The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-16
HAs UNIOUE RECORD.
Missouri Man Served the Shortest
Term in Congress

Maryville, No, Aug. 15.-Charles F.
Booher, of Savannah, enjoys two uni
que distinction-that of having served
shorter term in congress than any 9TH
er man and that of being the only man
ever seated in the house without GER
tihcate of election.
For a number of years the fourth
congressional district was represented
by Col James n. Burnes On January
"A, 1889, he was overcome in the house
by heart failure and died a few min
utes later in an adjoining cloakroom.
His death left affairs in a peculiar
state in his district. He had been re-
elected in November, 1888, and had &C
cOrdingly to serve until March A. 1889,
and thereafter a full term, beginning
March 4, 1889. Governor Francis issued
call for a special election on F'ebru-
airy 10 to fill the office for the uneXpired
term and for the full term r. P. C.
Wilson of Platte county was named by
the Democrats for the long term, and
Mr.. Booher for the short term. The
Republicans nominated Golf. NJ. Pose
gate of st. Joseph for both the long
and the short term. The campaign that
followed was short and resulted in the
election of both Democratic candi-
dates.
Mr.. Booher proceeded to Washington
as soon as the result had been determ-
ined, and on February 25 presented him
self in the house. It was here that he
acquired his second distinction. So
short a time had elapsed since his cleo
ton that the secretary of the state of
Missouri had not yet forwarded his GER
tificate of election. Mr. DOckery ex-
planned the situation to the house, and
Major William Warner, a Republican,
who then represented the Kansas City
district, testified to the truth of all Mr..
DOckery said, and moved that the rules
be suspended and the newly elected
member from Missouri be seated with
out his certificate, the understanding
being, of course, that he should present
his credentials in due form as soon as
they arrived. Seven days later. on March
T. 1889, Mr.. BOOher's term ended. and he
was succeeded by his friend, Mr.. Will
son.
During his short term of service Mr..
BoOher did a number of things. Col.
Burnes, at the time of his death, c.
cupied a seat a good way back Old
Jehu Baker of Illinois, who was pre-
pairing to retire from congress on March
4, had a place near the front on the
Republican side. Mr.. Baker wanted to
move further back, so that he might
finish up what business he had on hand
without being bothered, and Mr.. Boo
hers first act was to trade seats with
him. Col. Burnes had a short time be-
fore his death started on its passage
a bill providing for paying a war claim
of a Catholic college in his home city,
st. Joseph, Mo. When this measure
went to the senate it was amended, and
the appointment of conference COM
mittee became necessary. Mr.. BoOher,
being the successor of the author of
the bill, was named, along with Messrs.
DOckery and Kerr, to represent the
house. This was his only committee
work. He made a few motions on ap-
propriations bills, but did not attempt to
speak.
The house of representatives has
some peculiar customs, and Mr.. Boo
her came into very agreeable contact
with one of them. 1t is a theory of the
house that when a member is chosen
at a regular election he is entitled to
pay for a full term, whether he lives
through it or not. 1t is a rule of the
house, also, that a member elected to
fill an unexpired term serves from the
moment of his predecessors death. Mr..
Booher, as well as Col. Burnes fam
lily, profited by this arrangement. The
former drew more than $1,000 for the
week he held down his seat in the
house. or $34O more than the president
gets for an equal periOd-certainly the
best pay any congressman has drawn
in the history of the government.