Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04
|CAUCUSES TUESDAY
|AT STATE CAPITOL
Both Maryland Parties to
Meet for Legislative
Organization.
ny GEORGE PORTER,
stan Corraspondent of The star.


ANNAPOLIS, Md, January 3.-With
the opening session of the 1881 General
Assembly only three days distant,
Senator Walter J. Mitchell and Francis
A. Michel continued to be regarded in
political circles as the most probable
choices for the President of the Senate
and Speaker of the House, respectively.
The matter will be settled at Demo-
cratic caucus in the State House Tues
day night, when the presiding and
minor officers of the Senate and House
win be chosen.
Meet in State House.
In the minority party, Senator L.
Creston Beauchamp and Delegate-elect
Oliver Metzerott are considered the
most likely G. o. P. floor leaders in
the Upper and Lower Houses Of the
Assembly. Although Official word 81
the Republican cauS~: had not been
received by Mr.. MetzeroSL yesterday, it
is expected to he ileld simultaneously
with that of the Democrats, two ONCE
rooms in the State House being used
for the purpose.
j.. Enos Ray, chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee, will
call the Democratic caucus to order
and preside until a chairman Is chosen
In the race for the presidency OF
the State Senate, Mr.. MitchellS senior
ity and strength in Republican county
are expected to prove big factors, even
though his seat is being contested by
his Republican opponent in the last
election, Thomas B. r. Mudd, immigra-
ton commissioner for Baltimore.
MitcheITs Fifth Term.
Mr.. Mitchell will commence his NTH
consecutive term as Senator from
Charles County this week. He was floor
leader of the Senate at the last session
In the offcial count of the last cleo
ton he received a 34-vote majority
over Mr. Mudd.
Others who have been repeatedly
mentioned whenever the presidency Of
the Senate is discussed include State
Senator Lansdale @. Sasscer of Prince
Georges County, Senator David G
Mcintosh, jr., of Baltimore County
present head of the Senate; Senator
elect Emory L. Coblentz Of Frederick
County, Senator Dudley @. Roe Of
Queen Anne County, Senator s. Scott
Beck Of Kent County and Senator
elect Ridgely P. Melvin Of Anne Arundel
County.
Senator Sasscer's seniority is exceeded
only by that of Senators Mitchell and
Mcintosh. In 1929 he was chairman OF
the important Judiciary Committee.
Speakership to Baltimore.
It is reported that political leaders
Of the State and Baltimore City have
reached an agreement that the Speaker
Of the House should be elected from
the city delegation. Delegate Michel's
seniority is believed to make him a
logical candidate for the post. Maj
E. Brooke Lee of Montgomery County
Speaker at the last session, was not q
candidate for reelection.
The Republican caucus will be called
to order by Galen L. TAFT, State Cen
trail Committee chairman. Mr.. Met
zerott, q member of the Prince Georges
County delegation and q former State
Senator from that county, is reported
as being willing to accept the House
floor leadership for the G. o. p. Hav-
ing formerly served in that capacity
he Is a logical candidate for the Office
although movement is understood te
be underway in Western Maryland tC
urge the selection Of newly elected
Delegate as leader.
Leaders of the various county HouSe
delegations are in most cases yet to be
selected. The chairman of Monc-
gomery County's delegation probably
Will be Or. George L. Edmonds, who
headed the delegation at the last
session.
Increased by One Member.
The increase in the population OF
Prince Georges and Montgomery Coun-
ties has resulted in there being total
of 119 members Of the House, one more
than in 1929.
Prince Georges delegation was in
creased from five to six members and
Montgomery's from four to five. Caro-
line County's population decreased
however, its representation dropping
from three to two members, so that the
total membership Of the House is only
one more than two years ago.
OF the 119 Delegates, only % are
Republican, giving the Democrats a
majority of SO. OF the 90 State Sen
ators, are Republican, the Democratic
majority in the Upper House being IT.
On joint votes the Democrats have q
majority of 80.