating their respectiv
| claims.
| 'What do you think will be the mos
| important legislation to be considered b
| the body?' was asked.
"Our people" he said, ''are much inter
ested i'm cutting down the expenses
| the State. They have no specific plan !
| view now, and / have none at presen
| The question of reducing the appropria
| tions TO colleges has been discussed. l
talking with members who have alread
arrived" said Mr.. Diggs. II find there
some disposition on the part Of many
reduce the number of officials around tn
| Capitol. | think" continued the legisla
| tor. most members of the Legislator
will come here with the idea OF adoptin
, measures TO reduce expenses, and fin
new subjects for taxation. The intentio
| oil ha of hl