The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-12-29

Der in point of service and its Oldest in
age He had served continuously in the
senate for more than 81 years, and he
was IS years old on the 14th of April
last With the single exception of Hon.
Galusha Grow of the house of repre-
sentatives, he was the only man in con-
gress 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
continuous, covering in the senate and
house combined almost A years. Mr.
Morrill, was a native of Vermont. He
was first elected a member of the
Thirty-fourth congress, taking his seat
at the first assembling Of that body aft
er the 4th of March, 1855. He was re-
elected to the Thirty fifth, Thirty sixth,
Thirty Thirty eighth and Thir-
ty-ninth congresses and was in 1867
elected to the senate to succeed Hon.
Luke P. Poland He held his seat in the
senate since that date without interrupt
ton. having been elected six times sue
cessively. His present term, to which
he was chosen in 1896, would not have
expired until 1908.
Was Author of the Morrill, Tariff.
1t was at the beginning of the war
that Mr.. Morrill'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 tariff
legislation of war times. In 1854 he be-
came chairman of the committee on
ways and means, the principal commit
tee 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 service he was identified as a mem
ber of the committee on finance, which
committee aSs,l.- szspv.zfafly with these
subjects. He became chairman of this
committee in 1877 succeeding Senator
Sherman when the latter entered the
cabinet of President Hayes, and he held
this position continuously after that
date except during the Forty-sixth and
Fifty-third congresses, when the Demo-
cratic party controlled the senate and
during those intervals he continued at
the head of the Republican representa-
tion on the committee
During his long career Mr. Morrill,
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 it through years and
years until consummated. He was the
real father of the scheme for the con-
struction of a building for the Con-
gressional library. and to him and Sem
ator Voorhees,, who early Joined him in
pressing this question upon congress, is
the splendid library building a mofau-
nent. Very near to his heart also was
the plan for the erection of sister
building for the United States supreme
court. He had been pressing a measure
looking to the construction of such a
building for many years and had on
three different occasions prevailed up
on the senate to pass his bill for this
purpose. His last appearance in the
senate was on the 18th inst, when he
made speech of half an hours dura-
ton in advocacy Of the supreme court
building. He at the same time prevail
ed upon the senate to pass the bill in
the face of some opposition. To Sena-
tor Morrill, probably more than any
one else was the present splendid en-
dowment Of most Of the state agrieul-
tural colleges due. He was the author
OF the original bill giving aid to these
couegeS from the proceeds OF the sales
OF the public lands. and he had never
refused them the encouragement of his
assistance
Mr.. Morrill, was an indefatigable
worker. and, while not an orator, he
spoke gracefully and forcibIy and was
always listened to attentively. His
great age and high position caused him
to be universally esteemed by the other
members OF the senate.