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Show SPEAKERSHIP UNDER C0BEII1 SY IEM0CITS SALT LAKE, Dec. -1 With tho meeting meet-ing of the state legislature drawing near, Democrats are beginning to take note of organization possibilities and of those items of legislative enactment which may or may not be brought forward for-ward at the session which opens on January 13 next, A letter signed by three of tho coming com-ing legislators was mailed to representatives-elect of tho majority party. The signers of this letter wore, in the order named, C. C. Richards, John Hansen, Han-sen, Jr., and Arthur Welling. They called a meeting for November 25, it became known only yesterday, as the letter put it, to "determino who tho presiding officer is to bo, and -with him agree upon tho appointments for tho most Important committees." It is said by those who attended the meeting, and who are declared to have had a quantity of proxies from nonat-tending nonat-tending members, that Mr. Richards was mentioned both for tho speakership speaker-ship and for the chairmanship of tho committee on committees. "But because of influenza," said one member last night, "no vote was taken and the proxies were not used." It was decided, however, that the topic was a liva subject and so the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Richards, named a special committee, which, between be-tween now and some time before the legislature is to meet, is to carry out the purposes of the original letter, so that to again quote an attending niem "everything will be harmonious when the legislature meets." Mr. Richards, ns chairman, named as the special committee members the following: C. C. Richards, chairman; John Hansen, Jr.. and Arthur Welling of Salt Lake county; Alma Greenwood of Utah county, D. D. McKay of Wo-ber Wo-ber county, Lewis W. Curry of Vernal, H. R. Thomas of Sanpete county, and L. C. Doty of Juab county. This special spe-cial committee has not yet had its special meeting. Confidential Letter. Tho tfTt nf tlin lullor cnnl (r. rnn. rescntatives-elect is as follows: "The legislative representatives elect from Salt Lake county held an Informal conference for the purpose of considering what, if any, preparation should be made by Individual members mem-bers for the service expected of them in the coming session of the state legislature, leg-islature, and the undersigned were appointed ap-pointed to sign and send this letter to each Democrat elected to the house. "A free expression of opinion was given and it was the unanimous conclusion con-clusion that if a mutual and entirely satisfactory understanding could be reached, by which each member could know what committees he or she is to serve upon, that each mombr could then proceed to investigate and prepare pre-pare whatever data and bills might be deemed advisable upon the subjects needing attention and coming within the purview of tlie committees upon which re or she is to be assigned. That, of course, would not preclude any member from preparing upon any other oth-er topic ho or she might desire. Seek Presiding Officer. "How this could be determined in a manner that would be entirely satisfactory satis-factory to each member was the next point considered, and it was thought that it might be accomplished in this way: To hold a meeting of all Democrats Demo-crats elected to the house who can possibly attend, at an eariy date, say, on Monday morning, November 25, in this city, and there determine who the presiding officer is to be, and with him agree upon tlie appointments for the most important committees those for which the greatest preparation will be required. Then the persons so designated des-ignated for committees can agree upon j a division of the work among themselves them-selves and proceed. As to any member who cannot arrange to attend the meeting, let him indicate in writing to us the person he desires for speak-icr speak-icr and we will present his preference as a vote for such person. Also, let him name the committees he prefers to be appointed to and we will see that his request in that respect is given most careful consideration. "For your information we inclose a list of all members elected and of the standing committees of the last house. The latter, however, are only suggestive, sugges-tive, as the members may make any i changes by substitution or consolidation consolida-tion of committees that may be deemed advisable. "Permit us to suggest that we think this whole matter should be treated in tho strictest confidence between the majority members of the house, and should not be given to anyone else at the present time." |