The sun., 1898-12-28

Only six days now intervene before
the General Assembly meets at Dover,
and the minds of all politicians are en-
deavoring to solve who will be the next
United States Senator and also the or
ganiza,ion of the Senate and House.
AS far as both are concerned there is
no change, apart from the facts that have
already been published in THE Sun.
The fight for United States Senator is
still between j. Edward Addicks and
Hon. George GRAY, Administration
Democrat.
There is practically nothing new in
the situation beyond the fact that the
Regular Republicans are doing all in
their power to return MIR. GRAY to the
Senate at the dictation of President Nc
Kinley and Mark Hanna and they hope
to be able to deliver the goods by fusion
with the Democrats of the General As
sembly.
The Regulars are fully aware that Mr..
Addcks has eighteen of the thirty-one
Republican votes in this body and will
therefore absolutely refuse to 60 into
caucus.
Conferences may be held however, but
with what result cannot be stated at this
time.
The Democrats have decided upon
holding caucus, and as result will be
a unit for Mr.. Gray. As they will have
twenty-one members in the General As
sembly, the Regulars are desirous of
giving them the remaining six, and if
possible, will do SO.
One week from today, on Tuesday,
January 8, the Legislature of Delaware
the first to be held under the provisions
of our new Consttution--wll assemble
at Dover for organization and work. The
caucuses of the majority members of
each branch, for the selection of officers,
vii, 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 q, the
Senate, under the new arrangement, has
II members, and the House 35, total of
81. This makes a 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 Representatives, which has
been enlarged and renovated in a hand
some manner, will be occupied for the
hrst 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 Repub-
licans, as both will have an interest in
the offices to be disposed Of. The Senate
has a Democratic majority and the House
will be Republican body. Each caucus
will select candidates for speaker, clerk,
reading clerk, sergeant chaplain
and page. The two sergeants will also
have to agree in some manner upon a
janitcr and fireman, unless some other
arrangement for the filling of these places
may be devised.
For speaker Of the Senate there are
three avowed anddates-Senato John
Pyle, of New Castle county: Senator
Samuel r. Meredith, of Kent, and Sem
ator William T. Moore, of Suesex. These
are the three holdlng-over members of
the Senate, and custom generally awards
to an old member the honor OF acting as
presiding officer, although the rule is not
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 the three mentioned is
almost sure to be chosen. In the opin-
ion of those who seem best informed,
Senator Meredith, of Kent county, is
most likely to win.
The next office OF Importance in the
Senate will be the clerkship, for which
w. Lindsay McFarlane, of Smyrna,
Woodburn Martin. of Seaford, C. w.
Kenney, of LAUREL and Alexander M.
DAILY, of Dover, are applicants. 1t is
understood that the contest will rest
between McFarlane and Martin. The
legislative clerkships will not be so
profitable now, on account of the ses-
sion being practically limited to sixty
days, but there will be enough salary
allowed to make the offices fairly re-
munerative.
There are various candidates for the
other Senate offices, but the great inter
est is centered upon the speakership and
clerkship.
In the House there are no holding
over members, but occasionally an old
member is returned. One such in the
next body is Representative John
Pilling, of Newark, who has served two
terms in the House and one in the
Senate. He will be leading candidate
for the speakership at the Republican
House caucus next Monday night, and
is probably the best man for the Office.
But he is likely to have plenty of op-
position, and the outcome of the contest
is full Of doubt.
The candidates for clerk of the House
are William r. Smithers, A. A. Watson
and F. D. Davis, of Dover, and W.
Scott Vernon, of Wilmington. The for
lner is named by knowing ones as the
winner. He is a prominent Unior
Republican, and was member of the
Constitutional Convention. For the
other places there are numerous appli
cants, with the prospects of interesting
contests.
The great battle for the SenatorshiI
will also open at the gathering OF tn.
members at Dover next Monday night
The Legislature will be compelled to TAXI
the initial ballot for United States Sena
tor on the second Tuesday after it's or
,Oo! n,,I nil