The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-29
MAKE Up OF LEGISLATURE.
To Convene at Olympia on the
Second Monday in January.
REPUBLICANS CONTROL HOUSE
Fusionists Hope for Preferment in
Senate-COnteSt Likely to Come
Up Over Adoption of Rules-Pow-
er of Appointing Standing Conn
mittees May he Taken From Pres
ident-Candidates for Speaker.

In six weeks the Washington legislature
viii convene. The state constitution fixed
the day for meeting biennially on the first
Wednesday after the first Monday in jan
uary, but this was subsequently changed
by legislation 10 the second Monday in jan
uary. The legislature viii therefore meet
January 2. 1889.
The house has IS Republican members,
Populists. Democrats l Silver Republ-
can and l member elected on a citizens
ticket, the latter combining the Republic
cans. Silver Republicans and Democrats OF
Stevens county. Personally this meTI.be
mas always been a Democrat, but owing
to the majority OF the house being Eepub-
lican, and the Stevens member owing his
election in part TO Republicans. II is said
he viii work with the Republicans. With
this large Republican majority in control
of the house. II is useless for the Popuiists
10 think of securing many OF the clerkships
given out. Two years ago the Populists
were in control OF the house and a Repub-
hcan was not good enough TO fill places
within their gift. The Republicans have
never adopted this rule, and Will not. per-
hans at this session. 1t has always been a
Republican doctrine that the minority
should have decent representation, and the
old rule no doubt will not be changed. But
the principe places OF trust Will, OF course,
go 10 Republicans. Among these will be
the appointment Of a chief clerk and his
assistant. a reading clerk. docket clerk,
journal clerk and his assistant: a chief
enrolling clerk and assistant: a sergeant
alarms and assistant: besides postmas-
ter, watchmen, janitors. pages and at least
eight committee clerks. The pay of these
positions is always fixed by the house after
organization.
Depends on Hold-Over Members.
The senate is composed Of fifteen Repub-
licans. thirteen Populists and six Demo-
Gratis. This change is due to the fact that
W. c. Gray, of Stevens. was defeated. and
a Populist, G. A. Mauze. elected. Gray.
who was on the Citizens ticket. was at
first thought 10 have been elected. and his
name mas appeared in all lists. The Re
publicans here lack three of having actual
control. This may not be the condition
existing when the legislature meets, how
ever. as 1t is rumored that some of the
hoid-over members, now that fusion is de-
feated. Will ally themselves with the Re
publicans, just as Taylor and Easterday Of
Pierce, who had been elected as Republic
ans. allied themselves with the fusion!sts
two years ago. The senate is the only
place where the fusonists hope for political
preferment. and candidates are therefore
quite numerous. The principal positions 10
be given out in the senate are those Of
secretary. assistant secretary, sergeant at
arms and assistant. minute clerk. bill
clerk journal clerk and assistant enrolling
clerk. engrossing clerks postmaster ste
nographer. docket clerk, pages, Waterman,
doorkeeper. janitor and about eight COM
mit3ee clerkShips.
Perhaps the most interesting contest tha.
Is likely to come up In the organization OF
the senate Will be a fight over the atfop-
ton OF It's rules. II Is customary when
the senate convenes for some member 10
move that the rules governing the former
session Of the legislature be adopted tenn
porarily until the committee on rules and
Joint rules be named and report Rule No
. of the rules of the senate. session OF 1897
provides that the president shall appoint
all special joint and standing committees
The president of the senate Is Lieut.. Gov
Daniels and thereby hangs a ;ss,,: .-.lv.
Gov. Daniels presided in the senate over
the session OF 1897 and was allowed 10 ex-
ercise the right to appoint the standing
committees. At that time he was a cam
didate for United States senator. strange as
il may appear to those who know him, and
he used the power of appointing the COM
mittees 10 further his personal candidacy
Those members OF the senate who could not
support Daniels were turned down and only
his individual admirers were able to Sc
cure desirable chairmanships Not only
that but President Daniels used the an-
thority conferred on him by the senate TO
slight mem bers of that body and among
other things. IGNORED the member selected
az president pro tenn OF the senate upon
every possible occasion. until an opposi-
ton was aroused that was at one time or
ganiZed to pass n bill aboiishng the office
Of lieutenant governor. There has there
fore been some discussion among hold
over Nom bers ~ the senate 10 change rule
6. and take away from the president the
power OF appointing the standing commit
tees Of the senate.
What the Constitution Provides.
That this can be done Is without question.
Nowhere does the constitution vest In the
lieutenant governor authority 10 name the
committees. and il is therefore merely a
power gran:able by the senate itself. The
constitution. article 3. section 16. provides:
The lieutenant governor shall be presld-
ing officer of the state senate, and shall
discharge such other duties as may be- pre-
scribed by law He shall receive an an
nuai salary OF si,GS. which may be IN
creased by the legislature, but shall never
exceed 5000 per annum.'
Article ?. section 10. provides Each
house shall elect its own officers: and when
the lieutenant governor shall not attend
president, or shall act as governor. N.
senate shall choose "A temporary president
When presiding. the lieutenant governor
shall have the deciding vote in case OF an
equal division OF the senate"
Hence II is seen that no power In organ
iziug the senate was vested In the leuren-
ant governor, further than presiding and
casting vote when there was a tie.
In the hD9Tse the principal contest will be
over the selection Of the speaker. The can
didates so far as known are j.. II Cute.
Of King county. James Wickershan Of
Pierce. and Jesse a. Frye. OF whatcom
with legislative work. having been Il MEM
her 81 the house in 1877. Mr.. W.ckershan
was formerly city attorney OF Tacoma and
is a man OF some force and ability Mr.
Frye Is one OF the best known members
elected in Whatcom county. and has many
friends particularly in the Northwest
whom h. expects viii forward his caudi-
dacy There is 10 telling al this time who
will be the strongest candidate when the
legislature meets, Though the prominence
of Nj Cute in the King county oislegaffon
his ability and experience will undoubtedly
~ = great factor In his favor. The King
county delegation meets tomorrow and II
Will no doubt take action on Mr. 9u}es
candidacy just as THE Pierce county dele-
Cation has gone 10 tae support Of Mr.
" !ckeySham.
TRAVEL IN SUNSHINE
Through California 10 the E-asi and s0nth
ever the Shasta rcute. Rates same as o.-er
Mort aern lines. Tieket office. SO FIRST ay-