The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-28

end
In the death of Hon. Justin Smith
Morrill,, the Senate lost its senior memb ber
in point of service and its Oldest in age.
He had served continuously in the Sem
ate for more than 81 years and he " as IS
years of age on the 18th of April last
With the single exception of Hon. Galusha
Grow of the House of Representatives. he
was the only man in Congress whose CON
sressional career began prior TO the oe-
ginning of the Civil war, and he had the
aonor over MIR. Grow in that his congress
sional service had been continuous cover
ing, in the Senate and house combined
"A years Mr.. Morrill, was native of
Vermont. He was first elected to the
House from that state as member of the
34th Congress, taking his seat at the first
assembling of that body after the 4th of
N arch, 1856 He was reelected TO the S5th,
3jth, 37uh, 3S and 39th Congresses, and
WAS in 1867 elected to the Senate to sue
ceed Hon. Luke z. Poland. he had held
his seat in the Senaie since that date
without interruption, having been elect
ed six times successfully. His present
term for which ne was chosen in 1886,
would not have expired until 1908.
Previous to entering Congress Mr. Nor
rill had been engaged IN mercantile ana
agricultural pursuits, and mucn OF his
public life was devoted to the uplifting
of interests dependent upon thsae lines
of business He had received in his youth
an academic education, and rom his
early days he was close reader and care
full analysist OF public affairs.
1t was the beginning of the war that
Mr.. MorrilI's practical business training
first brought him forward as man of
national reputation. He was 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 chair
man of the committee on way and
means. the principal committee OF the
House and at that critical time Of espec-
ial 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 service he was member OF the COM
mittee Of iinanoe, which committee deals
| especially with these subjects de be-
| came chairman of this committee in 1877
succeeding Senator Sherman when the
| latter entered the cabinet of President
Hayes and he held this position continu-
ousiy after this date except the 40 and o5
Congresses, when the Democratic party
controlled the Senate, and during those
| intervals he continued at the head OF the
Republican representation on the COM
mi1tee
In recent years he delegated the greater
share of the details of the committee
work to the younger members OF the
| COMMITTEES, but, there have been but few
times when he was not regular atten-
| dant upon the committee meetings and
many instances are related OF his surpr1s-
| ing activity in directing the affairs of
| the committee up to the last. he had
at his fingers ends wealth OF informa-
| tfon concerning the tariff and financial
! the elucidation of problems then under
consideration.
| During his long career MIR. Morrill,
gave his attention to many questions
| and no man III public lie was more
given than he to taking up subject and
| holding on to it through years and
years until oonsummated.
| He was the real father of the schen Q
| for the construction of building for IL
Congressional Library and to him ana
Senator VOORHEES,. who early joined him
| in pressing this question upon Congress,
| is the splendid library bui lding monu-
ipent. Very near to his heart also was
| the plan for the erection of sister bu1lG-
! ing for the United States supreme court.
| He had been pressing measure looking
| to the construction of such building
for many years and had on three dluerenp
occasions prevailed upon the Senate TO
pass his bill for this purpose. His last
appearance in the Senate was on the l9th
| inst, when he made speseh OF haif An
hours duration in advocacy OF the SUI
preme Court building bill he at the
| same time prevailed upon the Senate to
pass the bill. in the face of some oppo.
sition.
| 10 Senator Morrill,, probably more than
anyone else, was the present splendid
endowment of most of the state aGrioul.
tural colleges due. He was the author of
the original bill giving aid to these col
| leges from the proceeds of the safes OF the
| public lands and ne had never refused
them the encouragement of mis- assis.
tance. He opposed the annexation OF the
| Hawaiian Islands to The last and he was
understood to be ayerse to the exercise OF
any American sovereignty over the Phil
| ippines.
| Mr morrill, was an indefatigable worker
and while not an orator, ne spoke grace.
fully and foroibly and was always llsf-
ened to attentively. His great age al d
high position caused him TO be universal
Iy esteemed by the other members OF the
Senate.