Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-05
ORGANIZATION
Of LEGISLATURE
Presidency of Senate and Speak
ership of the House Being
Much Discussed.
SAME AS TO CHAlRMANSHlPS.
Meeting of the Lawmakers Now Only
Eight Days Away--Railroad and
Consolidation Problems.

week from Monday the legislature
of the state of Utah will assemble for
action IN the city aud county building.
The problems for its consideration are
perhaps as important as any which 1t
ever faced, ana two of them at least
have been maturing for years until
there is general sentiment which
considers them ripe for settlement
one Is the consolidation problem on
which two big forces are being aligned
tor battle and the other is the railroad
commission problem on which IL fight
is also sure to be precipitated.
The session this year may be unique
Ia one way. 1t is the first with what
may be called "A peoples lobby" In
prospective in actual attendance So
far Utah people have not treated her
chosen representatives. as New York
treated Depew, and as Wisconsin treat
ed Babcock. Also II Is true that the
people here have not watched their rep
resontatives with a distrustful eye, as
the people IN the east have lately been
watching them.
Now the general tendency to differ
entiate seems to have Travelled west,
and senators and representatives 1t
seems are being lined UP as belong
Ing to one or the other of the two fac
lions.
In exactly this tone the men UP as
possible nominees for committeeships,
and for the speakership of the house
and presidency of the senate, are being
discussed. Harry Joseph Is the most
pronounced candidate for any OF the
offices, and hence his boom for the
speakership has been most under fire.
With knocks" other booms are be-
ing launched. Orville Thompson OF
Scipio. Willard county, who RETURNS for
a second term in the house, is men,
toned among people who are particular
that the speaker shall not be a friend
of the railroads. Those who are shout
Ing with soft pedal accompaniment for
him put In the booster that he is OPP
posed by railroad interests. and will see
that no tool of the corporations Sc
cures the committee chairmanships
which can do so much in smothering
legislation"
STORY OF 4 SWITCH
And in this connection there is q
story ahoat of a boom that died in It's
youth. Ii was built up in favor of John
Q. Crltchlow, and suddenly with the
development of the railroad commission
question. Mr.. Crltchlow's afiiliation
with the NJ and NJ association caused
him "a pull In his lightning rods, and
steer for the craftsmanship OF the rail-
road committee. The M. and Nj. asso-
in the position, and 1t is said that II he
fails to land 1t. he will follow the tao
tics of La Toilette in calling up rail-
road commission bills through minority
reports, and demanding n roil-call vote.
The third man in the speakership
race Is Charles r. Marks of this city:
He Is being supported "on the quiet
by a faction that thinks Harry Joseph
is sure to be the speaker anyhow.
Mr. Marks served through the last
legislature. He is an alumnus OF the
University of Utah, and II Is not
thought that consolidationists will OPP
pose him on that account.
THREE BIG cHAIRMANsHIPs.
The three big positions in the next
house are to be the chairmanships OF
the educational committee, the rail-
road committee. and the judiciary COM
mittee. and about the plucking OF these
plums the fight principally centers.
IN THE SENATE.
In the senate the same situation pre-
walls The regular party workers are
supposed to be backing Walton for the
presidency, but there are many who
wink on the quiet. and advise the re-
porter TO watch Steve Love-" and see
him mount up into the position he filled
last year. I'VE know it's the dope"
he said, "for Walton TO win the place.
but Just as sure as 1t takes ten votes
to make "a majority, the dope Will go
well, Love will be the man.
The position of Senator Love ON
most questions is we'll known as he
was the leading figure of the last
| senate session. He organized the
| fight for consolidation along with SEN
| ator Bennion, and urged measures TO
| prohibit any legislator from riding on
| pass. Should he go in, It is almost
| certain that his much admired friend
| Senator Lawrence will head the tudici-
airy committee.
TWELVE "oLD" SENATORS.
or the senator's IL are old hands at
| the game ana of the six new mem
beers, nearly all are pretty we'll In
| touch with the senate and the person.
! mel OF its membership.
| Senator Willis Johnson OF Circlevllle
| Is in town today and is much Interest,"
ed in the gossip Of legislative or
ganizaion.
WOMAN'S REPUBLICAN CLUB.
There Will DO an important meet
ing Of the Womans Republican club
| on Monday afternoon at 1880 O'Clock
an the home OF Mrs " II. Peasc. 675
| Fourth street An members of the
| club ARE earnestly requested to attend
! the meeting as an amendment to the
| constitution Will be voted on.