The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-01-05

John II. Farr of scranton. Seems Go
BE in the ad--The New capitol
Building so Far as Completed.
Especial Correspoislence)
Harrisburg, Jan. 2.-The general as
sembly will open its biennial session at
IL o'clock tomorrow noon in the new
apitol building. After the senate and
.ouse have organized Governor Hast
mss will send in his biennial message.
\ recess will probably be taken after
he organization for several days to al
ow the president pro tenn. and speaker
to prepare the lists of standing commit
tees. Neither of these lists Will hardly
be ready to announce before the inau-
guration of Governor-elect Stone on
Jan H. so that the Legislature will not
get down to work in earnest before
February. There Is a strong sentiment
among the legislators in favor of
short session. and resolution may be
introduced tomorrow fixing the date Of
final adjournment. The last legislature
closed July l. and the incoming body
will hardly complete it's labors before
the middle of May, at the earliest.
Both Democrats and Republicans will
caucus this evening for the organza-
ton of the two houses. The Republi-
cans have a majority of "a on Joint bal
lot, and naturally expect to control
both bodies There are 81 Republicans
and 13 Democrats in the senate and 127
Republicans and Il Democrats and six
fusionists in the house.
There are many Democrats anxious
to fuse on the speakership with the in
dependent Republicans, and this matter
will be discussed at their caucus.
Charles r. Spatz, of Berks, is the only
avowed candidate on the ground for
the Democratic nomination for speaker
General w. H. Koontz of Somerset, an
Independent Republican, is the choice
of the fusonists for speaker. To be
elected on this issue he would have to
poll the votes of II Democrats, six flu
sionists and 81 independent Republi-
cans.
Farr In the Lead For speaker.
John r. Farr of Scranton, is the
most formidable aspirant for the Re
publican nomination for speaker. He
has been endorsed by the Philadelphia
delegation, or a large part of it, and
claims to have a large following in
other localities. George NJ Hosack, of
Pittsburg, is the choice of a majority
of the Allegheny members Ward r..
Bliss, of Delaware, is the most ag-
gressive candidate and claims to have
- the pledges of 80 members, nearly all
of whom come from country districts.
William T. Marshall, of Allegheny,
so far has no opposition for chairman
Of the house Republican caucus. This
is most important position, as the
chairman joins with the chairman of the
senate Republican caucus in fixing the
date for the caucus for the nomination
of a candidate for United States sena-
tor to succeed Senator NJ. s. Quay. The
house chairman also appoints the slate
committee which makes up the list
- of officers and employees of that body.
~ Senator John C. Grady, of Philadel-
phia, will probably be chairman of the
senate Republican caucus, by which a
candidate for president pro tenn. will
be chosen. The officers and employees
A.. of the senate will be chosen by a slate
committee appointed at the close of the
'97 session. Senator William p. Snyder
of Chester, is the only Republican as
pirant for president pro tenn, and his
nomination and election is assured.
William T. Greasy, of Columbia, eX-
- poets to be chairman of the house Dem
ocratc caucus. and Senator j. Henry
Cochran, of Willamsport, will probable
preside over the senate Democratic
caucus.
Senator Quay's friends have fixed
tomorrow evening for the senatorial
caucus and the only question now is
whether 1913 Republicans will go into
the meeting. If they do everybody ad-
mits that Quay will control a majority
and that he will be nominated. His
opponents are making an effort to keeI
enough members out of the conference
to prevent a nomination. If they car
do this they expect to defeat the SEN
ator's reelection. Congressman John
Dalzell, of Pttsburg, and Charles C.
Tubbs of Tioga, are the other avowe6
aspirants for the senatorial nomination
Dalzell is considered weak in that he
Jacks home endorsement. and Tubbs
went into the contest solely to prevent
puay's friends from instructing the tw,
members from Tioga. Tubbs is here
put he is making no effort to secure
Fotes. Quay's friends have established
headquarters at the Lochiel hotel, ir
harge of Chairman Ellxin, of the state
Republican committee. They have ap
fointed committees on reception tC
meet the legislators on their arrival
and this evening they will hold a stree
demonstration in the senator's honor.
senator Quay on Hand.
Senator Quay reached here at mid
night from Washington to take per
sonal direction of his campaign II,
will be the guest of County Chairman
Weiss during his visit. The senator
will remain in Harrisburg until afte
the senatorial caucus.
The fight against Quay is being dl
rected by e. A. Van Valkenberg. tn,
leading spirit of the Business Mem
~I-eague. His headquarters are at tn
Commonwealth, where Dalzell will ais
hold forth. Ex-Postmaster Genera
John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, ant
other active anti-Quay leaders, ar
rived today to aid Mr.. Van Valkenberg
Senator-elect David Martin of Phila
delphia. who will retire as secretary O
the commonwealth with Governor Hast
ings, reached the city last evening Fl
was accompanied by Mrs Martin an,
Receiver of Taxes and Mrs. William
Roney, of Philadelphia. The party ar
the guests of Governor and Mrs. Hast
ings at the executive mansion Sena
tor Chris l.. Magee, of Pittsburg tn
leader in western Pennsylvania, ar
rived this morning.