Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-14
MR.. DIMcLeY DEAD.
Continued from page ~

also a representative to the Legislature
from Lewiston IN 1868 and 1873.
In 1873. Mr.. Dingley was nominated as
the Republican candidate for Governor OF
popular opponents, and was elected by
about 10000 majority. In 1874 he was re-
elected by over 1900 majority. declining
a third nomination IN 1875. He was one
the Republican national convention IN
1876, and served on the committee on res
buttons and was one OF the sup-commit-
tee of five who drafted he platform. He
actively participated In the Presidential
campaign OF 1876 and in the State cam
paigns of is77-s-9. In 1880 he was chair
man of the Republican Legislative com
mittee.
In 1881 Mr.. Dingley was nominated by
the Republicans OF the "a Congressional
district OF Maine to fill the vacancy in
Congress caused by the resignation Of
Hon. VIM. +. Frye. He was elected by a
majority OF over 5000, nearly twice as
large as ever given TO any candidate In
that district. He served on the commit
member OF the select committee ON alco-
holic liquor traffic, and during the session
he presided several times over the House
In committee of the whole.
MIR. Dingleys first speech In Congress
was made April 25, 1882, on Protection
to American Shipping, the House pc.
ing in committee Of the whole on the biii
to create tariff commission. Under
Joint resolution introduced into the
House by Mir. Dingley and passed. Aug
ust {, 1852, he was appointed member Of
a joint commission to Investigate the
conditions and wants Of American snip
building and ship owning interests. The
report of the committee drawn UP by
Mr.. Dingley and unanimously agreed TO
by the committee was regarded ~ il Very
able and valuable document. ae com
mittee reported bill to remove certain
burdens on American shipping. framed
by Mr.. Dingley. which passed the House.
htt h4ra "a an fUpnHfflG
disaRreeing amendments between the
two houses before the 4lth Congress ex-
PRED.
While this bill WAS under considera-
ton In the House he made "A speech on
the Revival Of American Shipping. III
reply TO Congressman cox, which placed
him at once in the front rank OF con-
gresham and gave him a national repu- !.
tation. nlss2he was reelected as CON
gresham at large for the 18Th Congress,
AT the opening OF Congress in December.
1874, Speaker Carlisle appointed HIM al
the head of the Republican minority on
both the banking and currency commit
tees and the select committee on Amcri-
can ship building and ship owning IN
tercst2.
Mr.. Dingley at once re-introduced his
shipping bill, which was passed by the
House. after a discussion. In which ne
took the leading part. and sent 10 tne
Senate. The latter body amended ii uy
adding provision for the encourage
ment OF American postal steamship |
was adjusted in conference and the biz |
was approved By the President. June J. |
1851 On Feb. /. 1854. Mr.. Dingley re !
ported from the shipping committee his |
bilf To constitute a bureau of navigation /
in the treasury department and later IN /
the month it was passed in the Hous, |
under Il suspension Of the rules. Subse- /
quently the Senate concurred and tn. /
bureau was organized.
MIR. Dingley was reelected to The 18th |
Congress from the 2nd Maine district IN |
az he
gressional Temperance Society in Fen |
rnary, 1871, MIR. Dinsley was elected |
was reelected to the seth Congress ana |
iEain elected To the aist Congress In |
1875. 80 the 52nd In 1890 the 53rd in lS!,s |
he ,i.h In 1894 and the 55th In 1896. py !
thrEr Hnu Increased ma Jorities In the I
End and 53rd Congresses he was an ac- |
nv. r-ember of the committee on appro-
rria.iGn
u. forming his cabinet prior to enter |
ing on the duties of chief Executive
March 4. lS37. President Mckinley ten |.
hered the position OF secretary Of the |
the offer. preferring 10 remain in his po-
sition us chairman of the ways ana |
means committee and floor leader of the
republican majority of the House.
Under his lead. the House within lg
days after the 55th Congress was CON
Yen E.hed n extraordinary session on the
ley. passed a bin revising the tariff
When Mr.. Dingley was first elected 20
congress he received Il ma jority of $3.50
votes. He was elected TO the 55th Con-
sress by a majority of almost HOO votes.
When he entered Congress he was made
1 member of the committee on banking
md currency. serving there eight years.
AT the beginning of his Congressional
'areer the country was disturbed on the
question of the extension of charters of
he National Bank Association. He i'm
lnediatelv identified himself with a bill
or the extension of the charters of the
>anks and in the face of much OPPOSE
lion helped fight the bill through. The
opposition TO the resumption Of specie
,ayment had not been dissipated and Mr.
Dingiey had no small part in befriending
he government in its policy.
But it is difficult to name any impor-
ant legislation in Congress of the last Is
FEARS with which he was not identified
While he had been active in financial
matters. he was thoroughly informed on
ihippng. 1t was through his influence
hat select committee on ship owners
md ship interests was created in the
~ of that committee. whose successor
has been the present useful committee
IN merchant marine and fisheries.
In the 4Sth. 18th and 50th Congress
here was a great deal of agitation in
avor of substituting American ships to
larry the mails. Mr.. Dingley was a
oill which finally became a law paying to
american ships of certain register and
ipeed compensation for transporting
American mails.
pership by Speaker Reed, whose right |
irm he had been i'll recent years. on the
ways and means committee. When in the
I'd Congress the Democrats succeeded to
power. Speaker Crisp transferred Mr. |
DinSley to the minority of the committee
IN appropriations. He made himself a
.aluable man there. serving for four
years and displaying knowledge of APP
oropriations, hardly surpassed by any of
he older members. President Mckinley
always had strong friendship for Mr.
Oingley since they stood together in the
House.
Mr.. Dingley's father was a trader. not
himself to work at an early age. His
Puritan stock but his intellectual ability
came from his mother. a woman edu-
Gated far beyond her station or the av-
rage of cultivation in those days. She
was IA school teacher and brought all the
discipline and knowledge of her mind to
bear upon the training of her son. and
he found her influence one of the great
st factors in his success. AT Dartmouth
he graduated at the head of a class
which had in it men who have since be-
come prominent. like Chief Justice Field
If Massachusetts.
Mr.. Dingley made a great success of his
the Lewiston Journal MY
PAPER, he would say with pride has n
larger circulation than any other paper
in Maine. l would rather write for il
than do any other kind of work"
For the ordinary manipulations of poll
Tics. Mr.. Dingley had no use. however
He maid attention RI priroa v del