Bisbee Daily Review

LEGISLATIVE
WATERS
MUDDLED
WITH
HOUR OF
MEETING
ALMOST HERE

(Review Phoenix Bureau)
PHOENIX, Ariz., Jan. 11.-With the
hour for the caucus at hand, the situa-
tion with reference to the organiza-
tion of the two branches of the state
legislature remains muddled. The fail-
ure of the legislators to determine
their presiding officers before this is
due largely to the influenza epidemic
which kept the majority of them away
from Phoenix until the last moment.
At present it appears probable that
the caucus will not take place until
Monday morning. Quite a number of
the controlling spirits of each of the
factions have expressed a desire to
have the meeting postponed in order
that all of the majority members may
have a voice in the proceedings. This
procedure was followed two years ago.
May Adjourn Session
An interesting development that has
just come to light is the attempt which
is being made by a few of the solons
to have the legislature meet as pre-
scribed, and then recess until such
time as local health conditions im-
prove. They would make up the loss
of time attendant upon this departure
by selecting the various committees,
allotting to each its portion of the
program and make it mandatory that
all proposed legislation be in present-
able shape when the public sessions
were resumed.
The
suggestion
is
meeting
with
scant favor, a number of objections
being advanced by the opponents of
the proposal. The latter contend that
the committee arrangement is imprac-
ticable and that the end achieved
could be obtained by limiting the at-
tendance at the capitol to attaches
and the press. This arrangement is
being tentatively considered. It is also
the opinion of most of the members
that the time at their disposal is all
too short for the mass of re-construction work which
awaits them.
The arrival of the delegations from
the various counties is rapidly clarify-
ing the atmosphere. The selection of
A. A. Johns of Yavapai, as president
of the senate is practically assured.
D. H. Claridge, presiding officer at
the last session of the legislature, is
reported to have withdrawn from his
race in order that he may not handi-
cap his colleagues, J. H. Lines and
A. C. Peterson, who are candidates for
the speakership of the house.
Mulford Winsor is also understood
to have turned a deaf ear to the siren
lure of the presidency. The Yuma man
has refused to make an effort to best
Johns and stated that if he were
chosen the honor would be literally
thrust upon him.
In the lower body the race has nar-
rowed down to Lines, Peterson and
C. T. Francis of Cochise. The three
feminine aspirants,
Mrs.
Pauline
O'Neill of Maricopa, Mrs. Nellie Hey-
ward of Cochise, and Mrs. Rosa Mc-
Kay of Gila, are said to have dropped
out in the final lap. Mrs. McKay, ac-
cording to popular rumor, is arranging
to swing her support to Francis.
The first of the dark horses has
appeared in the person of William A.
Delbridge of Cochise. The announce-
ment of his candidacy has just been
given circulation here and is meeting
with a fair share of approval.
With the elimination of the worst of
the uncertainty, attention is being di-
rected to the possible identity of the
personnel of the minor offices. Pat
Farley of Yavapai, and J. T. Maloney,
formerly secretary of the commission
of state institutions are being men-
tioned for the position of secretary of
the senate. In the house, a three-cor-
nered battle is being waged for the
position of chief clerk by L. F. Sweet-
ing of Greenlee, Miss Norma Webb of
Gila, and Alfred A. Trippell of Tucson.