The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-28
DEATH OF SENATOR
JUSTIN S. MORRILL,
NeSlOP Of the United States Senate Sue
Cumbed This Morning
HE WAS IN HIS 89TH YEAR
In Point Of Age and Service lie Vas
the Senior Legislator.
He WAS IN HIS 18th YEAR
END CAME CALM AND PEACEFUL
Yesterday Morning He Lapsed Into an
Unconscious State From Which He
Never Roused-Immediate Cause
ofDemise Was Pneumonia.

Washington, December 2S.-Hon. Justin
s. Morrill,, the senior United States senator
from Vermont died at 25 minutes past /
o'clock this morning. in the S9th year of his
age, after an illness of less than a week.
With him when the end came were his
sister-in-law, Mrs. Louise Swan, his son.
James, Mr.. Benjamin Durfee, and Colonel
s. e. Chamberlain, an intimate friend.
Senator Proctor was in the house at the
time, as were also several other friends.
The senator never recovered from the un-
conscious state into which he lapsed early
in the day, and his death was calm and
peaceful.
The immediate cause of death was pneu-
monia which developed from an attack of
grip contracted about week ago. The
venerable senator was confined to his home
but seven days. Despite his advanced age
he attended his senatorial duties faithfully
and regularly went to the capitol.
Attack OF Grip
About ten days ago the weather was cold
raw and foggy, and his physician thinks
that exposure to the rigors brought on the
attack. 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 advanced age, being unable to re-
sist the disease. On Christmas night it
developed into pneumonia, and from that
time to the end he sank steadily.
No definite funeral arrangements have
yet been made. 1t is altogether likely
that public services will be held in the sem
ate chamber, but just when cannot be now
stated. The remains of Mrs. Morrill,, who
died during the present year, are now in
a vault at Rock Creek cemetery, near this
city, and it may be that the senator's body
will be deposited there pending removal to
STAFFORD, VT, where mausoleum is now
in course of construction.
In the death of Hon. Justin Smith Nor
rill the senate. lost its senior member in
point of service and It's oldest in age. He
had served continuously in the senate for
more than thirty-one years, and his con-
gressona service had been continuous,
covering In the senate and house combined
almost forty-four years. Mr.. Morrill, was a
Elected to Thirty-Four,h Congress
native of Vermont
He was first elected member
of the house from that state as a
member of the Thirty-fourth congress, TAX
ing his seat in March, 1855, and in 1867 was
elected to the senate. His present term
Previous to entering congress Mr.. Morrill,
had been engaged in mercantile and agri-
cultural pursuits, and much of his public
life has been devoted to the uplifting of
interests dependent upon these lines of
business.
1t was at the beginning of the war that
J Mr.. Morrilps practical business training
first brought him forward man of
national reputation. He the author of
| the Morrill, tariff act of 1861 which was the
| basis of all the tariff legislation of war
| times. In 1864 he became chairman of the
committee on ways and means, the prin-
cpal committee of the house, and at that
critical time of especial Importance
After entering the senate, Mr.. Morrill,
continued to give his attention largely to
financial and commercial questions and
during the greater part of his term of ser
vice he was identified as a member of the
committee on finance, which committee
deals especially with these subjects.
Succeeded Sherman Rs Chairman
He first became chairman of this COM
mittee in 1877, succeeding Senator Sherman
when the latter entered the cabinet of Pres
ident Hayes and he held his position con-
tinuousIy after that date except during the
Forty-sixth and Fifty-third congresses,
when the democratic party controlled the
senate and during those intervals he con-
| tinued at the head of the republican rep
| his fingers ends a wealth of information
| concerning the tariff and financial questions
which were always useful in the eiueida-
| ton of problems then under consideration.
| During his long career Mr.. Morr'll gave
| his attention to many questions and no
man in public life was more given than he
| to taking up subject and holding on to
il through years and years until consum
mated He was the father of the scheme
for the construction of building Tor the
congressional library, and to him and Sem
ator Voorhees,, who early Joined him in
pressing this question upon congress, is
the splendid library building monument.
Very near to his heart also was the plan
for the erection of sister build ng for
tbe supreme court. He had been pressing
a measure looking to the construction OF
such n building for many years and had
on three different occasions prevailed upon
the senate to pass his bill for this purpose.
His Last Appearance
rs ,ast DpnaI an in the senate WAS on
the 18th inst, when he made speeeh or
half an hours duration in advocacy OF the
supreme court building bill. He at the same
time prevailed upon the senate to pass the
bill in the face of some deposition.
To Senator Morrill, probably more than to
any one else was the present splendid en-
dowment of most of the state agricultural
colleges due. He was the author II the org
inal bill giving aid to these colleges from
the proceeds of the sale of public lands,
and he never refused them encouragement
or his assistance. He opposed the annexa-
tion of the Hawaiian islands to the last and
he was understood to be averse to the ex-
ercise of any sort of sovereignty over the
Philippines.
Mr.. Morrill, was an indefatgable worker,
and while not an orator. he spoke grace
fully and forcibly and was always listened
to attentiyely. His great age and his dis