Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-01-05
ORGANIZED.
The 72d Legislature
Ready for Business.
Seats Drawn, Members Sworn
and Officers Elected.
Inauguration of Gov. Cobb and EIec.
tion Of State Officials, Today.

day forenoon. after the time-honorcd
forms and ceremonies which are OBJ
served upon such an occasion. The
seats were drawn: the members sworn
in by Governor Hill: ne officers named
at the Republican caucuses Of Tuesday
evening. We're in turn elected: the usual
messages passed back ard forth be-
tween the two branches and the execu-
uTe department.: a few orders were
passed and promptly at noon both
branches adjourned until 10 O'Clock. to-
day. when Govcrnor-.lcct cobb will be
inauguratc and his address delivered.
Although the wild blizzard. which
had RACED throughout Tue sday night
was still at it's height. the members
were at the Capitol, carly Weduo osday
forenoon; and not only the members,
but good many outsiders and inter-
ested spectators. There We're nalf a
dozen ladies in one of the galleries who
were not to be deferred by the storm
from witnessing the Interesting spec
tacie Of the organization of q LeGisla-
tllr". The hour of organization was 10
o'clock in both branches. but in til"
House. the members sieEenblcd shortly
after ? o'clock for the purpose OF draw
ing seats. Clerk Cot;On. of the list
House, called the gathering to order
and conducted the ira awinS as he has
done at many sessions iii the past. TIL"
| names of the members were called IN
alphabetical order. 'tnd each advanced
in turn to the front and drew from Il
little box tn" number of the seat he is
to occupy during the winter
John f.. Abbott. Of North Berwick,
vas the first called ard he drew seat
Il. a Very good location. TIL h-odule
Albert Of L1adawaska. came next and
drew seat 1:S, on the side under
the south gallery: and thus it
went on Some NJ the me:nbcrs
| drawing good seats and others
seats with which they We're not
81 well satisfied After the drawing
there vas not a little exchanging OF
seats among the members. speaker
| ol'"t Drew got seat l.. away back un
der tn" north gallery. lut the poor
location of hi; seat lii moi disturb him
| any. since he will be a the Speakers
| desk throughout the winter. Johnson
| of Watervillc the Democratic nominee
! for Speaker drew seat 143. pretty well
Lack on th. south Sid,. BY strange
| coincidence. Johnson OF Calais drov'
S"iI % that being thc scat he occupied
while waiting his turn to select his
number from the box. 1t WAS another
coincidence that Sarcrn, of Brewer
| and Sargent of Castinc Grew seats side
by side in the front rev. The Augusta
! representatives We're both very fortu-
! mate. Mr.. Gannett got seat -, and
| Mr.. kinsman. seat 115. Beth are ex-
| rcItionally good seats, well down in
| front and near the middle. Isaac
| Libby Of South Berwick. who had
| seat i'll the front ro" four years ago.
| WaS fortunate enough to draw a seat
! in the front row this time. SeWall Of
Bath. tn" defeated candidate for
| Speaker in the R"uuhlitan caucus
secured Il very dcsira3. seat III tie
! midGlc " tn" hall. one of the inter
| cstinG things about the drawing of
| seats was tn" fat hat many men.
who drew seats together were absolute
str;i .ig"rs. and it was interesting to
watch the energetic way in which they
settled down to the pleasant task Of
! getting acquainted. Th' re was no
drawing of seats in the Stnate. as the
seats are assigned there bv counties.
At 10 o'clock the drawing of seats
was completed. although more or less
exchanging was done later. At that
hour the Clerk called the House to or
| der. and prayer was offered by Rev. G.
\. Hayden of Augusta. Then the roll
of th" House was called and it ap-
| pcarcd that 1iS of the 151 members
Were. present to respond to it. In the
| Senate the opening prayer was by Rev.
{. g. Moshcr Of this city. and the roll
II tlx.,% INnr ry.
were present. The only absentee in
the upper branch was Colonel Aver Of
| Kcnncbcc county, who was Storm
, bound at his home in Oakland. The
| desk of the presiding officer in the
Senate was Sraced by beautiful
large bouquet Of pinks. but the House
had to struggle through its organiza-
| ton without the aid of floral decora-
ti0nS.
When the roll call VAS completed.
Governor Hill and the seven members
of his Council appeared first in the
Senate and then in the House. where
| the members, standing and with raised
hands. repeated after him the solemn
| oath of office. The oath in printed
form was also subscribed TO by each
individu?L member. After the Gov
crnor and Council had returned to the
executive department, each body pro-
| c,cded TO ballot for it's officers. AS
the minority party had made nominal
tions for every office on the list.
balloting was necessary for each officer
in both bodies. The election. OF
course resulted in the choosing Of pre-
siding officers. secretaries, clerks and
minor officials nominated by the Re
publican caucus of the evening before.
Both President Goodwin and Speaker
Drew. when introduced to their
rcspcctive chairs. made very neat little
speeches. which were warmly received
and confirmed the impression that
they will both make strong and ropu-
lar presiding officers. The presiding
officers of the list Legislature. frcsl-
dent Virgin and Speaker Fellows We're
both present to see their successors IN
| st.,1ed. The election Of the remain
| ;,s officers occupied an hour or more