The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-01-12
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Quayites and Anti-Quayites Still
Claiming the Victory.
SECRETARY MARTINS SUCCESSOR
w w. Greist, the Lancnntcr County
Leader. Looked Upon ~ Governor
stones Choice For the Chief Oficer
Especial Correspondence)

Especial Correspondence)
Harrisburg. Jan. 1O.--Both branches
of the general assembly will reconvene
on Thursday to compute the vote for
governor, lieutenant governor, secre-
airy of internal affairs, congressman
ht-large and judges of the supreme
court. William NJ. Meredith, of Arm
strong, has been appointed teller on the
part of the senate and James Clarency,
of Philadelphia, on the part of the
house of representatives. The official
returns will be delivered by the secre-
tary of the commonwealth and will be
opened and computed in the presence
of both houses.
The proceedings are purely perfume
tory and cannot affect the result of the
election for these offices as already
published by the secretary of the COM
monwealth. When the Legislature is not
in session the returns are computed by
a joint commission of the senate and
house appointed by the proceeding
legislature.
The governor and lieutenant COVER
nor will take their seats week from
today and the secretary of inter-
nal affairs the first Monday of next
June. The superior court judges are
now serving on the bench by appoint
ment and the two conGressmen-at-
large will take the oath in March.
The officers and employees selected by
the senate and house Republican slate
committee will be announced and
ordered to report for duty when these
bodies reconvene. The Republicans
control both branches and the Demo-
Gratis do not expect to share in the dis
tribution of the appointments. Under
the law the officers and employees of
the last legislature hold over ten days
in the present session. The most i'm
portant positions in the senate have al
ready been filled and the appointees
have taken the oath of office. The only
offices in the house which have been
filed are speaker chief clerk and resi-
dent clerk.
Democrats on the Committees.
The standing committees of the house
and senate will not be made public un-
til after the change of the state admin
istration There are more Democrats IN
the senate and house than two years
ago and naturally that party Will nave
a larger representation on the commit
tees. The presiding officers of both
bodies are friendly to Senator quay,
although both insist that they VIII dis
regard factions in the distribution OF
the committee honors. The positions
most coveted in the house are the
chairmanships of the appropriations,
general judiciary and ways and means
committees. William T. Marshall, OF
Allegheny, will again preside over the
house appropriation committee, po-
sition he filled in the two preceding
sessions. The chairmen of the other two
committees of the last house We're not
reelected, and there Is general
scramble for these honors. George M.
Hosack, of Allegheny, will probably
preside over the general judiciary COM
mittee and Ward r. Bliss, of Delaware
may be chairman of the ways and
means committee.
The most important committees in
the senate are appropriations and fl
nance. James G.. Mitchell, of Jefferson
will be chairman of the first committee
and C. L. Magee, of Pittsburg, of the
other one.
The Democrats will show their hand
In the fight for Senator Quay's seat In
the United States senate on Thursday
morning by holding joint caucus OF
the senators and members of the house
Of Representatives to nominate candi
date. Ex-Lieutenant Governor Chaun'
cey F. Black, of York, and Colone
James M. Guffey, of Pittsburg, are the
most prominent aspirants mentioned
Colonel Guffey says he will not accep
the nomination unless it Is rendered
him without a contest. Mr.. Black wa!
the nominee two years ago agains
Senator Boies Penrose.
George A. jerks, the defeated Demo
cratic candidate for governor, is ais
urged as a candidate by a number o
Democratic organization leaders. If Mr.
jerks shall not forbid the use of hi
name, it is said that many legislator
will argue that his candidacy woul,
unite and harmonize the elements nov
kept apart by the candidacy of Blacl
Nnd Guffey. The principal Democrats
senators and representatives have ex
pressed confidence that all the legisla
tors of their party will stand togethe
to bring the approval of the common
wealth upon the Democracy for doin
everything possible to have the popu
lar wish voiced in the election of a
acceptable United States senator.
The Aati-Quay Republicans.
conference of the Republican sena
tors and members who refused to TAX
part in the recent senatorial caucu
will be held Thursday morning at tn
Commonwealth hotel to hear the repol
of the steering committee and decid
upon further line of action.
The friends and opponents of Senate
Quay are anxiously awaiting the de-
cision of the supreme court justices o
the appeal of the senator, his sol
Richard r. Quay, and ex-State Trea
urer Haywood to have the indictment
charging them with conspiracy and Il
unlawful use of the states money r,
moved from the quarter sessions cou
of Philadelphia. The arguments wei
made on Saturday at Philadelphia /
David t. Watson, of Pittsburg, al
Rufus f.. Shapely, of counsel for Il
defense. and by Former District A
torney George s. Graham, of Philade
phia, on the part of the commonwealth
Mr.. Watson spoke for nearly two hour
Mr.. Graham consumed about the san