Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
VERY FEW CHANGES
SPEAKER wADSwoRTH Is CON-
FIDENT OF REELECTION.
Hughes Not to Interfere, He Declares
Policy Will Be to Attend to
His Own Business

ALBANY. December 29-James w. wads-
worth, speaker OF the assembly, arrived
here today. He will remain In Afnany until
the legislature has been organized. and In
the meantime. in expectation of being re
elected to the speakership. will attend to the
making up of the various committees OF
the lower house
There is no process of house cleaning
In contemplation" said the speaker yester-
day, because none is needed We will
merely strive to keep the assembly up to
the standard of efficiency that distinguished
it during last session. The committees will
be altered merely to suit changes which
have occurred In the makeup OF the assem-
bly, itself since the last session
Speaker Wadsworth said in reply to an
other question that he had a talk with Gov
ernor-elect Hughes some three weeks ago
and expected to see him again soon after
his arrival In Albany. Mr. Wadsworth de-
clared empha tcally. however that no pol
Icy or plan connected with the forthcoming
session of the legislature had been even re-
motely under discussion.
VIII you ask the governor-elect for any
suggestion In this regard when you see him
here" Mr. Wadsworth was asked.
decidedly not" was his reply. IF I'm
derstand the governors plans Alright he
means to conflne himself strictly to his du-
ties and prerogatives as chief executive of
THIS state. ana absolutely keep MS hands
OF the legislative branch OF the state gov
eminent"
Believes in His Reelection.
There have been rumors recently to the
effect that pressure had been brought to
bear from Washington to encompass the de-
feat Of Mr.. Wadsworth for the speakership
Of the new assembly.
II have not heard anything of that ma
ture even remotely suggested" said Mr..
Wadsworth. Il firmly believe shall be re-
elected"
chairman OF the cities committee in the
sembly, although an effort, In which the
Citizens Union is interested. Is being made
to have New York man named for that
position, largely on account of the legislation
affecting the New York police department
which will be introduced at the session and
In the course of ordinary procedure viii be
RENTED to the cities committee
Assemblyman Edward Merritt of ST. Law
renee is slated for chairman of the COM
mittee railroads, and Assemblyman
Prentice of New York for the chair
manship of the committee on rules. Assem-
blyman Apgar of Westchester is a candi-
date for the Craftsmanship of the committee
on water supply, gas and electricity. He
was a candidate for the same place last
year. but at that time sdetracked in
favor of Assemblyman Agnew.
Candidates for Chairmanships.
There are two candidates for the chair
manship of the committee on judiciary. One
of these is Jesse Phillips of Allegany, now
chairman of the committee on codes. The
other is Charles w. Mead of Albany. As
semblyman Mead has the backing of VIII
linn Barnes jr, the republican boss of AL
bany He was anxious to have the place
in the last legislature, but was passed over
in favor of Assemblyman Cox of Erie. who
Is no longer a member of the assembly.
Phillips is considered the fittest man for
this important post and may get II. In that
case it is almost certain that Mead will sue
coed him as head of the codes committee.
Should Phillips be retained in his present
place Assemblyman Mead may become
chairman of the judiciary committee.
Sherman Moreand of Chemung will prob
ably he majority leader for the lower house
of the Legislature. For the minority leader
ship. for which post both Assembyman
Oliver and Alfred F. Smith of New York
have been mentioned. rural candidate has
appeared in the field during the past couple
of days in the person of II. c. Stratton.
who will serve his first term in the next
sembly the representative of Chenango
county. Mr. Stratton has the active back
ing of Stephen Ryan. the state committee
man from his senatorial district, well
that of some of the state committeeman
from the southern tier.