Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-29
SENATOR JUSTIN 8. MORRILL,.

his senatorial duties faithfully and
regularly went to the capitol. About
ten days ago the weather here was
cold, raw and foggy and his physician
thinks that exposure to Its rigors
brought on an attack Of grip. The
day before congress adjourned for the
Christmas holidays the senator was
unable to leave his residence. He
grew no better as the days went on,
his low vitality, due to advancing age,
being unable to resist the disease On
Christmas night it developed into
pneumonia and from that time until
the end he sank RAPIDLY.
SALIENT FEATURES OF HIS RECORD
In the death Of Justin Smith Morrill, the SEN
ate has lost It's senior member In point Of serv-
Ice and It's oldest in age. He had served con-
tnu0usly In the senate for more than 81 years
and he was ~ years of age on the l4th Of April
last with the single exception Of Galusha
Grow Of the house Of representatives, he was
the only man In congress whose congressional
career began prior to the beginning OF the civil
war and he had the honor over Mr. Grow In
that his congressional service had been con-
tInuous, covering In the senate and house COM
bined, almost a years
Mr. Morrill, was native Of Vermont He
was first elected member Of the house from
that state as a member OF the Thrty-fourth
congress, taking his seat at the first assem-
bling OF that body after the 9TH OF March, 1855.
He was reelected to the Thlrty-fft6, Thirty
sixth. Thirty.saventh Thirty-eishth and Thlr-
ty-nlnth congresses and was In 1857 elected TO
the senate TO succeed Hon. Luke Z. Poland
He held his seat In the senate since that date
without interruption. having been elected six
terms successfully, His present term, to which
he was chosen In 1895, would not have expired
until 1903
Previous TO entering congress Mr., Morrill,
had been engaged In mercantile and agrIcu-
tural pursuits, and much OF his public HE had
been devoted TO the uplifting OF interests de-
pehdcnt upon these lines OF business He had
received In his youth an academic education.
and was, from his early days close reader
and careful analyst OF public questions 1t
was az the beginning Of the war that Mr. Nor
rill's practical business training brought him
forward as a nun Of national reputation He
was the author Of the Morrill, tariff act Of 1851,
which was the basis OF all the tarif legisl alton
Of war times In 1854 be became chairman OF
the committee on ways and means, the prlnci-
pal committee Of the house and ut that critical
time OF especial Importance
During his long career Mr.. Morrill, gave his
attention 10 many questions and no man In
public life was more given than he to taking
up subject and holding on TO II through years
and years, until contaminated. He was the
real father Of the scheme for the construction
OF building for the congressional llabrary and
10 him and Senator Voorhees, who early Joined
him in pressing this question upon congress, Is
the splendid library building q monument
Very near TO his heart also was the plan for the
erection OF sister building for the supreme
court
TO Senator Morrill, probably more than any
one else was the present splendid endowment
Of most Of the state agricultural colleges due
He was the author Of the original bill giving
aid TO these colleges from the proceeds Of the
sales OF the public lands and he had never re-
fused them the encouragement Of his assist
ance. He opposed the annexation OF the Ha-
waiIan islands 10 the last and he was under
stood 10 be ayerse to the exercise OF any sort
Of an American sovereignty over the Philip
pines
The death Of Senator Morrill, leaves the sem