The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01
CAPITALS DAY OF SORROW.
FUNERAL CEREMONIES OVER THE
NESTOR OF THE SENATE.

Officials and Many Private citizens
Assemble in the Senate Chamber.
Flowers Banked Jp to the Prcsid-
ing officers DesK-Hev. LcnvitCs
Tribute to Senator Morril-Re-
mains 10 be Sent to Montpelier for
Interment.
Washington, Dec. 31.-Funeral services
over the late Senator Justin S Morrill, Of
Vermont were held in the United Stdgcs
Senate chamber at noon to-day.
They We're conducted with Impressive
dignity in the presence of a distinguished
assemb.age, including the President and
Vice President of the United States, menu
bers of the cabinet justices of the Su-
preme Court, senators and representatives, !
in Congress. the speaker of the House
and representatives, of the army. navy and
of the diplomatic corps. as Wen as a
concourse of private citizens who took
this means of testifying the affectionale
regard in which Mr.. Morrill, was univer-
sally held
Early in the day the remains We're horne
from the family residence on Massachu-
setts avenue to the capitol There was
no service at the house, aud the funeral
cortege 20 the capitol was simple and
formal. Arriving there the casket was
carried direct to the Senate chamber, and
deposited in the semi-circular area immc-
diate.y in front of the presiding officers
desk
The casket was of rich, but simple dc
sign, with black broadcloth covering end
heavy Oxydized silver handles.
\ silver plate on top bore the inscrip-
ton: Justin Smith Morrill,, 1S1O-189s"
After the willing hands Of Senate en-
ployes, who had so long served the sena-
tor in life. had arranged the multitude OF
flowers which had been sent, the lid OF
the casket was removed, disclosing the
calm and peaceful face of the dead states
man.
Banked High with Flowers.
Banked high on the lower part of the
oasket, ali about it, and covering the desks
up to the presiding officers desk, was
profuslon of plants flowers, floral em-
blems, PAINS and garlands The vacant
chair and desk in the front row and to
the left of the presiding officer. so long
used by MIR. Morrill,. were draped IN black
crepe
BY Il o'clock the pubic galleries were
filed to overlooking with crowds, who Lad
braved a driving rain. Exactly at noon
the ceremony began. Vice President IIo-
bart, accompanied by Speaker Reed, TAX
ing seats at the presiding officers desk,
while the President cabinet supreme Jus
tees, senators and representatives en-
tered unannounced.
Mr. Mckinley walked with Secretary
| Gage, proceeding up the aisle to a large
leather chair, facing the casl1et and i'm
mediately alongside it, This was occupied
by the President. while next 30 him, in n
semi-circle. facing the casket, sat Secre-
taries Gage, Long, Alger, Bliss, Wilson,
| Postmaster General Smith, Attorney Cen
eral Griggs and Secretary to the Presi-
dent Porter.
Senator'S Wore Mourning.
The large assemblage on the floor and
in the galleries rose and remained stand
ing until the presidential party was seated
Ranged back Of them were the honorary
committee of senators and representatives
most of them whitebalred and venera bic
associates of MIR. Morrill,. They wore wide
white mourning bands from shoulders TO
hip.
Chief Justice Fuller and Justices Brown
and McKenna were with the large repre-
sentation Of senators and representatives.
Hlling the body of the chamber. Former
Senator John Sherman who became
member Of the House with Mr. Morrill, in
1850, was present. Directly alongside the
aisle from the President ana to the left Of
the casket sat the family group Mr.. James
Swan Morrill, son; DR.. and Mrs. Swami,
brother-in-law and sister-in-law of the de-
ceased. Aside from the officials present a
number OF ladies' were admitted to the
floor.
The honorary committee of senators con-
sisted of Messrs. Proctor, Hoar Cullom.
Wolcott, Jones of Arkansas. Chandler.
German. Tillman, Jones Of Nevada. Nor
gan Fairbanks, Faulkner. Mitchell and
Nelson. That of the House was composed
of Representatives Dingley Grant, Pow
ers, HIT Force Mccall Bankhead Lew
is, Wheeler and Catchings.
Impressive Ceremonies
A hush fell on the assemblage as the last
Of the OFFICIALS We're escorted to their seats.
and a choir stationed in the gallery back
Of the presiding officer in subdued tones
sang Lead Kindly Light"
Rev. +. Bradford Leavitt, Of All Souls
Church, began the burial service with Sc
lections from the Psalms. His tribute TO
the memory of the deceased was heart
felt and eloquent.
Again the voices Of the choir noaiod
through the Senate chamber singing
Nearer My God to Thee" Then with
uplfted hands, the blind chaplain Of the
Senate, Rev. DR.. Milburn delivered the
closing invocation his voice trembling
with emotion as he extolled this sweet. gra-
cious and noble character.
II vas / o'clock when the ceremony con-
cluded, and the President aud cabinet led
the way past the casket taking a final
took az the calm silent face, and the 9TH
er officials retired. The casket remained
in the Senate chamber, where 1t viii be
left until borne 10 the train tomorrow
morning en- route to MODtpelier