The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-03-22
.ssMoRE, Publisher.
s''sssssloNAL FUNERALS.

c0NGRESo
vi -. when . Member Dies
Mt rst''p r . session. ~.
lam u Of interrupting public
The cp nuo, the death OF senator OF q.
pdpsss upO y congress If peculiar IN
member o. In the parliaments OF
~ cO n..;n and the European con-
sst pr Dr,' dscesse Of a very prominent
hsns tne !. a' .ometimes referred to In
,'as ,.rms By the leader OF the ., g .ns
Fnns st but then the business q '
es' ii, country congress I mour nrsr it's
I, Y ,Ilustrious dead,ana a,a o,, ts Of
l.u, who are unknown OUTSIDE %
snOei. distriots--in a much more
ss,ourh way, but we should h0' ven
a' \. i ssy more sincerely.
rrs v ~ that not many OF our
W 's spre ever followed the details
s'ael ,.o mort funeral. We VIII
...,oye describe what takes pace
hsrelo.' senator or member OF the
Eisn s.aresentatives dies in Wash
S.s"u during a session. The custom
ps0u .r,. Tor the statesman OF twenty
- = nnblic life and for the obscure
40 ..bsr who has been in congress Dut
few weeks. ,.,,ha- has
We w." o.tnrdov after the adjourn
..ss 4 Although the fact Of his death
" been telegraphed all over the coun.
Z and Is known by every member OF
|, I house. one Of the dead members
.,,s.aues rises Immediately after the
s,Spa Of the journal, on Monday and
snounces his decease. A committee
aDpOinted to take charge OF the fu-
.-sl and then the house Immediately
iiourns, no matter how pressing the
brblic business may be.
later in the session-sometimes 1t is
Il months later-a day is set for the
,slivery Of eulogies upon the deceased
msmber. Many speeches are prepared
M delivered, some full OF feeling,
,thsrs lsbored but empty. They are
N fullv reported in the Congressional
Reeord When the last word has been
Enokep, resolutions OF culogy are
douted, and the house adjourns again.
/ Finally handsomely-printed book.
koutaining a fnely-engraved portrait
\ the member and all the eulogies de-
Iyered in his honor, is prepared and
bublished at the public expense. OF
the ten thousand copies OF the
memorial, fifty are bound in morocco
y be given to the dead members fam
IN, and the others are divided among
he senator's and members for distribu-
lion.
The news is sent to the senate, and
That body also adjourns, out Of re-
bpect to the memory Of the deceased
On the next or the second day fu-
neral service is held in the early after
noon in the hall Of the house, to which
The senate, the president and the cab
met are invited, and at the close OF
The ceremony both houses adjourn
lgain.
A large committee Of both houses
accompanies the remains to the dis
Iant home of the member, and all the
expenses Of the trip, including some
times very Objectionable expenditures
|or refreshments, are paid out Of the
'ontingeut fund Of the house.
With the issue of this volume the
,ublic mourning comes to an end. 1t
las consumed the greater part of three
egislative days, and large amount of
'ublic money.
Certainly men who die in the public
ervice are worthy of honor. Certain
y, too, in this country we are too
much inclined to criticise and belittle
ur public men, and too niggardly of
onor to them while they are still liv-
ng. But it may be dou bted II the
ayment of indiscriminate honors to
be cold remains Of the veteran states
IAN and to those of the novice in pub
: life is the right way to teach young
ltlzens that public service is honora-
L.
Is not the prompt resumption Of pub.
business, and the more faithful dis
narge OF it, the true way to pay honor,
ven to one who has worn himself out
faithful service to his country
outh's Companion.