The evening times., 1898-08-09
a WEEKS SERVICE.
Mr. Booher Drew Thirteen HsnAred
Dollars ~ an n C.

ME-. BOOhef Drew Thirteen Hundred
Dollars ~ IN n. c.
In MaryvilIe, No.. lives Mr.. Charles T.
Booher. He Is candidate for a State
ofice and he enjoys twG unique distinc-
tions-that of having served a shorter
term in Congress than any other man,
and that Of being the only man ever
seated in the House without a certif-
cate OF election. For a number OF
years." says a correspondent Of the New
York Sun. the Fourth congressional dis
trict was represented by Col. James N.
Burnes.s On January "a, 1889. he was
overcome in the House by heart failure
and died a few minutes later in an adjoin-
ing cloakroom. His death left affairs In
a peculiar state in-his district. He had
been reelected in November. 1855, and
had accordingly to serve until March l.
1859, and thereafter a full term, begin
ming March 4, 1889. Gov. Francis issued
call for a. special election on February
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 DEM
ocrats for the; long term and Mr.. Boo
her for the short term. The Republicans
nominated Col. F. NJ. Posegate OF st.
term. The campaign that followed was
short, and resulted in the election of both
Democratic candidates.
"Mr Booher proceeded TO Washington
as soon as the result had been determine
ed. and on February Is presented himself
in the House. II was here that he ac-
quired hts second distinction. So short
time had elapsed since his election that
the secretary Of the State OF Missouri
had not yet forwarded his certificate OF
election. Mr.. Dockery of the third Mis-
souri, district explained the situation to
the House on behalf of the Democrats.
and Major William Warner. a Republic
can. 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 elect
ed member from Missouri be seated with
out his certificate the understanding be-
ing, OF course, that he should present his
credentials in due form as soon as they
arrived Seven days later, on March =.
1889, Mr.. Boohers team ended. and he
was succeeded by his friend. Mr.. Wilson.
During his short term of service MI
Booher did a number Of things Col.
Burnes. at the time Of his death. occu-
pied a seat a good way back. Old Jehu
Baker Of Illinois who was preparing to
retire from Congress on March 4. had
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.. Booher's first act was
10 trade seats with him. Col. Burnes
had a short time before his death STAR
ed on Its passage a bill providing FOR
paying a war claim of a Catholic college
in his home city. at St. Joseph, Mo.
When this measure went to the Senate
It was amended. and ,he appointment OF
a conference committee became necessa-
ry Mr.. Booher being the successor Of
the author of the bill, was named along
with Messrs. Dockery and Kerr to rep
resent the House. This was his only
committee work. He made few mo-
tions on appropriation bills. bu, did not
attempt TO speak.
1.-The House of Representatives has
some peculiar customs. and Mr.. Booher
came into very agreeable contact with
one of them. 1t is a theory of the House
that when a member is chosen at a regu-
lar election he is entitled to pay for full
term whether he lives through it or not.
IT is fiction of the House. also. that
member elected TO fill an unexpired term
serves from the moment of his predeces-
sor's death. Mr.. Booher. as well as Col.
Burnes' family profted by this arrange
ment. The former drew more than $1.3o0
for the week he held down his seat In the
House. or 1910 more than the President
gets for an equal period-certainiy the
best pay any Congressman has drawn in
the history of the Government ..-
although Mr.. BQoher has been for
many years prominent in Northwest Mis-
souri, politics. his short term In Congress
embraces his only public ,officeholding-