The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-03-13
THE PERSONNEL OF CONGRESS-.
Who the Men are Who Make the Laws
for These United States.

The Washington Star says II 10 the lawyers,
after ALL who rule this glorious country Of ours
The Senate Of the United States consists Of ~
members, and of this number 50 are practicing
lawyers. Of the a93 members of the House of Rep.
rcscn,Aiives 2I9 are lawyers. The President and
Vice President of the United States are lawyers,
and nearly all the Government departments are
headed and directed by the same profession. In
the Senate, especially among the Senators them
selves, each members ability is gagged by his
rank n n lawyer. When the status Of incoming
Senator IL under discussion the remark 10 very
frequently made: "lIe il fine lawyer and will
make a good Senator" because tho man is n good
lawyer the supposiiipn with Senators is that he
must therefore bo frst.class statesman. Why
the people of tho United States give such prefer
20 the profession of the law in selecting their
legislators and rulers is problem that cannot be
answered. In the senate there is only physician,
and in the House there are but &. There are
among the Senators business men or merchant
doctor. editor, . planters. . farmers, banker.
mine owner and operator and Of no profession
or business.
Senator Hamlin 10 the oldest member Of that
body in years and the eldest in point of service.
counting from the time of hi. first election. sen
stor Anthony has been longer in continuous ser
vice than any other Senator. lie first took his
seat in lS5g. and has been regularly reelected at
tho expiration Of each term ever since. Mr.. Ham
lin, who j. now over seventy years Of age. first
ell when elected Governor of Maine. lie was
however, re elected 10 the Senate Immediately
after being inaugurated as Governor, and after
wards again resigned 20 become Vice President Of
the United States. Mr. Bruce. of Mississippi, 10
the youngcst Senator, not being 80 years Of age.
Senator Edmunds. Of Vermont. is by many sup
posed 90 be tho oldest Senator because Of his ap-
pcarancc. but in fac, there are bu, few who are
younger than he. lie is yet but fifty two years Of
age but his head and beard are gray. and n stoop-
ing posture that he assumes makes him appear
much older than he really is. Senator Edmunds
and Thurman are generally ranked as the bes,
lawyers in that body. and in their political parties
respectively they are usually accepted as authori-
ty upon questions Of nagsment or policy.
In past times members Of Congress who distin-
guished themselves by . careful watching Of ap-
preparations have been designated as "watchdogs
Of the Treasury" Senator Edmunds might very
appropriately be called the guardian of legislation
generally. As soon as bill or resolution that has
introduced in either House is printed. Mr.. Ed.
mund. proeurc. n copy and aequAin,s himself with
it, provisions. lie keeps track Of every measure.
no matter how unimpoTtant. and IL there is de-
feet in il room for an objection he will present
il when the matter gets before the Senate. lie 10
an indefaiigablC worker and student in the line
Of his legislative duties and has by his vigilance
TO this way been OF incalculablc service to the
country.
Besides the 81? lawyers in the House there are
?5 merchants. ) bankers. , capitalists. 9 invon-
tors, manufacturers. . teachers, IL farmers. 8
ply sicians. architect and builder. { editors. 2
ministers. stonc.cuttsr. insurance agent, mill
ers and . owners and operators Of transportation
lines. The oldest member % the House is Mr..
Wait. of Connecticut, who Is sixty nine years Of
age. and the youngc., member is Mr.. Frost. Of 81.
Louis who is twenty eight years Of age. Fernando
Wood has been longer u member Of the House than
any Of his associates.