The sun., 1898-12-28

on
which will be Tuesday, January H.
Perhaps the matter of a selection may be
determined at caucus previously held,
but this is doubtful. 1t is general Y con,
ceded that Mr.. J. Edward Addicks
would be the choice of caucus, and
those Republican members who are un-
compromising in their hostility to the
election of Mr.. Addicks under any cir
cumstances, will doubtless refuse to at
tend a caucus and thus virtually bind
themselves to afterwards support the sue
cessful nominee. The fight, therefore,
is likely to be carried into the open ses-
sion and after the initial ballot of Janu-
ary II, which will be taken by each
house separately, the two houses will be
required to meet in joint session daily at
noon, as long as they remain at Dover,
and take at least one ballot for Senator
before separating. The fight, therefore,
may be carried all through the session,
as it was four years ago, and, as was also
the case then, the session may come to
an end without any choice being made,
thus leaving vacancy for the ensuing
Legislature to ill.
From the above it will be seen that
the coming session will be an unusually
important one, from political point of
view. And from the viewpoint of bust
ness its importance will be none the less.
Upon this session will devolve the duty
OF enacting the important changes in
existing laws made necessary by the
new Constitution. There is plenty of
work ahead, therefore, to command the
earnest attention of the legislators for
the sixty days that they will spend at
Dover. For while the Constitution does
not actually limit the session to this
period, it allows compensation for only
sixty days, and as legislators are but
human, it is not likely that they will
linger long after their pay stops.-Epery
Erening.
One week from today the General As
sembly will meet at Dover and the work
Of making laws for the government of
the State will be commenced. The indi-
cations are that the number of laws will
be few for the good reason that much of
the work of the kind which formerly
delayed the Legislature has now been
taken out of its hands by the new con-
stitution and also because the State
needs very few new laws. After the rec
ord of the last General Assembly, the
new one will not have hard task to dis
pose of the business before it, and will
have time to spare in the sixty days al
lowed by law for the session. One thing
may be depended upon, however, and
that is that the Legislature will give
careful consideration to all OF the meas
ures which come before it. provided
that they are introduced in time to be
considered.
Within the past few days there has
been considerable conjecture as to
whether the members would remain in
Dover over night or would follow the
plan which has been followed for the
past few sessions and 60 home at nights.
There are friends and opponents of both
plans. The members will do just as they
please about it, but there has been some
interesting discussion concerning the
matter. Some people are OF the opinion
that the members could do better work
if they remained in Dover at night.
Committee meetings could be held and
delegations heard at night. The Legis-
lature could then get the opinion of the
people on matters of Importance. They
also assert that the people would go to
Dover ut night in delegations if they
could find the members there to hear
them. The same persons point with
pride to the time when the members re-
mained at Dover all of the time. When
committee meetings are held in the day
time it is asserted that the members are
absent from their seats in the House or
Senate, and that it is sometimes difficult
to pass bills.
On the other hand the going home
party make some good claims in favor OF
their plan. They say that there is
ample time between the adjournment Of
the morning session of the two houses
and the opening of the afternoon session
for committee work, and that it is use.
less to remain in Dover at night. There
are few delegations to be heard, and the
ONES WHICH uO COlne W Dc HcdIu Cdu DS
heard in the daytime. The poor people
of the State cannot afford to come tt
Dover for the purpose of stating theil
opinions in regard to a measure because
they cannot afford to pay the Car fare
and hotel bills. Each member of the
Legislature is supposed to keep in touch
with his constituents, and this he car
best do by going home each evening
Then he can see the men Of his owr
community, and they know exactly
where to find him.
If there is bill on which he wishes tc
obtain their opinion he can place the bill
in his pocket, take it home with him
show it to them and come back in thu
morning with their opinion. 1t is als'
said that by keeping away from Dover a
night the members are out of the clutche
Of the lobbyist who depends upon th
evening entertainment of members t.
work his plans. In addition to this it i
said that when it is necessary to hear
delegation at night the matter can be ar
ranged to the satisfaction of every one
The members, it is asserted, save con
siderable money, get the wishes of thei
constituents and have chance to Civ
some attention to their own business b.
going home at night. In addition t
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