The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-28
THE NESTOR OF
The SENATE.
Hon. Justin Scott Morrill, Dies Of
Pneumonia.
ILLNESS OF SHORT DURATION.
He Had Served Continuously In the Senate
For More Than 81 Years.
IN CONGRESS NEARLY a. YEARS.
He Was Rahe Of Vermont, and Was First
ElaCled 10 The ThhIy-Sourih Congress Rs
Vas Elected 10 The Senate in 1867.

Washington. Dec Ex-senator Justin
Scott Morrill, OF Vermont, the nestor OF
the senate, died at 25 this morning of
pneumonia, the after effects Of the grip.
Senator Morrill, had served continu-
ously in the senate for more than 81
yeafs, ana ne was SS years old ON the
l4th of April last. With the single eX-
ception of Hon. Galusha Grow of the
house OF representatives, he was the
only man in congress whose congress
sional career began prior to the begin
ming of the civil war, ana he had the
honor over MIR. Grow in that his con-
gressional service had been continuous,
covering. i'm the senate and house COM
bined, almost A years.
Mr.. Morrill, was n native OF Vermont.
lac was first elected TO the house from
that state as member of the Bath con-
gress. taking his seat at the nrst as
sembling OF that bo after the 3th of
March. 1855. He was reelected To the
35th, 36th, 37th, 3Sth and 39th congress-
eS. and in 1861 elected TO the senate To
Succeed Hon. Luke II. Poland. He had
held his seat in the senate since that
date without interruption, having been
elected six times successfully. His pres
ent term, for which he was chosen in
1896, would not have expired until 1923
Previous To entering congress Mr.
Morrill, had been engaged in mercantile
and agricultural pursuits, ana much of
his public life was devoted to the up-
lifting OF interests dependent upon
these lines of business. He had received
In his youth am academic education,
ana from his early days he was close
reader and careful analyst OF public
affairs. -
1t was at the beginning of war that
Mr.. Morrilrs practical business training
first brought him forward as a man of
national reputation. He was the author
of the Morrill, tariff act of 1861, which
was the basis of all the tariff legisla-
tion of war times. In 1864 he became
chairman Of the committee on ways
and means. the principal 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 service he was member of the COM
mittee on finance, which committee
deals especially with these subjects, He
became chairman of this committee in
1877 succeeding Senator sherman. when
the latter entered the cabinet of Pres.
Hayes. and he held this position con-
tinuously after that date. except dur
ing the 46th and SD congresses, when
the democratic party controlled the
senate. and during those intervals he
continued at the head Of the republican
representation OF the committee. In re-
cent years he tdeegated the greater
share OF the details of the committee
work 10 the younger members OF the
committee, but there had been but few
times when he was not a regular at
~ tftftr
and many instances are related OF his
surprising activity in directing the at
fairs Of the committee up to the last
He had at his fingers end wealth OF
information concerning the tariff and
financial questions which was always
useful i'm the elucidation of problems
then under consideration,
During the long career Mr.. Morrill,
gave his attention 60 many questions.
and no man in public life was more
given than he To taking up subject
ana holding on to IL through years
and years until contaminated He was
the real father of the scheme for the
construction OF "a building for the con-
gressional library, and TO him and Sen
ator voorhees,, Who carly Joined him IN
pressing this question upon congress,
is the splendid library building mon
ument.
His last appearance I'm the senate
was on December 10 when he made
speech of half an hours duration in
advocacy of the supreme court building
bill. He at the same time prevailed up
on the senate 20 pass the bill in the
face OF some opposition.
To Senator Morrill, probably more
than To anyone else was the present
splendid endowment or most of the
state agricultural colleges due. He was
the author of the original bill giving
aid TO these colleges from the proceeds
Of the sales OF the public lands, and he
had never refused them the encourage
ment OF his assistance.
He opposed the annexation OF the
Hawaiian islands TO the last. and he
was understood TO be averse to the
exercise of any American sovereignty
over the Philippines.
His great age end high position
caused him 10 bc universally esteemed
by the other members Of the senate.
lie was born at STAFFORD, VT. April
u, 1910.