Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-29

the majority members OF each prancn,
for the selection of officers, will be held
on Monday night
The occasion will be one Of unusual
interest. Instead Of the old Senate Of
nine members and the House of u, the
Senate, under the new arrangement,
has II members, and the House 30, q
total of 50. This makes legislative
body Of fairly respectable size. The
Senate will meet in its new quarters
over the library, the room occupied by
the Constitutional Convention, and the
new hall of the House of Representa-
tives, which has been enlarged and
renovated in handsome manner, will
be occupied for tho first time by the
popular branch.
The organization proceedings, which
will no doubt be fully outlined by the
Monday night caucuses, will attract
the attention Of both Democrats and
Republicans, as both will have an in
terest in the Offices to be disposed Of.
The Senate has Democratic majority
and tho House will be Republican
body. Each caucus will select candi-
dates for Speaker, clerk, reading clerk,
sergeant-at-arms, chaplain and page.
The two sergeants will also have to
agree in some manner upon q janitor
and fireman, unless some other ar
rangement for the filling of these
places may be devised.
For Speaker of the Senate there are
three ayowed candidates--Senator John
Pyle of New Castle county, Senator
Samuel r. Meredith Of Kent and SeEa-
tor William T. Moore of Sussex.
These are the three holding-over mem
bers of the Senate. and custom gener-
ally awards to an old member tho
honor Of acting as presiding officer,
although the rulo is nat absolute. In
the past, members have been selected
for Speaker during their first term,
and one Of the newly-elected members
may secure the prize this time But
this is not considered probable, how
ever, and one Of tho three mentioned is
almost sure to be chosen. In tho opin-
ion Of those who seem best informed,
Senator Meredith of Kent county is
most likely to win.
Tho next office Of Importance in the
Senate will be the clerkship, for which
w. Lindsay McFarlane of Smyrna,
Noodburn Martin of Seaford, G. w.
Kenney of Laurel and Alexander M.
DAILY of Dover are applicants. 1t ID
understood that the contest will rest
between McFarlane and Martin. The
legislative clerkships will not be SC
profitable now, ON account of the session
being practically limited to sixty days,
but there win be enough salary allowed
10 make the offices fairly remunerative.
There are various candidates for the
other Senate offices, but the great in.
terest is conferred upon the spealxershiI
and clerkship.
In tho House there are no holding
over members, but occasionally an ole
member is returned. One such in tn,
next body is Representative Johr
pilling Of Newark, who haa served two
terms in the House and one in tho Sen
ate. He will be leading candidate
for the spealSership at the Republican
House caucus next Monday night, ant
is probably the best man for the Office
But he is likely to have plenty OF op
position, and the outcome of the con
test is full of doubt.
The candidates for clerk of the Hous
g William T. Smithers, A. A. Watsol
and +. D. Davis OF Dover, and w
Scott Vernon of Wilmington. TIL
former is named by knowing ones O
the winner. He is prominent Unio
Republican. and was member Of til
Constitutional Convention. For til
other places there are numerous anpli
cants, with the prospect of interestin
contests.
The great battle for the senatorshi
will also open at the gathering of til
members at Dover next Monday night
The Legislature will be compelled ,
take tho initial ballot for Unite
States Senator on the second Tuesdu
after its organization, and as no ser
GUS hitch in the work of gottin
started next Tuesday is looked for, ii
first ballot will probably be taken
the time specified, which will be Tue
day, January 18th. Perhaps the ma
ter of a selection may be determined
caucus previously held. but this
doubtful. 1t is generally conceded TIL
Mr.. j. Edward Addiclss would be u
choice of caucus, and those Republ
can members who are nncompromisii
in their hostility to the election of NJ
Adaicks under any circumstances, "
doubtless refuse to attend q caucus nj
thus virtually bind themselves 10 aftc
wards support the successful nomine
Tho fight, therefore,i is likely to be ca
ried into the open session and after 4
initial ballot OF January 18th, viii
will be talscn by each house separated
the two houses will be required to me
in joint session daily at noon, as 10
ms they ROMAN at Dover, and take
least one ballot for Senator before ser
rating. The fight, therefore, may
carried all through the session, as
WIS four years ego, and, as was a
tho case then, the session mny como
an end without any choice being mac
thus leaving vacancy for the ensui
Legislature to ell.
From tho above it will be seen II
the coming session will be IN unusua
important one, from political POI
OF view. And from the Viewpoint
business IFS Importance win be nc