The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-04
SENATOR BECK A CORPSE.
he DROPS DEAD IN A RAILROAD
STATION AT WASHINGTON.

Paralysis of the Heart the Immediate
Cause of His Demise, Though He
Had Been III for a Year-The Ken
lucky Delegation to Decide on the
Funeral Arrangements.
| WASHINGTON, May 3.-Senator James B
Beck of Kentucky died in the Baltimore
and Potomac railroad station at AIS o'clock
this afternoon. He had just arrived on
train, and dropped as he was passing
through the main waiting room. He was
carried into the station masters Office.
and was dead when physician
reached his side few minutes later.
An examination by physicians demonstrated
| that death was caused by paralysis of the
heart and Immediately followed the attack.
The body was removed from the station
to the house of Represe ltative Breckin-
ridge of Kentucky, and later in the evening
was embalmed,
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL.
No arrangements .have as yet been made
for the funeral. Major and Mrs. Goodloe,
the son-in law and daughter of Mr.. Beck,
have expressed willingness to leave all the
| arrangements for the funeral Ia the hands
of the Kentucky delegation in congress- and
they will hold a meeting tomorrow
for the purpose of making these arrange
| u0utes w uGbeV6F arrangements may De
| made as to the time of the funeral, the
body will be removed to Lexington, KY,
Mr.. Beck's home, and will be inferred
there, where his wife and oCe daughter lie
buried.
OUT OF HIS SEAT.
Mr.. Beck had not been regular in his
attendance upon the sessions of the Senate
for two years, and was in his seat but few
times during this congress. The last
| eli M INN rtar,e
with which he was connected
was the ''undervaluations bill" which
passed the Senate in March, 1888. He
worked on that measure with constant de-
votion, says Senator Allison, who was asso-
ciated with him, until it was disposed of.
One morning shortly atterward ne came
into the room of the appropriations COM
mittee saying he had been sick
the night before and was not
then feeling well. That was the
first time he had ever been known to have
been sick and from that time forward he
was never well again.
AWAY DURING THE TARIFF DEBATE.
During the debate that occurred on the
tariff bill that was reported to the Senate
as substitute for the Mills bill he was not
, able to take part, and his absence was a
great loss to the Democratic ranks. He
was not able to be present at the
opening of the Senate in March,
!. 1889, and was sworn in by
1 President pro tenn ingalls, some days after
l ward. Hehad visited the capitol OCCASION
ally since the opening of the Fif-first con-
9 gress, but took no part, except to vote. in
{ the proceedings His last appearance in the
Q Senate chamber was when n the case of the
S new Montana Ssnators-Messrs. Sanders
s and Powers-was settled. Senator Beck was
Q greatly beloved by the employees Of the
@ Senate for his uniform courtesy and his
e..&, - Akcs.. -
d this were recalled to-day. One of them
> was the case of John Dudley, q
/ colored man. an old soldier, and a member
o of the g. A. R., who had been discharged
T from his place. He went to Senator Beck
n and presented his case. On the floor of the
Y Senate the warm-hearted Kentuckian made
a plea for the colored man, with whom he
had not, it is said. previously been ac-
quainted, so effectively that Dudley is still
upon the rolls Of the capitol force. An old
n employe at the capitol recalled the fact that
9 the death of Senator Beck removed, within
Il few weeks of each other, the three work
s ing members of the Forty third congress, as
L they were known-Representat Kelley
D and Randall and Mr.. Beck.
I A GREAT SHOCK.
: The death OF Senator Beck was a great
+ shock in Washington. For more than q
4 year past he has been a sick man, and since
the death of his wife three years ago he has
p been ailing. A month ago a rumor was in
! circulation to the effect that he contem-
plated resigning, as his doctors had warned
him that any continued mental application
would have fatal results. This rumor was
. denied by his friends, but his death proved
, , only too well that the prognostics of the
. physicians were verified. The death of few
o senators would be more seriously regretted
than that of Mr.. Beck.
a UNIVERSALLY LIKED.
o He was universally liked, and even mer
It whom he differed with most respected hi:
: sturdy independence, his rugged honesty
d and his tenacitv of purpose; his bluntnes.
Il and even brusqueuess of speech aud manner
at times only yelled but did not conceal hi
great heart and tender sympathies. The
leaders on the republican side, such men az
senators Sherman, Morrill,, Edmunds anc
n Ingalls,, had the greatest affection for him
and when President Harrison was in th,
p Senate Senator Beck was one of the verN
few men he really liked. Mr.. Beck was
typical specimen of spokesman both il
!, language and appearance. and he ha(
q in a marked degree the traits of the stu rdy
| race which has done SO much toward tn,
q development OF the country. While it ii
too early to talk about his successor it ii
; generally thought that Mr.. Carlisle will bt
y sent to the Senate, although both Repre-
sentative Breckinridge and Ex-Governol
McCreary have many friends who woulC
like to see them receive the honor.
a James Burnie Beck was born in Dunn
o friesshire, Scotland, Feb. 13. 1922. He re
q ceived an academic education in his native
= country, and, C ming to the United State
S with his parents, settled in Lexington, KY.
q and was graduated at the law school o
9 Transylvania university in that place il
9 1916. He then practiced law in Lexington
and in 1866 was elected TO congress, serving
| e - al
In May, 1876, he was appointed a member
J. of the commission 10 define the Virginia enc
o Maryland boundary, and in the same yea
was elected to the United States Senate. H
took his seat Marcl 4, 1877, and was re
elected in 1882 for the term that expired il
March, 1889. During his congressional
n career Mr.. Beck served on important com
mittees, and was often prominent In i'm
= portaaI debates. He was specially inter
y ested ip questions relating to the tariff an
:, the currency.
I1TTpDTrA AMn TN