Evening journal., 1898-01-03
NEW YORK SOLONS.
Legislature to Convene at
Albany on Wednesday.
EXPECTATION OF BRIEF SESSION.
Party Caucuses Tuesday Night-PoliticaI
Complexion OF Both Houses-views
of the Leaders-some Novel
Bills to BE introduced.
ALBANY, Jan. s.-The legislature OF

ALBANY, Jan. 3.--The legislature OF
1898 viii convene at the capitol on
Wednesday, Jan. 5. at noon, under cir
cumstances, at least as regards one
house, entirely opposite to those which
prevailed last year. The senate by vir-
tue Of the new constitution remains for
third year the same as the two pre-
vious sessions, with the single excep-
tion that the death of Senator Joseph
Mullen has necessitated the filling Of
the vacancy with a new member, Elon
r. Brown, representing the Thirty-fifth
district. In the assembly the progor-
tion of new members is the largest in
years and the committee chairmen. in
stead of all being old heads, will have
in some measure TO be made up of new
members.
The interesting part Of the organiza.
ton will be in the assembly, where the
Republicans, in contrast to the enor-
nous majority Of last year have but
bare working majority Of four votes, in
cluding IN these the two men from the
Greater New York district known as
the Independents. This small majority
for the dominant party means that no
appropriation bills can be passed With
out the aid Of Democratic votes to make
up the two-thirds and three-fifths votes
demanded by the constitution upon all
bills apprOpriating state moneys.
While this in some measure gives the
actual control of the situation in the
lower house to the minority party at
the same time the control ends there,
for the senate has a very large Repub-
lcan majority, there being SO Republic
ans and only IA Democrats, while in the
executive chamber sits a Republican
governor. This means, while the Demo-
Gratis with the help Of the Independents.
in the house might hold up Republican
legislation, at the same time no legis-
lation of interest to the Democrats
could be passed in the Senate.
In the assembly the proceedings really
begin upon Tuesday night, when the
two parties hold caucuses for nomina-
tions for the Offices Of speaker, clerk,
sergeant at arms and doorkeepers. The
Republicans will meet in the assembly
chamber and will nominate James NJ.
l.. O'Grady of Rochester to be speaker,
Colonel Archie Baxter of Elmira to be
clerk. James c. Crawford of New York
TO be sergeant at arms and Joseph
Bauer of Rochester to be the chief door
keeper.
At the organization at noon on We'd
nesday the secretary of state viii ad-
minister the oath, and then the Repub-
lican caucus selections will be chosen
as permanent officers of the house,
while the Democrats will select Thomas
T. Donnelly of New York for their
leader. In both houses the majority
of the officials of last year will be re-
appointed. At 1880 o'clock the govern
or WILL after receiving the usual COM
mittees from each body. send in his an
nual message, which will be read. Aft
er that the assemblymen win draw for
seats. and then an adjournment, joint
in its character, will be taken for
week to allow the speaker to appoint
his committees.
Senator Timothy L. Ellsworth Of the
Republican side Of the senate, speaking
for the Republicans in the legislature,
said: I'VE hope to make the session a
brief one, full Of commendable work.
1 don't believe we will make any rad
ical changes in the Raines law. 1 shall
introduce the anticartoon bill, and I
expect it will pass. Further than that
1 do not know what questions will be
presented to us but / believe that the
Republicans will do creditable work"
Senator Jacob A. Cantor, the leader
of the minority, said:
"The approaching legislative session
will be probably the most important
that has been held in many years 1t
will Immediately precede a state cleo
ton, and. Of course, win necessarily
suggest the issues upon which the state
campaign will be based"
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff said:
Speaking not as a voting member OF
the senate, but as its presiding officer,
who is in sympathy with the ideas of
the Republican leaders, I am of the
opinion that the session will be an ex-
ceedingly brief and businesslilSe one, in
line with the desires Of the governor.
No radical legislation of any kind viii
be undertaken and all that is enacted
will be subjected to most careful con-
slderation. AS president of the forest
preserve board am desirous Of seeing
another appropriation for the continu-
ance of the purchase of forest lands for
the preservation Of canal water supply.
The legislature can conscientiously
make such an appropriation because OF
the excellent account to which the last
appropriation for that purpose was put.
Personally I am interested in the
PRONUNCIATION of a good roads measure,
and I believe that this legislature viii
enact some measure which viii be the
initiative OF some state system for the
betterment of the roads"
There are introduced each year a
number of bills that are looked upon
as curiosities. and for which there is
very little consideration shown This
year win be no exception. Here are a
few of them:
Providing for the entire abolition of
department stores by limiting the num-
Der of articles that may be sold under
one roof; preventing the wearing OF
high hats in theaters compelling the
presence Of two motormen upon the
front of each electric car; creating a
state asylum for the care of inebriates
and providing a special cure for them;
prohibiting the exhibition of pictures
of prize fights.
Establishing a state BARRIERS commis-
sion; creating a state board Of exam
iners for bricklayers; providing for the
Inspection Of barber shops: prohibiting
the printing of cartoons and the picture
of any person without such person s
personal permission prohibiting any
person but a lawyer from lobbying for
| a legislative measure. prohfhiffnr. the