Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-17
The Both Birthday Anniversary
of Senator ]. S. Morrill,
To Be Celebrated, This Week. Has
Served Since March a, 1867.
Senator Sherman Close Second. and Sena.
tor Allison Good Third.

oHt VI lIlt IIitSb tlttItSulDR tNcUIS Oh Tile
week is the celebration Of the eighty sixth
birthday anniversary Of Justin Smith
Morrill,, the 1(estor Of tho United States
senate Mr.. Morrill, and his family some
years ago adopted the very pretty custom
| OF giving an annual birthday party, and
the friends Of the veteran senator arc al
ways glad to assemble In honor of the
passing OF another mile stone in life OF
| great length, honor and usefulness Not
| outstanding his ago Senator Morrill, is
remarkably active. He preserves tho hab.
| its Of lifetime and rises every morning
at 7 o'clock At no breakfasts, and at
$3.50, as regularly as "a clock, no starts for
the capitol in his coupe. At the capitol he
takes part in committee work and partici-
| pates in the debates just as he has done for
80 years. though not speaking as often as
he did in his younger days. There is no
| finer figure in the senate than that of Mr.
| Morrill,, with his tall, slender, erect form,
| his clear cut face, faultless attire and dig
| nficd bearing.
Senator Morrill's Ambition.
Mr. Morrill, has an ambition. 1t Is TO
serve "A longer time continuously in the
| United States senate than any other man
| who has preceded him as member of that
| body The chances are that he will snc-
| coed His health now appears to be quite
| rugged, and ne has only year and four
| months longer to serve before he passes
| the record established nearly half a century
| ago by Thomas II. Benton of Missouri
| Mir. Benton entered the senate Oct, 2,
| 1890, and remained there till March 3,
| 1851, giving him continuous service Of
| so years and 8 months. the longest contin-
uous career in the senate up to this time.
Mr.. Morrill, entered the senate March A.
| 1867, and has been there ever since, for 90
years and more than a month
Remarkable Length of Service.
There is dispute as to whether MIR.
Morrill, or Mr.. Sherman deserves the title
Father Of the Senate" Mr.. Morrill, has
had the longest continuous service but
Mr.. sherman has had longer aggregate
service The Ohio senator served from
March, 1861 to March, 1877, when he re-
signed to become secretary of the treasury,
and he re-entercd the senate in March,
1881, and has been there ever since. This
gives him total Of 81 years up to March
last, or year greater service than Mr..
Morrill,. But under the rule of precedence
which obtains in the house of representa-
tives the longest continuous service ranks
first.
Mr.. Sherman has now beaten all records
in that he has been n longer time mem
Der Of tho senate than any other man that
ever lived.
1t Is interesting to note that Senator
Morrill, has attained his present great
record notwithstanding the fact that he
was 81 years old when he first entered the
senate. He had before that served IL years
in the house Of representatives. 1t certain
ly is remarkable thing that man should
enter public life NJ the age of As, which in
these days is commonly looked upon as the
beginning of the descent to old age, and yet
survive to serve Al years in the national
congress, with IA fair prospect of beating
all records in the upper branch. Mr.. Ben
ton was only IS when he first made his ap-
pearance in the senate, or seven years
younger than Mr.. Morrill, was when he
began his political career as u member Of
the house of representatives.
Famous Statesmen.
Those who like condolences in the ca
reers Of famous men will be interested il,
knowing that Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Ben
ton were ut the same age when they be
came senators: that Mr.. Morrill, and Mr.
Sherman began their public careers Oh the
same day as members of tho house, anG
that the veteran Morrill,, like the veteran
Benton, cschews tho use of spirituouS
liquors and tobacco. Senator sherman, OF
the other hand, is moderate smoker.
Mr.. Allison of Iowa is the senator with
the third longest service. He has been 81
years in the senate. Jones of Nevada has
served an equal length of tiTc but Mr.
Jones is so much absent from MS seat that
at times his existence is forgotten. Stew
art of Nevada has served 90 years Cockren
of Missouri a. Vest of Missouri IL Dor
Cameron, Teller Morgan Bate, Harris
and Hoar 10 each, voorhees, Is and Cor
man Is.
Among the famous statesmen of bygons
days only n small number have passed the
quarter century mark in the United States
senate. William r. King of Alabama
served % years continuously, from 1919 tc
1874, and was afterward chosen for an
other term of six years, but he resigned
after less than five years had passed, and
thus fell a little short of the 80 year
mark. Mr.. King was elected vice prcsi
dent in 1852 with President Pierce, but
failing health compelled him to visit Cuba,
where he was sworn into Office by special
act Of congress He died the day after
reaching home.
Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was scna
tor between % and go years. Henry b.
Anthony of Rhode Island and George +.
Edmunds of Vermont each served 25 years.
Tho latter resigned in 1891, and if he had
not done SO no would now be at the top Of
tho list with Morrill, and Sherman.
Charles Sumner was 23 years in the senate,
Calhoun %, Webster II, Clay 16, Ben Wade