Evening journal., 1917-01-01
CAUCUS TONIGHT
FOR OFFICERS OF
new LEGISLATURE
lcontinned from Flrst Pasel

CONTINUED from First Pagel
Hoffecker, OF Newark Barnard and
Frazier hold the balance Of power in
the Senate.
Kent county also wants the speaker
ship, as both Representatives Hervey
Hall, OF Smyrna, and Edward l..
Jones, of Dover, both Democrats, are
candidates. Il Is possible that there
may be a lineup OF the vets and
"drys" on the Democratic side In the
House fight for speaker. Representa-
tive william b. Connolly. OF Whining
ton, and Representative William II.
Welch, OF Sussex county, are spoken
Of as possible compromise candidates
for speaker.
Several hundred politicians are ex-
pected in Dover tonight. There will
he a large contingent of Republicans
and Democrats to go to the State
Capitol on the late afternoon trains
from Wilmington and an equally
large number will be on hand from
tho lower counties While there have
been candidates mentioned so far Tor
the various offices within the gift of
the two houses owing 10 the uncerta n
conditions which surround the or
ganization OF the two houses there
will be plenty Of candidates on the
ground tonight as usual.
The indications are that this will
he a busy session. as much proposed
progressive legislation is being talked
| Of. Many bills will be sent TO the
General Assembly for considerat on
from Wilmington. These will include
numerous amendments to the city
charter prepared by a Joint committee
OF the Chamber OF Commerce and
/ Wilmington Civic Associat on; a bill
providing for a paid fire department
and one providing for changes in the
Wilmington Board OF Education.
The Consumers League viii send a
bill to Dover providing for better
sanitary conditions for women en-
ployees.
bill that will probably be intro
duced is one to compel public util-
ity corporations to pay city and State
taxes in advance. This bill will be
based on a recent opinion Of the city
solicitor that the Diamond State Tele-
phone Company had legal right to
compel subscribers to pay their bills
in advance.
The State Board OF Education will
probably offer numerous bills look
ing to the betterment OF the public
schools Of the State Other State de.
partments will also have some sug.
gestions for new legislation which
will include an adjustment OF the
laws governing automobile traffic
One proposed bill that thousands
OF persons will be interested in will
propose the State taking over all tn,
important roads in all three counties
and increasing the automobile Ii
cense for the upkeep Of highways.
The indications are that there will
be a number of wet" and dry
measures offered as usual, and thes
, will likely include a Statewide prOhi
. bition bill. 1t is also possible that tn
"drys" will try to get license resub
mission IN Wilmington and rural Ne'
Castle county, and I'm this event
Statewide resubmissiOn bill may b
urged.
, The usual appropriation bills 70
, State institutions will be introduced
and an effort will also be made 70 &c
p an appropriation for the establishment
= Of the State.
Some other bills that are talked {
I will be introduced are a workmen
. compensation act and a mothers per
4 sion bill.
e The Central Labor Union OF WI
T mington will sponsor a bill to make
illegal for brewery or a wholesal
: liquor merchant or anyone financial
O interested in a brewery or a whole
s sale liquor bsuiness to have any tinaI
e cial interest whatever in a saloon.
Representative Connolly, Of Wi
i mington. has In mind several bill
- that he proposes 20 offer. One {
h these would authorize the city {
d Wilmington to build undergroun
garages for the parking Of automC
: biles.
u Mr.. Connolly also proposes TO II
troduce a bill authorizing the Stat
to build a bridge across the DelawaI
River to Pennsgrove. In his opinio
such a bill would open up a lare
territory TO Wilmington. 1t Is VI
likely, however, that such a bi
? would have much chance of passae
because OF the fact that 1t would II
Quire such a large outlay of none
,s Some Wilmington Democratic men
r hers OF the House will make a figl
nj for the naming Of Howson r. Lama
IA Jr.. president of the Tenth Wal
a. Democratic Club, as clerk OF II
he House at the caucus tonight.
az T. Roseby McMullin, OF Pencad'
p. hundred. is candidate for sergean
"a alarms OF the House. and Jot
u. Walls, OF Wilmington, Is q candida
for the same position. AS the Dem
~ Gratis OF rural New Castle coun
~ have five members in the House ar
Wilmington but two Democratic men
bers, those from the rural hundre,
will insist on getting at least one
the House Offices.
J. Pearce Cam. of Newark. HI
been mentioned for attorney Of q