The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-01-27
THE PERSONNEL OF CONGRESS.


1t is the lawyers, after all, who rule this
glorious country of ours. The Senate of the
United, States consists of 76 members and of
this number 80 are practicing lawyers. OF
the 293 member of the House of Represen.
tatives 219 are lawyers. The President and
Vice-President of the United States are law
yers and nearly all the government depart
ments are headed and directed by the same
profession. In the Senate, especially among
the Senators themselves, each members abil-
ity is guaged by his rank as a lawyer. When
the status of all incoming Senator is under
discussion the remark is very frequently
made: "He is a fine lawyer aud will make
a good Senator" Because the man is a good
lawyer the supposition with Senators is that
he must therefore be a tirst-class statesman.
Why the people of the United States give
such preference to the profession of the law
in selecting their legislators and rulers is a
problem that cannot be answered. In the
Senate there is only l physician, and in the
House there are but q. There are among the
Senators s business men or merchants. l doc
tor, l editor. ? planters. = farmers. l banker. 1
mine owner and operator and l of nc profess
sion or business.
Senator Hamlin is the oldest member of
that body in years, and the oldest in point of
service, counting from the time of his first
election. Senator Anthony has been longer
IN continuous service than any other Senator.
He first took his seat in 1850, and has been
regularly reelected at the expiration of each
term ever since. MI. Hamlin, who is now
over seventy years Of age, first took his seat
III 1913, but he subsequently resigned when
elected Governor of Maine. He was. however,
reelected to the Senate immediately after
being lnaugurated as Governor, and after
wards again resigned to become Nicr-PreS;-
dent OF the United States. Mi. Bruce. of
MISSISSIPPI, IS the Youngest Senator. not being
yet 30 years Of age. senator Edmunds. Of
Vermont, is by many supposed to be the
oldest Senate: because OF his appearance. but
IN fact there are but Jew who are younger
than he. lie Is not yet 81 years of ace, but
his hair and beard and gray, are Il STOPPING
posture that he assumes makes him appear
much older than lie really is. Senators Ed
lnundS anu Thurman are generally ranked as
the best lawyers in that body, and in their
political parties respectively they are usually
accepted us authority upon questions Of NAH
agement OF policy,
In past times member Of Congress who
distinguished themselves by Il careful watch
ing of appropriations have been designated as
"watchdogs OF he Treasury" Senator Ed
munds might very appropriately he called the
guardian OF legislation generally. As soon as
d bill or resolution that has been introduced
IN either House is printed, Mr.. Edmunds
produces a copy and acquaints himself with
Its provisions. He keeps track Of every
measure, II" matter how uuimportant, and if
there is a defect in i or room for all objection
he will present it when the matter gets before
the Senate. lie is an interchangeable worker
and student in The line OF his legislative
duties, and has, 10y his vigilance in this way,
been OF incalcllable service to the country.
Mr.. Thurman. too, is a hard worker. He is
now chairman OF the committee Judiciary
10 which is referred a very large proportion
Of the Legislative measures, and especially all
those which involve intricate questions of
law.
Besides the 2l0 lawyers in the House there
are - merchants. ) bankers, I capitalists. .
inventors, > manufacturers, , teachers, II
farmers, u physicians, i architect and builder,
t editors, : ministers, | stone cutter. | iusur-
ance agent, > millerS and , owners and opera
Tors Of transportation lines. The oldest
member Of the House is Mr.. Wait. of Con-
necticut, who IS 50 years Of acc, and the
youngest member is Mr. Frost. Of ST. Louis.
who is - wears OF age. F'INando wood has
been longer Il member OF the House than any
If his associates, and next in point Of long
service is Judge Kelley, of PENNSYLVANIA.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, is generally spoken
OF as being older than any other member Of
the present House, but Nh. Wait has about
one year the advantage Of him in that respect.