Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-01-12
The Legislature.

The West Virginia Legislature, or a
part of it, convened yesterday in Charles
ton. The House of Delegates met and
vas organized in accordance with the
programme of the Democratic caucus
Hon. c. Nj. Wetzel. OF Jefferson county,
was elected speaker. He had been nom-
mated in the caucus, receiving AZ votes,
to II for Sep Hall and 2 for Warren Hayes.
M. M. Medley, of Fairmont, was elected
clerk of the house, Ned Wood, OF Par
kersburg, sergeant-at-arms, and J. II.
Lemon, of Releigh county, doorkeeper.
The Republicans refused to participate
in the organization OF the Senate. This
body. il will be remembered, has fifteen
Democrats and fifteen Republican mem
bers. At the appointed time yesterday
the Democrats appeared in the Senate
chamber and the veteran clerk, John /.
Harris, called the Senate to order. The
Republican members locked themselves
in the Governors reception room and
formed an organization of their own.
Stuart F. Reed, the Republican Secretary
of State, refused TO transmit the certifi-
Gates OF election to the Senate, so there is
a comelete deadlock The Republicans
seem determined to prevent organization
of the Senate unless they can dictate the
president.
The Democrats of the House request
ed the Democratic Senators to make
known their legislative programme so
that the two houses might be in accord
on matters of legislation. Former Gov
w. A. MacCorkle acted as spokesman
for the Senators. He said every Demo-
cratic Senator had agreed upon economy
and an economical management OF the
Senate, limiting the number OF attaches
and reducing Legislative expenses to de-
cent proportions. A bill and a resolu-
ton had been prepared by the Senators
and the Senate desired the cooperation
of the House in the adoption of the res
olution and the passage OF the bill. This
bill, which will be introduced in day or
so, limits the number of attaches in the
Senate to y and the House to "a, or a
total of 63, as against l62 during the Ses-
sion of 1909. Senator MacCorkle en-
phasized the fact that remedial legislation
and reduction of the expenses OF gov
ernment would occupy most of the at
tention OF the Legislature.
The Democrats have nominated Robert
F. Kidd, of Gilmer county, for president
of the Senate, while the Republicans have
named Senator England.
The action of the Republicans in pre-
venting the organization OF the Sc nate
will probably delay the election of United
States Senators. None OF the candidates
for the Senate has yet been able to secure
a majority. John T. McGraw and VIM.
E. Chiffon are easily the leaders in the
senatorial race, but as both want the long
term, there has been some difficulty in
forming combination. c. w. Watson
and John H. Holt are actively trying to
corrall votes, but their strength is limited.
John ]. Cornwell is on the ground, though
he is making no active fight he is simply
in receptive mood. The latest news
seems to indicate that McGraw and Chill
ton will eventually try to combine forces
and settle the contest by one taking the
long term and the other the short. 1t is
probable that this would have the approx
al OF a majority OF the members of the
Legislature.