Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-03
OUR LAWYER RULERS.
The 27S at the Capitol.

1t is the lawyers after all who rule this
glorious country of ours. The Senate Of the
United States consists Of seventy-six men,
bers, and of this number 50 are practieing law
yerS. OF the 1913 members OF the House of Rep
resentatives PIG 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 as lawyer: When the status of an in
coming Senator Is under discussion the remark
is very frequently made:-"He is a fine
lawyer and will make, good. Senator" !"
Because the man is good lawyer the supposi-
tion with Senators is that he must therefore be
a f1rst-class statesman. Why the people Of
the United States give such preference to
legislators and rulers is a problem that cannot
be answered. In the Senate there is only one
physician, and in the House there are but G.
merchants, doctor, editor, planters, farm
ers banker. mine owner and operator, and
OF no profession or business.
THE OLDEST INHABITANTS.
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
Senathor Anthony has been longer in continu-
Gus service than any other Senator. He first
took his seat in 1885, and has been regularly re-
elected at the expiration of each term ever
since. Mr.. Hamlin. who is now over 20 years Of
age, first took his seat in 1s4S, but he subse-
1uently resigned, when elected governor of
Maine. He was, however, reelected to the Senate
Immediately after being inaugurated as COVER
Vice President of the United States. MI. Bruce,
OF Mississippi, is the youngest Senator, not
6elng yet 80 years OF age. Senator Edmunds, Of
Vermont, is, by many supposed to be the Oldest
Senator because Of his appearance, but in fact
there are but few who are younger than he. He
is not yet 81 years of age, but his hair and beard
are gray, M an and "a STOPPING posture that he as
really is Senators EdmundS and Thurman are
generally ranked as the best lawyers in that
body, and in their political parties, respectively
they are usually accepted as authority upon
questions of management or policy.
ON THE WATCH
In past times members Of Congress- who dis
tinguished themselves by a careful watching
of appropriations, have been designated as
watch dogs of the Treasury" Senator Ed :
guardian OF legislation generally. AS soon as a
bill or resolution that has been introduced In
either House is printed, Mr.. Edmunds procures
a copy and acquaints himself with its provi-
slons He keeps track of every measure, no
matter how unimportant, and if there is de-
feet in 1t or room for an objection, he will pre-
sent it when the matter gets before the Senate.
He Is an indefatigable worker and student in
the line of his legislative duties, and has, by his
vigilance in this way, been OF tncalculable SER
vice to the country. Mr.. Thurman, too is a
Aoiu NOi hCi. I1c 10 uOW CIdlEuldL VI GUS cOUl-
mittee Judiciary to which is referred very
large proportion of the legislative measures and,
especially, all those which involve intricate
questions of law.
BESIDES THE 219 LAWYERS.
in the House there are 25 merchants S banker S
capitalists, 2 inventors, manufacturers, 2
teachers, IL farmers, physicians, 1 architect
and builder, editors, minister's stone-cut-
ter, insurance agent. millers and owners
and operators of transportatl on lines. The
Oldest member Of the House is Mr.. Wait, of
Connecticut, who is SO years of age, and the
youngest member is Mr.. Frost, of st. Louis who
is 2s years Of age. Fernando Wood has been
longer member OF the House than any Of his
Judge Kelley, OF Pennsylvania. Mr.. Stephens
Of Georgia, is generally spoken OF as being older
but Mr.. Wait has about one year the advantage
of him in that respect.