The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-01-05
Was the Nestor of the Senate

Hon. Justin Smith Morrill,, who died
Dec. 18th, had served continuously in the
senate for more than 81 years, and he was
So years old on the 14th of April last.
With the single exception of Hon. Galusha
Grow of the house OF representatives, he
was the only man in congress whose con-
gressional career began prior to the be-
ginning of the civil war, and he had the
honor over Mr.. Grow in that his congress
ional service had been continuous, cover
ing, in the senate and house combined, al
most A years.
Mr.. Morrill, was a native of Vermont.
He was first elected to the house from at
State as a member of the 34th congress,
taking his seat at the first assembling of
that body after the 4th of March, 1855.
He was re- elected to the 35th, 36th, 37th.
3Sth and Both congresses, and was in 1867
elected to the senate to succeed Hon.
Luke P. Poland. He had held his seat
i'll the senate since that date without in
terruption, having been elected six times
successfully. His present term, for which
he was chosen in 1896, would not have ex-
pired until 1903.
Previous to entering congress Mr.. Nor
rill had been engaged in mercantile and
agricultural pursuits and much of his pub
lie life was devoted to the uplifting of in
terests dependent upon these lines of bus
mess. He had received in his youth an
academic education, and from his early
days he was a close reader and careful
analyst OF public affairs.
1t was at the beginning of the war that
Mr. Morrilfs practical business training
first brought him forward as man of ma
tlonal reputation. He was the author of the
Morrill, tariff act of 1861, which was the
basis of all the tariff legislation of war
times. In 1864 he became chairman of the
committee on ways and means, the prin-
clpal 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
to financial and commercial questions, and
during the greater part of his term OF ser
vice he was a member of the committee on
tlnance, which committee deals especially
with these subjects. He became chair
man OF this committee in 1877, succeed
ing Senator Sherman, when the lat
ter entered the cabinet of President
Hayes, and he held this position con-
tinuously after that date, except dur
ing the 10th and 5ad congresses, when
the democratic party controlled the SEN
ued at the head of the republican repre-
sentation on the committee. In recent
years he delegated the greater share of the
details OF the committee work to the
younger members of the committee, but
there had been but few times when he was
not regular attendant upon the commit
tee meetings, and many instances are re-
lated o1 his surprising activity in direct
ing the affairs of the committee up to the
last. He had at his finger end a wealth
OF information concerning the tariff and
financial questions which was always use |
full in the calculation OF problems then
under consideration.
Daring his long career MI. Morrill, gave
his attention To many questions. and no
man in public life was more given than he |
to taking up a subject and holding on to
it through years aud years until consum-
mated. He was the real father of the |
scheme for the construction of building |
for the congressional library and to him
and Senator Voorhees,, who early Joined |
him i'll pressing this question upon con
gress, is the splendid library building
monument.
His last appearance in the senate was
on Dec 8, when he made a speech of half
an hours duration in advocacy of the
supreme court building bill. He at the
same time revealed upon the senate to
pass the bill in the face of some opposi-
ton.
To Senator Morrill, probably more than
any one else was the present splendid en-
dowment of 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 aud he had never refused
them the encouragement 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 j
any American sovereignty over the
Philippines.
His great age and high position caused
him to be universally esteemed by other
members OF the senate
He was born at stratford, Vt. April IA,
1910.