The record-union., 1899-01-03

The fact that yesterday was holiday
cut no figure with the members of the
Legislature. They had cut out their
work and they stuck manfully to the
text until all they had anticipated was
accomplished. Both houses organized
and this morning will see them ready
to face the serious business Of the ses-
sion.
There was much to do and a limited
time in which to do it, and as all could
not be done in lump, it was tackled
piecemeal. The order of business was:
caucus, assembly and business, more
caucus, reassembly and business, and
so on until the shadows fell and all
babes and some others were tucked
away for the night.
WHAT THE SENATE DID.
The Senators caucused early, and the
uppeH house would have convened at II
o'clock, noon, as provided by statute,
except for the fact that Judge j. w.
Hughes, who was to administer the
oath of office to the new members, was
nearly half-hour late. Judge Hughes
may be accredited with clogging the
wheels of legislation for the period Of
time mentioned
The Republicans in caucus had de-
cided on Thomas Flint for President
pro tenn; Frank J. Brandon for Secre-
tarH Rev. A. ]. Sturtevant for Chap
lain and Lou Martin for Sergeant-at-
Arms, but the noon hour overlook them
before they had time to consider the
other question of patronage sufficiently
to agree upon the other statutory Off
GERS. Accordingly after the election
of the gentlemen named there was no
further business and a caucus" recess
was declared, during which the patron
age snarl was unraveled, and with the
sanction Of more than half of the Re
agreed to, all of whom were duly elect
ed upon reassembling.
Then the Senate was ready for bus
1ness. and sent q messenger to SO in
form the Assembly, and a committee
to make known the fact to the Govern
or. The latter promised to respond to-
day, and the former was in the midst
Of caucus, or something equally as
trying on the nerves. and, SO another
recess was taken.
In the evening the first concurrent
resolution was introduced by General
Dickinson, providing for the spending
Of 81, $50 by joint committee OF both
houses, in arranging for the inaugural
ceremonies which will be held to-mor-
row. The resolution was adopted.
SENATORIAL PRATTLE.
Senatorial talk is as light as air. and
the friends of each of the several can
didateS seem to believe their favorite
has a cinch on the toga. Senator Bull
las people say he is gaining strength
and cannot be checked; the friends Of
Mr. Grant assert that he is gaining
votes from the northern portion Of the
State; General Barnes contingent an
pear hopeful, and the adherents of Col
onel Burns claim everything in sight.
Colonel Burns yesterday Informally
announced his candidacy, and the an
nouncement relieved the strain under
which the legislators had labored for
several days His avowed candidacy
did away with the possibility Of his
strength being thrown to any Other
candidate, and each of those in the
field must now stand on his individual
efforts or those of his friends.
The idea is somehow gaining ground
that the Burns people are confident
their candidate will win and therefore
made no effort to stave the balloting
for United States Senator off another
week. Yesterdays organization of both
houses means that the first ballot will
be taken one week from to-day.
ASSEMBLY DOINGS.
At high noon yesterday the thirty
third session of the Assembly of the
State of California was ushered into
existence by the fall Of a big iron ham
mer in the hand of the past Chief Clerk.
s. ]. Duckworth The attendance was
full, only two of the eighty members
failing to present themselves for the
oath, and of these one. Caminetti, ap-
peared later in the day. The three au-
thorized off1cials-Chief Clerk, Minute
Clerk and Sergeant Arms-left over
from the session of 1897, were duly on
hand to open the House. But there
were no others. No janitor's deft touch
had cleared things up or smoothed
things down; no gate keeper, with
pleasant greeting, flung wide the portals
for the entrance of the solons; no pages
were scurrying about with possible tips
IN view. In truth, things looked I'M
mistakably shabby and down at the
heel, and the few dollars saved to the
State Of California by the absence Of
these convenient officials were evened
UP by the discomforts. The feeling was
general that-to paraphrase Mark
Twain-"Be economical and you'll be
virtuous, but you'll be very uncomfort-
able"
DUCKWORTH'S PASSING.
The Chief Clerk of the thirty-second
session, whose strident voice, bold bear
ing and insistent presence will long be
remembered in these legislative halls,
had made his arrangements to go out
Of office in blaze Of fireworks. No
bne expected the scene which is de-