Milford chronicle., 1907-01-04
ORGANIZATION OF
THE LEGISLATURE
Old Regular Element Victorious in ORGANIZATION Of
Delaware Legislature, Leaving u. S. Senatorial
Situation Practically Unchanged

The biennial session of the Delawar
?. Legislature commenced last Tuesday
, and after a brief days session it ad
Journed until next Monday to permi
Il the new speakers to arrange the com
mittees. There was a very interestipf
j. skirmish on Monday Hight at the vari
i Gus eaueuses to select officers, and as &
result there was no general satisfaction
9 tor any one faction or individual. ex,
| eept the fellows who got the offices.
AT II O'Clock both Houses were called
to order and proceeded to organize.
George w. Sparks, nephew of Gov.
ernor Lea, was chosen president of the
Senate as decided in the Republican
cancus
1t had been understood all along that
this office was to be conceded TO New
Castle, while the speakership of the
House was to go to the counties of Kent
and Sussex. But at the caucus Monday
night there were three candidates
for the speakership, namely: A. C.
Palmer, of Sussex, an Alice man; w.
ii. Richardson, of Sussex, an anti.
Alice man, and A. P. Corbit, was favor. i
ed by Anthony Higgins.
Up to 2.30 in the morning nine hal.
lots had been taken, and on the next
six members deserted Corbit for Rich
ardson. giving the latter u, Palmer 9
and Corbit 4.
Finally on the eleventh ballot Corbit
in favor of new man Rich.
ard Hodgson, of New Castle county.
and his election as a com promise candi.
date followed, developing a surprising +
strength as shown by former United q
Higgins and the dupont ele. Y
nent.
Among the Republican leaders the n
Impression exists that this memorable
'aucus incident to organization OF the 8
legislature has had no material effect
Ipon the Senatorial situation. h
AS the situation now stands. if is
Alice against the field. Judge Y,
'ennewill is sized up as the one man a,
'ho can assuredly defeat Alice. If ri
udge Pennewill refuses, Harry Rich.
rdson, of Dover, will be centered upon q,
y the anti-Allee forces. Richardson ~
looked upon as weaker than Penne. ~
III, but his chances Of winning the
nomination are regarded as FL
lighter than Senator AIlee's.
Back of the nights complication in co
e caucuses was an attempt of certain .
ilmingtOn Republicans TO prevent fin
e election of Senator Sparks as presi. ba
mt pro tenn. by choosing a New Cas-. ne,
county man as Speaker OF the House. lar
ley believed some down. State man he
'uld be made temporary president Of c
Senate. Hence the New Castle less
semblymen's caucus was ca lied, in in I
llch Corbit, by a slipup, was named are
Speaker over HOdgson. r
:. Coleman DUPONT and Senator AL. law
g influence landed Sparks in the acte
late chair, despite the antagonism sary
the House in its general caucus tile
1'HAS AGNNAOChGus OUIDll cOulQ mott WI
elected, neither could Richardson, stril
Sussex anti-Allee man, so both and
hdrew and Richard Hodgson was of re
ted by the anti-Allee and: anti. Lay. recol
forces. ~
oogson's selection is also regarded place
victory for the element headed by cent.
Ter Senator L. Heisler Ball and Ad
liam H. Head, Of Wilmington, as ional
as for the railroad element. Co
bile New Castle county unexpect. State
got both presiding officers, it was Pla
but one clerk in the entire assem- on sa
Ar
chard HOdgson, new speaker, is a Cor
g man, resident OF Townsend. of des
e he is station agent for the Penn Goo
mia Railroad. He has had wide REQ
renee in legislative matters, hay session
cen a member of the House dur. super,
Eciting times, and its clerk for one Sim
ar and one extra session. He is voters
ed and a Methodist SIEVE
1,30 o'clock forenoon both Houses slaugb
into temporary session for the Safegu
Sc of organization. improl