Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-05-07
SENATOR MORRILL,.
in voting against it. -
Concluded from LIST page.]

Stevens and Mr.. Morrill, were the closest
of friends and sat side by side. Mr.. Ste
vens was very fond of the little chap, and
often held HIM on his lap, calling him by
the pet name of Little Ways and
Means" When vote came he would
hold "Jimmie's" hand up to be counted
for the vote of the great Thad Stevens.
Mr.. Morrill, fingers lovingly on these
memories, as they form part of most
delightful though the busiest part of his
public career. He went on to say that
the work that was done in the sixties
while he was in the House was very hard
indeed, AMI his sister-in-law reinforced
this statement by saying that often the
Senator has worked all day and all night
at the Capitol and at home on tariff bills.
THE MORRILL, TARIFF BILL.
MIR. Morrill, says that his early exper-
fence in the country store, and finally IN
his own establishment gave him knowl-
edge of commercial matter that was in
valuable to him in the preparation of the
bill that has long been known as the
"Morrill tariff, name which he mod
estly says was given to it by the Demo-
Gratis to give it bad odOr." The great
task attempted and accomplished in this
measure was the change of almost the
entire system of revenue from taxation
on an ad VOlOrem to a specific basis. That
is, his effort vas to prevent frauds by
differentiation. This system has now
become part of the great revenue
scheme of the government.
I'm 1866 Senator Collamer died." re-
sumed Mr.. Morrill,, "and the Governor
of the State wished to appoint me in his
stead. | declined, however, and prefer
red to stand for election in the regular
way. Judge Luke p. Poland of the State
Supreme bench was appointed, and there
was little Skirmish between us the
next year for the election. He retired,
however, before the baloting and l was
given the seat. | have never had serious
opposition from that day. 1t is very graf
flying, very pleasing, to look back and
feel that have never asked my State for
a collection. When the time has come
for the remaining of Representative or
a Senator | have left the people free tO
choose, and it is the fact that never have
l written a line to ask voter or legis-
latOr for his suffrage. 1t is fact also
that | have never spent money to bring
about my election. can say that with
exact truth"
i'lA<N I LIZ LAW W
He was later made chairman of the
committee on public buildings and
grounds, and it was in this committee
that he did his favorite work, namely,
that of identifying Washington with
handsome public buildings. That has
been his main hobby, if he may be said
to have a hobby, for the past 20 years.
1t was largely through his efforts that
the liberal appropriations were made for
the State, War and Navy buildings. Some
people believe that this enterprise did
much to finally discourage the promot,
ers of the scheme that was then being
strongly pressed for the removal of the
National Capital to Missouri.
Fully two decades ago Mr.. Morrill,
went to work to secure a new home for
the Congressional Library, and bent his
energies at once to the purchase of the
land on the east of the present Capitol
grounds, where the handsome library
building nearly completed now stands.
There was a counter proposition to locate
the library in Judiciary Square, on the
site now occupied by the pension office,
and this was fath9red by some of the
most influential men of the time. But so
vigorously did Mr.. Morrill, antagonize
the project that when the project was
brought to vote it received but six
votes in support.
Mr.. Morrill, tried to have the entire
stretch of land on the east front pur-
chased, on both sides of East Capitol
street, the northern half to be used for
a Supreme Court building, but this part
of the project was defeated, though the
land could then have been bought for
much less than it can be secured for to-
day. Mr.. Morrill,, however, is yet hope
full that the block will be bought, and
says that he will not rest satisfied until
he sees a handsome home for the SUI
preme Court standing on the grounds OPP
posite the library. That will then be a
splendid monument to the untiring en-
ergy, the zeal and the tactful skill of this
great worker, who, in his seth year OF
his life, and 4lst year of official service. is
planning project that would discourage
many younger legislator.
Senator Morrill, has not occupied such
prominent place in the political struC-
ture of the country for so many years
without having been offered other and
higher positions, which, however, he has
steadfastly refused to accept On one oc-
casion he was offered the post of Minis
ter to Greece, but preferred his seat in
the Senate. President Hayes urged him
to accept a seat in his cabinet, and offer
him any cabinet seat but two which had
been promised. 1t is presumed that
these were the State and Treasury port
folios, which had been given to Senators
Blaine and Sherman.
There is no gift, no Office to which l
could be appointed, that | would accept
in preference to seat in the United
States Senate. l consider that the high
est honor that could be bestowed upon
me, and the highest function that could
perform"
BY the time that all these mattersI had
been told, the clocks in the house were
tinkling the hour of 0, and the Senator
brought his more than interesting nara
tive to close.
1--WE have bored you enough for one
sitting, young man." he said kindly, as
the reporter arose to go. "Do not tlatter
me in what you write. We have given
you, unconsciously a good deal of gossip,
and the less you use the more you will
please me. "-Washington Star.
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