Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-15
Many Legislatures Meet.


3,3lO statesmen. The largest number IN
any one State is The 421 members OF the
New Hampshire Legislature, while tue
smallest is the forty-eight Of Nevada.
The proportion of Representatives to the
population varies in the same way. IL
New Hampshire, for Instance, there IS
one Representative to every lao men,
women and children in the State, while
IN New York State there is one to 46,OOV.
The Legislatures of all the States meet
every two years, except those of Georgia,
massachusetts, New Jersey, New York.
Rhode Island and South Carolina, which
come together every year All but six
teen of the States limit by law the dura-
ton of legislative session the time fix
ed ranging from forty to seventy-hve
days.
The salaries Of members of the State
Legislatures vary widely. Kansas and
several other States pay their legislators
So day while the Legislature is in ses-
sion. Nevada pays so day, New York
and Pennsylvania pay $500 year, and
Illinois $1,000 session, Thrifty Maine,
on the other hand, makes its members get
along with $50 year. in ali the States
but Delaware. Iowa, Maryland and New
Jersey the members of the Legislature
are allowed in addition to their salaries
fixed sum for each mile travelled in COM
ing to and going from the State capital
Most of the members of the State Legis-
latures ride on railroad passes, so that
this mileage allowance goes into their
own pockets. In order that members
may be at no expense for postage, sta
tionery, etc, while the Legislature is 10
session most States make a still further
grant Of a fixed amount TO each member
to cover necessary charges of this kind.
For salaries alone the meetings of the
State Legislatures viii cost in the aggre-
gate an enormous sum. In Illinois, for
instance, the bare salaries of the mem
bers will amount to considerably over
100000, which is but a beginning on the
total expenses of the session.
The terms for which members of'the
lower house and of the Senate are elect
ed vary greatly with the different States.
In many cases the State Senators are
elected for terms twice as long as those
of the Representatives. The shortest term
for member of either house is one
year, which is the rule in Rhode Island.
alone among the States, for both Senators
and Representatives, while the longest
is four years. the term Of State Sena-'
tor in Illinois and in a majority of the
States.s
The most important business before
most Of the State Legislatures viii be the
election Of a United States Senator. In
Delaware Minnesota, Montana and Ne
braska there are two Senators each to be
elected. Altogether about one-third OF
the membership of the United States SEN
ate is to be chosen by the Legislatures
which meet this month.
A striking thing about the senatorial
contests in many Of the States is the
fact that number Of the candidates are
men comparatively new to public life, at
least in national sense. In Nebraska
the three leading candidates are George
ID. Meiklejohn, Assistant Secretary of
War. who is one of the best known men
in the State; Edward Rosewater of
Omaha, and ID. f. Thompson, a banker
of Lincoln, Mr.. Bryan'S home town, and
one of the richest men in the State. MIR.
Thompson is in addition a most unique
character. He was born on a farm near
Coldwater Mich, and began rs a brake
man. He worked up to be division SUI
perintendent, and then started into BUSH
ness for himself He is now interested
in twenty different and profitable enter
prises. lie does things in a unique way.
When the State nesitated about bringing
the First Nebraska regiment home frofl
San Francisco Thompson did it him
self The regiment Travelled in Pullman
cars, and it cost Thompson $4,000.
When the Omaha exposition was running
Thompson invited all the children in Lin
coin between the ages of and 16 TO
spend a day at the exposition with him.
More than 200 accepted his invitation.
THOMPSON paid the bills. He recently
sent a whole trainload of working people
to a Chautauqua meeting at his personal
expense. He has never made a public
speech in his life
In Montana it seems to be taken for
granted that W. e. Clark viii get HIM
self elected again 70 one Of the senate.
rial chairs which the State has to fill,
while Il. Augustus Eeinze is said to be
in the lead for the other. Hcnze is one.
OF the most striking characters in the
West. He is not yet 80 years old, and
is already at the head Of several impor-
tant mining enterprises Twelve years
ago he appeared u Montana at the age
Of 21 He was fresh from graduating as
a chemist and mining engineer. He found
work IN one Of the great smelters. With
in a few years he had smciters of his
own, and even Clark himself was forced
to recognize him as factor to be rcck
oned with. He has been active in State
politics, was a candidate for Governor
and is said to control sufficient number
Of votes in the present Legislature to
force Clark to come 70 terms with him.
In Utah George Q. Cannon, head OF the
Mormon Church, his own son, and his
nephew, together with a few outside the
family, are making a lively fight for the
place In Delaware J. Edward Addicks
is again candidate, and is said to con
troll enough votes 70 get one Of the two
togas at the present command OF the
State. In Colorado G. s. Thomas, who
has just completed his term as Governor,
and T. 81. Patterson Of Denver are APP
parently in the lead. In Minnesota X.
G. Evans Of Minneapolis is looked upon
as the leader for the place III the Sen
ate left vacant by the death Of Senator
Davis. In North Carolina, which is now
represented in the Senate by Republic
can and a Populist, il seems that +. NJ.
Simmons. who, as chairmnG Of tine Dem
ocratic State committee, Is given credit
for bringing the State back again into the
Democratic column. has the best chances
Of succeeding Marion Butler, the present
Populist senator.
The political makeup Of the several
Legislatures is an interesting study.
Florida, for instance proudly boasts the
possession Of Legislature which is SOL
idly Democratic OF It's 100 members
every one IS a tried and trusted member
Of the Democratic party. The Legisla,
tare Of Mississippi is made up in the
same way with the exception Of two
Populists who have broken into the lower
house. In North Carolina, which is not
now represented /. the Senate by a Dem
ocrat, the Democrats have a majority
in the Legislature on joint ballot Of 10.
In Michigan the Democrats have II out
Of 4 tNal Of 131 members or the Legs
Iature. II West Virginia tie two par