St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-04-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Break in Elaine Delegation by Death
of Milliken.
Capital Well Nigh Deserted on Tuesday-ciVil
Service Law--New England Men Named
for 0ffice-personal r1entlon.
Especial to the CALEDoNIAY)

The most important happening this
week of New England bearing was the
death of Hon. Seth l.. Miliken of Bel
fast, congressman from the Third Maine
district, which he has SO long repre-
scented in the lower branch of the ma
tional legislature.
Mr.. Miillken face has for many years
been a familiar one in Washington dur
ing his IA years incumbency, which ne
held as a fourth part of the famous
quartet of Maine congressman.
The length of MIR. Millikens term OF
service suggests the longevity Of the
terms of the other three congressman
from the Pine Tree state: Reed Of Port
land, who has served continuously since
the Forty-seventh congress; Dingley OF
Lewiston, who began with the Forty
eighth, and Boutelle of Bangor, VINO
entered the same congress that Cover
nor Dingley did.
In view of the fact that the Maine dele
cation has been the same year after
year and congress after congress so far
as its composition in the lower house is
concerned, 1t is wen known truism
that no delegation in that body Welded
q greater influence for its state.
OF course Mr.. Reed, as the speaker of
the house, and Governor Dingley as one
of the most influential men in the entire
Assem- Dlage, and more recently the chair
man of the committee on ways and
means, which carries with it the leader
of the majority on the floor, have been
the most prominent Of the Maine dele
cation, but their efforts in behalf of
their state and the country at large have
been ably seconded by Messrs Milliken
and Boutelle.
The former was chairman Of the very
important committee on public build
ings and grounds, which has the consid-
Grafton of all measures looking to the
erection Of public buildings and the in
proement Of all parks, reservations, etc,
In the United States and would have
been renamed for this place had he lived,
while Captain Boutelle headed another
important committee Of the house THAI
of naval affairs, which has all to do with
recommending legislative matters af-
fecting the navy and the appropriations
for its maintenance.
The house committee to accompany
the remains of Mr.. MillilIen to his late
home in Belfast, where the funeral was
held, had a noticeable tugc of New Eng
landism to II. 1t included Hon Richard
Cults Shannon of New York, who was
born in New London, Conn, Feb. Il,
1899; Hon. Samuel Gleeley Hilborn of
California. who is a native of Maine,
having been born in Mnot Dec g. 1884;
Hon. Clement Frederick Stevens Of Min
nesota, who claims the Hub Of the Uni
verse as the place of his nativity, where
he was born on New Year day, 1861, and
who was educated and spent his early life
in Maine; and Captain Boutelle, repre-
senting Mr.. Milikens late associates I
the Maine delegation. Hon. George
Weymouth Of Fitchburg Mass, was the
other member of the New England dele
cation in congress to be designated ly
Speaker Reed for this position.
Mr.. Mlllikens death was so sudden
that the politicians have allowed theii
fences to go TO ruin, and are not now II
such a good condition to conduct Co
gressional fight as would have been the
case had not the unexpected happened
There are several aspirants, however
and their friends are not bashful in set
ting forth their claims. Most people II
Washington, however, believe that eX
Governor Burleigh will be Mr. Millikeni
successor
On Tuesday of this week Washington
was well nigh deserted of the Off
clal heads of the national government
nearly all of them being at Rversd
Park New York, to attend the forma
transfer of the tomb of General Graz
to the city of New York by the Ora.
Monument association. President Nc
Kinley, with his family, the members o
the cabinet and their wives, the am
bassadors and ministers of foreign coun
tries and a few specially invited guests
left here on.a special train on the Penn
sylvania railroad at 1890 Monday morn
Ing, arriving in New York at 4:30. Gel.
eral Miles, commander of the army, an
Admiral Brown, the ranking admiral G
the navy, accompanied the president a
special esq ort. Vice President Hobai
and the members of the senate and t.
houseleft here naspecial train Tuesda
The precaution Of having the presider
and vice president travel separately o
such occasions Is taken because, while n
danger is Anticipated II Is regarded q
wise to guard against the remotest poss
bility of embarrassing the administr1
ton Of the government in case of the di!
ability of the president. This was II
principal reason why Mr.. Clevelan,
when he was president, did not atten
the funeral of Mr.. Hendricks, then viz
president. If anything had happend
the president the government wou
have been without an official head SIM
then, however the members of the cab
net assume temporarily the Office
president in the order of their rank
case both the president and vice pres
dent are in any way prevented from a
Stunning the functions Of their office.
Commodore Henry Lycurgus Howiso
who has ben ordered to the Boston nay
yard TO serve as its commandant in plaJ
Of Commandant Miller, promoted, has {
interesting history. He was born in Il
District Of Columbia; appointed actii
midshipman from Indiana, Sept. Z
1854 naval academy 1S54-58; warrant,
as midshipman June II, 1858; promot,
to past midshipman Jan. 10, 1862; pr
NOTED to master Feb 20 1861 was pre-
ent at the surrender of Fort Sumter
Major Anderson, April, 1861; promote
to lieutenant, April 10, 1861; promoted
lieutenant commander, March 3, 1St
promoted to commander Aug. 10, 1877
commanding sloop Shawmut, north A
lantic squadron, 1874; head of depai
ment of seamanship, naval academ
1875-7S; commanding practice ship Ma
flower 1876; commanding practice sh
Constellation, 1S7S inspector Of or