Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-12-30
The Important Legislation
With which Mr.. Morrill, Was PrOmI-
nently observation-disclosures NJ. De-
peNV's Tribute on MIR. MorrIII's s7th
Anniversary.
From the Springfield Republican,

pew's Tribute on MIR. MOrrIlIs S7th
Anniversary.
From the Springfield Republican,
AS legislator, Mr. Morrill, achieved ex-
traordinary success and connected his name
with many important measures. He early
devoted himself to economic and fiscal
questions, and when the Republicans had
at length acquired majority in Congress,
he Immediately took high rank in revenue
and financial legislation. The war com
ing on and demanding great revenues Mr..
Morrill, boldly projected "the Morrill,
tariff" at once giving a great impetus to
our industries and replenishng the treas
ury. He was actively concerned in the
treaty between wool growers and wool
manufacturers on which his tariff bill was
based, hut had the courage to sanction the
modification of wool duties in the tariff of
1888, although it was likely to offend his
constituents. At heart he had felt with
other senators of long service that the ex-
treme duties embodied in the Mckinley
tariff were a mistake, but like others he
did not give full expression to his con-
servative thought. AS chairman of the
House committee on ways and means, and
of the Senate committee on finance, and
of the conference committee on the tariff
in 1888, he had decisive part in shaping
| tariff legislation. On all other financial
questions he had been a pillar of strength
to the cause of wise and conservative
tnanciering. Both in Congress and on
the stump at the West, in years past, he
did yeoman service on the right side in the
| controversies over reputation, imitation,
the silver dollar and other questions. One
| of his important studies, a dozen years
ago, was an original research into the his
tory of American coinage, which he de-
livered in the Senate.
Mr.. Morrill, had warmly at heart the
cause of education, letters, and art. He
I was the author of the agricultural college
bill, distributing lands to all the states for
the purpose of founding agricultural col
| leges, ,-nstitutions which the future may
| yet more justly appreciate, as land becomes
scarcer, and husbandry more scientific.
The setting apart of the old hall of Repre-
sentatives as national hall of statuary
was Mr.. Morrilrs design, and to the nation
al library he devoted years of advocacy;
and he had the satisfaction of seeing the
site purchased, the appropriation made,
the noble building arise and its occupation
begin. The vast war, state and navy
building was another of his creations. He
believed in the erection at Washington of
| buildings consonant with the grandeur of
his country, and if the architecture was
not great, that was not his fault. Very
near to his heart also was the plan for the
erection of sister building for the United
States supreme court. He had been press
ing measure looking to the construction
of such a building for many years, and had
on three different occasions prevailed upon
the Senate to pass his bill for this purpose.
| His last appearance in the Senate was on
the 10Th inst, when he made a speech of
half an hours duration in advocacy of the
supreme court building bill in the face of
some opposition.
The reception he gave on his S7th birth
day at his home ON Thomas circle was
marked event. His anniversaries had be-
come feature of Washington society.
They began when he was 70, and had
| planned a small dinner for few intimate
friends; one of these friends, then Vice
President Hannibal Hamlin, turned it in
to surprise party, and it was always a
delight to Mr.. Morrill, that he found where
the refreshments had been bought, shortly
after sun-up the next morning, and paid
all the bills the planners of the surprise
had become indebted for. Mr.. Morrill,
had his humorous side, and he enioyed
this turning the tables on his friends for
years AFTER When his 87th birthday was
celebrated, the special stimulus of interest
was the fact tina. at that age he had been
once more elected to the Senate. Mr.. De
pew, who always gauges men by their
popularity, said about that time
"There is grand figure in the United
States Senate today bearing his 81 years.
That figure was in Congress in 1851, and
he saw then, as he sees now, what was
necessary, and he kept on the statute book
for 20 years the Morrill, tariff bill. II not
only enabled us to save this Union, but
enabled us to meet an annual taxation
twice as large as that we cannot meet now.
About 80 years afterward we have to Dor.
row money to run our business. He is
greater than Gladstone and older; greater
than Bismarck and older; and l think
that the elixir of protection was imbibeC
by him, and that he may live forever. Hi
policy has dotted the land with institutions
of learning, such as no other people evel
knew in the history of the world"
Mr. Morrill, was very useful legislator
because he devoted himself conscientious
ly to the mastery of the subjects before
him and because he united common sens
and good judgment with readiness ant