Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-12-30

SENATOR JUSTIN B. MORRlLL@
his senatorial duties faithfully and
regularly went to the capitol. About
ten days ago the weather here was
cold, raw and fogey and his physician
thinks that exposure to it's ri9ors
brought on an attack of grip. The
day before congress adjourned for the
Christmas holidays sthe 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 nighI) it developed into
pneumonia and from that time until
the end he sank rapidly.
The funeral ceremony will be held
In the senate chamber on Saturday
next at % o'clock noon. Until then
the body will remain at the family
residence on Massachusetts, avenue
and will be borne to the capital early
Saturday morning. The services at
the senate will be conducted by Rev.
+. Bradford Leavitt, of All Souls UNI
tartan church. where Senator Morrill,
was an attendant for number of
years, assisted by Rev. DR.. Milburn,
the blind chaplain OF the senate. The
remains will be taken to the family
AAoLuC az All odkA oA
alongside the remains of Mrs. Morrill,.
although they will probably be en-
tombed here for a time, until the fam
lily mausoleum, now under construc-
ton. is completed.
Sergeant-at-Arms Bright Of the SEN
ate. was at the house early in the day
and took charge of the funeral ar
engagements. Owing to the absence
from the city of Vice President Hobart
and Speaker Reed, who together name
the honorary committees from the re-
spective houses, there was some delay
in designating these committees. The
vice president and the speaker were
communicated with by telegraph and
the committees will be announced
later Eleven senators and Is repre-
sentatives probably will be named, q
humber rather In excess of that
usually designated, owing to the
lifelong public service of the
deceased and the desire to have many
old associates represented in the last
testimony of respect. It is expected
also that Mr.. Hobart and Speaker Reed
will return for the service if their en-
gagements will permit.
The ceremony in the senate cham
Der VIII be marked by those charac.
teristics of solemn dignity usual on
such occasions. The seats in the front
circle of the chamber will be reserved
for the president and members of the
cabinet.
In the death of Justin Smith Morrill, the sem
ate has lost its senior member in point of serv-
Ice and its oldest in age. he had served con-
tlnuously in the senate for more than 81 years
and he was SO years of age on the 18th OF April
last With the single exception OF Galusha
Grow, of the house OF repres entatives, 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 n0reSsional service had been con-
tinuous, covering in the >enate and house COM
bined almost A years
Mr.. Morrill, was a native OF Vermont He
was first elected member of the house from
that state as member OF the Thirty-fourth
bling OF that body after the 4th of March. 1855.
he was reelected to the Thirty Nth. Thirty
sixth. Thirty seventh. Thirty-ei nth and Thir-
sy.ninth congresses and was in 1867 .ectei to
the senate to succeed Hon Luke p. Poland
He held his seat In the senate since that date
without interruption. having been elected six
terms successively. His present term, to which
he Was chosen In 1885, would not have expired
antil 1908
The death OF Senator Morrill, leaves the sen
ate without q father, OF. rather, with adual
male parent represented bv Senators Allison,
Cd Iowa and Jones, of Nevada Each entered
the senate March 4. 1873 Possibly the one who
added his name to the oath of once first will
be called the father" of the senate, although
each has served continuously the same time.