The Portland daily press., 1897-01-07

Pleasant Ending of His Official Term
-Cumberland County Delegation
organizes-Proposed Aid for Westbrook
Seminary.
j ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l
/ Augusta. January 6. 6.-The first day of
a session of the Maine legislature is about
like the first day of every other session.
1t is early in the forenoon when the
members-elect and the memb bers Of the
Third House whose terms, like Tenny-
sons brook, so on forever, hogan to gath
er. Groups of mon fill the leather covered
settees in the lobby and other groups
wander about the State house. Tele-
graph boys are in evidence, and the Off
GERS Of the two houses are rustling about
with arms full of books and papers. The
members Of the House gather in the
ohamb ber at 9 O'Clock. They are still only
members-elect but they have an impor-
| tant piece of work to do. That 1t is a
| work highly important to themselves
for they are about to take part in the
only lottery now sanctioned by the great
State of Maine. They are to draw from
a ballot box little slips of paper num-
bered to correspond to the numbers of
| the seats. Naturally, it is a time of live
ly interest. No member likes 90 find that
he has fallen heir TO seat on the dis
tant horizon of the Speakers view, up
| by the windows at the back of the room.
The clerk of the preceding House acts as
presiding officer at this function and as
he calls the name of each member, that
| legislato put his hands into5the box and
learns his destination. Then he is lead
! to his seat by one of the House employees
who puts in front of him evidence of the
generous treatment which his State ac-
cords to her law-makers. He gets box
of pens and paper and a bottle of mnci-
lage. Inter he will add to his store by
| voting himself a supply of postage stamps
and documents, books and newspapers.
There is no lottery in the SEN
ate
There the seats are arranged Dy coun-
ties. Major Dickey and Mr.. Palmer of
Bangor in the House were allowed to Sc
lect their seats.
The Senate was called to order by Mr..
13uabar. the secretary, at just ten clock.
Then Mr.. Dunbar read the list OF soma
tors-eleot certified to be correct by the
Secretary of State and called the roll. AT
cor this, committee wended it's way to
tine council chamber to inform the Gov
ernor and council thai the senators-sleot
were ready to take the oaths of office.
The Governor and council thereupon
appeared heralded by the messenger of
the Senate who loudly called upon the
| people to make way for the honorable
Governor and council. Everybody stood
up and Govcrncr Cleaves standing at the
presidents desk, greeted the members,
referring TO the auspicious change In the
weather and wishing them good health
and prosperous session. Then the Gov
ernor read the oaths and the mem bers
repeated them after him. This ceremony
sounds very much like responsive read
ingfin a church. The Senators now be-
ing duly qualified they proceeded to elect
caucus. AS there are no Democrats in the
upper branch all theseleotions were unan-
imous. President Day spoke briefly in
taking the chair thanking the Senators
for the honor conferred upon him, and
expressing the belief that they would
help him over the hard places. The cleo
tion of the off GERS is by ballot and took
up the time until nearly noon.
Among the orders passed by the Senate
was that important measure, which is
never ON lifted. directing the messenger to
keep open wood fires burning during the
sessions.
THE HOUSE ORGANIZED.
The House was organized today with
one of Portland's most prominent eiti-
zens as its presiding officer. Hon. Seth
&. Larrabee was escorted to the speakers
seat amid vigorous applause on the part
of both members and visitor. He ao-
cepted his election and thanked the men,
bers for it in graceful and public spir-
tied speech.
1t was short go that shortly before one
o'clock the chief formalities Of tine open
ing sessions had all been attended to.
When the House had been called to or
der the Governor administered the oath
to the members and they signed the rolls
Speaker Larrabee was elected unani-
mously, 1873 votes being cast for him. He
was conau oted to the seat and when the
applause had subsided he said substanti-
ally: 81 am pleased with the honor you
have conferred upon me and feel free TO
say that appreciate the responsibilities
of the position. ask your hearty coope-
ration. shall endeavor to be faithful
in the discharge of my duties and shall
strive to serve you fairly and inpartally
at all times, that may in some meas
ure repay the idebt of gratitude owe to
the friends whose esteem enjoy.
"Ws are here to fulfill trust placed
upon us by tho people. We are from the
people and responsible to the people.
They have made us arbiters OF new and