Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-11-30
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGISLATURE.
Important Work Lies Before 1t Including the
Election of a Governor.

Advance interest in the next New Hamp'
shire Legislature has not diminished since the
outcome Of the recent election, as the unoih
cial returns have made it practically certain
that there had been no election by the peo'
pie, although Mr. Floyd was given good
strong plurality lead of about 5000 votes
With the duty before ii Of clecting a govern
or, a United States senator for the full term
of six years. and more important still In pop
ular interest, the putting into the shape OF
effective legislation, the clear cut reforms
demanded by the party platform, it is cas-
lily maintained that the coming Legislature
has the opportunity of being one of the most
important in the recent history Of the state,
And only about six weeks Of time is TO pass
before il will be here in reality.
With republican majority in the joint
convention OF the senate and house Of near
ly $50. with two republicans elected to ev.
cry one democrat, no well informed man OF
either party is found to claim that there is
any possibility, as well as any probability
that the choice Of the legislature when regis
tered will be other than the republican can
didate Charles NJ. Floyd. 1t is confidently
claimed that any other course would be alb
solutely unprecedented in the entire history
OF partisan politics in this country.
As has been previously stated, the senate
politically will be made up of six democrats
and II republicans elected by the people,
and the Joint convention will elect the repub-
hcan candidate in the first district, where
neither candidate was given majority of
the popular vote.
As far as has been noted John Scammon
of Exeter, the only lawyer in the senate, is
the only member that has announced his can
didacy for the presidency of the senate, a
position for which Samuel C. Eastman of
Concord had been slated by the political
trust months ago. the realization Of which
the people Summarily prevented by electing
his opponent TO the seat allotted 10 the tenth
district.
In the house the membership is almost
mechanically two-thirds republican and
one.third democrat the unofficial totals being
$50 Of the former and 128 of the latter. This
is something of an increase for the demo
Gratis over recent legislatures and will give
them a larger representation upon commit
tees. The house has 80 standing committees
of 10 members each, and two smaller commit
tees of four and two respectively. besides
the speaker, who is chairman Of both. Then
there are three joint committees of which the
house furnishes eight members, This gives
443 committee places, about so more than
there are members, so that some as usual VIII
be placed upon more than one committee. As
rule full committee will comprise eight
or nine republicans and four or five demo-
Gratis.
OF the members 81 We're reelected from
the last house, "a republicans and demo-
Gratis.
As for the organization of the senate so
for the house, the political trust that have
long been accustomed to parcel out the re-
publican party positions, and with success,
until the jars of the recent campaign, Ber-
tram Ellis of Keene was selected for the
speakership several months ago
Those who have tired Of arbitrary machine
dictation in the party have now meekly en-
dorsed the arrangement and have looked
about for other men well fitted for such
duties.
Because of his long experience and gem
eral legislative efficiency William J. Ahern
will undoubtedly be the floor leader of the
minority, whether he is made the minority
candidate for speaker or not.
A further topic connected with the legisla-
tive work early in the session, fruitful of dis
cussion is the matter of electing a United
State senator to succeed Henry E. Burnham
of Manchester. 1t is well known that Mr..
Burnham is an active candidate for re-elec-
ton There is also very widespread feel
ing that the honor will be contested for and
that several of the candidates who were in
the running six years ago will be among
those in the field when the legislature as.
sembles.