Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-04
OPENS TODAY.
Last Nights Caucuses Begin
MaIne's .69th Legislature.
Today the Two Branches Win Elect
Officers and Organize.
Al" Hands Here and Ready for Busiress.-Jh,
Joint Caucus, Tonight.

ilttie later, the gavel will fall and
Names Goth Legislature will formally
organize. Everybody is here except
Major Dickey of Fort Kent. and il
looks as though, contrary to all Gus
tom, the session would have to omen
without his presence. The advance
guard of the legislative crowd arrived
Monday, but yesterday the crowd itself
came, and deluged Augusta as it al
ways gets deluged on the opening week
OF the session. 1t was jolly crowd and
everybody was glad to see EVERYDAY
eise Nearly all the members arrived
SO as to be present at last evenings
caucuses and to get little ac
quainted before the formal organiza-
ton, today.
Two years ago when the legislators
arrived the rain was pouring in tor
rents and the streets We're all slush
and water. This week the assembling
lawmakers are greeted by wholesome.
acceptable. They all have stories to
tell about Mondays cold snap. ana
either they stretch the truth fearfully
OF else the thermometers had to stretch
themselves in some sections of the
State. After the trains rolled in their
crowds, yesterday, the hotels and State
House had their liveliest aspect. Every
man seemed to have important bust
ness with somebody. The disposition
OF the minor offices was fruitful topic
of conversation, and also the makeup
of the committees. Already gossip
concerning legislation is heard on
every hand, and the reporter even
heard two men discussing the probable
length of the session.
The hotels We're chief centers of ac-
tivity, yesterday, but at the State
House there was no Disgusting the
fact that the session was about to be-
gin. Little groups with their heads
close together filled the lobby and the
halls of the House and Senate. Every
body had a word of praise and ad-
miration for the beautiful new Senate
chamber. The employees had every
thing in shipshape order about the
whole building. In the various depart
1nents the work goes steadily on, re-
Sardless of the confusion in the corri-
Tors and lobby, but as most of the de-
,dartments now have their annual re-
esprts out Of the way they will take
Things a little more easily during the
:. ~ ,ssion. The new members We're get
q bg acquainted with each other and
rsf big building, and picking out the
is they hoped fate would give them.
he important business on the pro-
mme yesterday, besides arriving
being buttonholed, We're the eau
sta S of the House and Senate, last
ing. Full reports of these are Civ
h another column. This morning
- come the formal organization of
leaucuses to nominate State Off
N and a United States senator. AT
Mornings session. after the draw
seats, the officers nominated IN
~ kpublican caucuses, last evening,
IL e elected and enter upon their
Nearly all the representatives
l.. ~ t,n;r
the assignment of seats and
Imitation there will be little or
hess, and before noon the two
: will adjourn to Thursday
ted in f
4 hderstood that at this eve
you nteneral caucus Hon. Byron
10 ~. bfbe renominated for secretary
aiming olfIon. F. NJ. Simpson for State
none. tff Hon. w. T. Haines for at
aac | toheral, Clarence e. Burleigh
1cnprinter and H. r. Smith for
puher, all by reclamation with
! no on. All are denominations
OF lent incumbents. AS to the
mel the State board of assess
oFsby law to be a Democrat,
anothere are several good men
Dixie the position, it is like
~ tipresent member of the
DoafEcorge Pottlc of Lewiston,
VIII another term.
Am newspaper men who were
at VI House, Tuesday, having
n arfiVSort a part or the whole
OF tne were Holman +. Day Of