Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-31
THE 18th LEGISLATURE Will
CONVENE WEDNESDAY, JAN 4.
First Maine Legislature to Be Democratic
ia Both Branches Since l847=-=First
Contest for U. S. Senat0rship
Since l869===The CauCuses
and the Candidates.

vile will receive the caucus nomination,
but it is doubtful if the contest, which
has extended over several months, leaves
as little bitterness behind it as did the
one of 1869.
Resubmisson.
Resubmission to the voters of the pro-
! hibitory amendment of the Constitution
is an important part of the Democratic
program and a measure to which the
/ Democratic party stood PLEDGED in the
last campaign. But as members of the
dominant party in the Legislature are
not all in favor of resubmission it is pos
sible that even if Republican votes are
secured i'll favor of the measure the
necessary two-thirds for the repeal of
the amendment may still be lacking.
Direct primaries, q corrupt practices
act and a new form of ballot are other
questions which are likely to come up
early in this session. Legislation in
! favor of direct primaries and a corrupt
practices act were both endorsed by the
Maine State Grange at its recent an
nual session in Augusta and it is proba-
BILE that legislative committee from
that organization will be active in favor
of these measures at the committee hear
ings.
Consolidation of State departments is
another proposition to which the party
in power stands committed, although it
would seem as if more offices were nee
essary rather than less to accommodate
the numerous candidates that have come
forward since election. The expenses of
the attorney generals department will
probably be curtailed by doing away with
| the assistant and reducing the salary of
the head of the department. The opera
tons of the agricultural department will
also probably be simplitied although pos
sibly at sacrifice of efficiency. Talk is
| also being made of combining the special
| office of auditor of State printing with
the Office of the general State auditor,
making of the former clerllship in the
| auditing department.
Plans are talked of for the combining
of the sea and shore fisheries with the
| inland fish and game department. The
| office of State Historian may be abolish
| ed, expenses reduced somewhat in the
| office of Secretary of State and also in
the railroad and health department, the
pension department linked with the regu-
| lar duties Of the executive council and
most of the existing State commissions
reduced in membership. 1t is generally
believed that the Enforcement commits
sion will go by the board early in the
session ana the law be repealed that pro-
| vdes for. its existence.
| The incoming administration will be
greatly aided in the matter of curtail-
ment OF expenses III appropriations fol
| State institutions by the splendid shape
in which they have been placed by the
! Republicans. The Legislature of 1906
appropriated $4,000 for the extension
and rcmodeling of the State House Per
haps the incoming administration may
need to appropriate $4,000 for needed fur
| nishing and fixtures for the building, SO
, here will be Il saving of $300,o00
Legislators Will Arrive Monday
The Legisators-elcct will begin to as
semble Monday from all sections of the
| State and by Tuesday noon nearly all of
them will have put in an appearance at
the Capitol. The Democratic State COM
mittee will meet Tuesday afternoon at the
Augusta House and the Republican State
committee will be in session there Tues
day evening at the same place. The an
nual meeting of the Maine Sportsmen $
Fish & Game Association, which also
occurs on Tuesday, will help to swell the
crowd that comes on %4fat day.
| The Senate and House caucuscs will
occur Tuesday night. For the first timc
i'll many years those of the Republicans
| will be mere Formally. while the en-
| tire interest will center around the cau-
! cuseS of the party i'll power, Tho leading
| Democratic candidate for speaker of the
| House is col +. II. Strickland of Bangor
although L. a. Morcy of Lewiston is be-
| lieved to possess considerable strength
| and some votes in the Cumberland coun-
ty delegation may be cast for John Clark
! Scates of Wcstbrook. c. c. Harvey OF
Fort Fairfield is the only candidate men.
toned for clerk Of the House and but
little has been said yet in regard to tho
candidates for minor House offices. The
| Republican House caucus will probably
name as its candidate for speaker of the
House Hon. Howard Davies of Var
mouth, who will by virtue of this non.i-
nation be his party leader on the floor OF
the House.
President Of the Senate
The nomination in he Democrat eau
Gus for president of the Senate will &C
without opposition to Hon. Nathan Cliff
ord of Cape Elizabeth, the self-efface-
| ment of Hon. Lindley NJ. Staples OF
| Washington al the recent senatorial run
| together of his party held in this city
having satisfactorily settled that matter
and incidentally assigned to the old wal
horse from Knox the two hard working
| positions of floor leader and chairman OF
the Judiciary committee. The Republi-
can caucus will probably name for presi-
| dent of the Senate either Hon. Carl L
| Niliken of Island Falls or Hon. Benja-
min +. Hamilton of Dayton. Three can
didates Will seek the Democratic nomi.
| nation for secretary of the Senate, Rug
giles S. Higgins of Sanford. Kingsbury l.
Piper of Waterville and William c. Han
son of Machiasport, while the Republican
Senate caucus will undoubtedly re-nomi-
| nate the efficient secretary of the 100.
Senate Frank G. harrington of Augusta
Wednesday at 10 A. NJ. will occur the
| organization of the Senate and House oil
, Representatives., the oath of office being
administered to the representatives and
senators by. the retiring Governor
Hon. Bert NJ. Fernala of Poland. The