The record-union., 1899-01-11
PRELIMINARY
BALLOT TAKEN,
With No Definite Result in Either
House.
Swarms Of Bills Introduced in Both Houses
Joint Ballot Will Be Taken
To-Day.

Great stacks of business was trans
acted in both branches of the Legisla-
tutre yesterday, and the squirt would
seem to indicate that the members are
determined to rush their measures
through to either victory or defeat, and
adjourn on the sixtieth day of the
session instead Of pursuing the usual
course and remaining an extra two
weeks with no remuneration, except
the benefit to be derived from Sacra-
mento's Incompatible climate.
While the Assembly damned all Ct
Its work into a single session, the Sem
ate took three turns, and did good
days work each time The usual
routine business, including motions, Pc
titions, resolutions and a prayer, was
completed in both houses without in
cident and at noon, or as soon there
after as practicable, the members set
tied down to find out how matters
looking to the election of a United
States Senator were shaping.
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
Nobody expected an election, and as
a consequence nobody was disappoint-
ed The proceedings, regardless of the
spread-eagle variety of nominating
speeches, were as dry as sandban.1
in dog days, and it was evident that
neither members nor spectators were
holding their breaths in expectation of
an election, though their interest was
away above par, inasmuch as the ballot
would place every man on record.
In neither house did the applause
soar above extreme tameness, and the
names of the several candidates were,
as a rule, received in stony silence.
The old dodge of Withholding the can
didate's name until the very last and
then springing it as surprise upon a
defenseless public failed to work. The
orators We're stunned-by the silencc,
not the applause. It is true that the
names of Colonel Burns and General
Barnes We're received with something
terest of both members and spectators
was screwed up to the highest tension,
there was no enthusiasm. The interest
was unbounded, but the enthusiasm
and the applause resembled an aching
Void
The fact remains that the first ballot
for United States Senator took place in
each Of the houses Of the Legislature
separately yesterday and created a
great deal of interest, though the re-
suit gives no indication of who is
likely to win the prize in the end. The
vote in detail in each house will be
found in our report of the proceedings.
Adding the two together. and the re-
suit is as follows: Barnes 8, Bulla IL.
Burns "a, FELTON, l, Grant &c, knight
3. Irving NJ. Scott 2, Thomas R. Bard
2. John Resented /, Van R Paterson
3. Estee 2. White 81.
The Democrats voted solidly for
White, in accordance with the caucus
agreement, so that in spite of the over
whelming Republican majority in the
Legislature the Democratic candidate
received the highest number of votes.
Senator Boggs remarked that in ac-
cordance with time-honored custom in
political conventions the election of
White ought to have been made unani-
nous.
Last night there was the usual buzz
Eing and speculation going on in the
hotel corridors. and one could hear al
most any kind of prediction as to the
outcome. The fact is. however, that
II anybody really knows anything def
mite he keeps it to himself. The friends
Of each candidate still insist that their
man will win, but most Of them are
utterly unable to produce any good rea-
son for their belief.
Talk Of a Republican caucus was up
again, and there seemed to be a grow
ing desire that one should be held
The friends of both Grant and Burns,
the leading candidates, claimed that
they were ready to caucus and allow
the contest to be settled by the Re-
publican members. Up to late hour.
however, no caucus had been agreed
upon
At noon to-day the two houses will
meet In joint convention and take the
first joint ballot for Senator. 1t is not
unlikely that more than one or two
ballots will. be taken to-day unless
there Is a decided change shown.
BILLS.
Bills were in order in both houses
yesterday, and while the Assemblymen
touched lightly, introducing only fifty
two, the Senators drank deeply, and
shunted hundred and twenty-four
bills and three constitutional amend
ments onto the Secretary's desk.