Evening star., 1899-04-19

into inconsistencies. and rapidly grew
weaker until the end came. His wife and
daughter were with him until he passed
away.
Samuel Greeley sHilborn was born in
Minot, Androscoggin county dhen Cumber-
land), Maine, December o, 1884. He was
educated in the common schools, Hebron
Academy and Gould's Academy, Bethel.
Maine, and Tufts College, Massachusetts,
graduating from the latter Institution in
1859. He taught school in Oak Grove Acad-
emy, Falmouth, Me-, and later read law in
the office of William Pitt Fessenden, Port
land
When he was admitted to the bar in 1861
he started for California and located in
Vallejo, Solano county, where he engaged
in the practice of law. He served in the
state senate from 1873 to 1879 and was a
member of the constitutional convention
held in the latter year. In 1888 he was ap-
pointed United States district attorney for
the district of California, and removed to
San Francisco, where he resided during his
term Of office. He displayed exceptional
ability in the discharge of his duties as the
United States district attorney. In 1887 he
removed TO Oakland, but continued his law
business under the firm name of Hilborn d
Hall in San Francisco. 1t was while re-
siding in Oakland that he made his first
race for Congress and was elected
In Congress.
II
ond Congress from the third California dis
trict to fill the unexpired term of Joseph
McKenna, appointed United States circuit
judge, and who is now on the United States
Supreme bench. Mr. Hilborns first term in
the House was marked by unostentatious
but conscientious work, which his constitu-
ents appreciated and his friends urged him
TO stand for denomination and reelection.
The contest in the third district for cleo
Of representative
Congress was one of the most bitter which
had ever been waged there. Four candl-
dates were in the field, Mr.. Hilborn, repuo-
lican: Mr. Warren b. English, democrat;
Mr. ]. L. Lyon, populist, and MI l.. B
Scranton, prohibitionist. When the votes
were cast and counted the returns showed
MIR. English, 13.13o; Mr.. Lyon, 1921, and
Mr. Scranton, 27S. Mr.. Hilborn was de-
clared elected and took his seat In the
House.
Mr. English contested the election, how
ever. and a democratic House sustained the
contest. April 4, 1894, Mr.. Hilborn was un-
seated through the most giaring and bare
faced partisan action. 1t was admitted py
the case was cited as one OF the most
shameless of the many exhibitions OF par
tisanship in contested election anairs IN the
history of the House.
Hilborn went before the people for vIldica-
ton and received it. His chief opponent
was again Mr.. English, for whom he had
been unseated IN the last Congress. There
we're two other candldates-Mr. w. A.
Vaun. popuiist and Mr.. L. B. Scranton,
prohibitionist.
The election for representative to the
Fifty-fourth Congress resulted in 15,dpo
votes for Mr. Hflborn, Is, l03 for Mr.. Eng
Iish, 5,162 for Mr.. Vaun and 631 for Mr..
Scranton. Again in the election for the
Fifty-fifth Congress Mr.. Hilborn was cam
didate and further increased his plurality
over his old adversary, Mr.. English.
Mr. Hilborn served for awhile on the
District of Columbia committee In the
House, but his best record was made as a
member of the committee on naval anairs.
He was the second in rank on that commit
tee in the last Congress, and devoted every
energy and the most untiring attention TO
the arduous duties which the Congress i'm
posed. The furnishing of men and supplies
for the navy to carry on the war, provid-
ing new ships for the navy and the reor-
ganization of the personnel gave the com
mittee a great deal of work of which Mr..
HiIborn was called upon to bear large
portion. He was intensely interested in the
navy, an extensive reader of books bearing
upon the different branches Of construction
and armament, and wrote a lecture upon
the new navy. There is no doubt that his
labors during the war Congress- in behalf
of the service of which he was so proud
hastened the breakdownlof his system.
Mr.. Hilborn was held in high esteem by
his colleagues in the House. He was q
companionable man, and although he rank
ed among the senior members in point of
age, he numbered his associates among all
classes. He had many warm friends on the
democratic side of the chamber and was
universally liked.
His death is severe loss to the state of
California, and to the country at large, to
which his services in the legislation con-
corning the new navy have been of con-
spicuous benefit.
To his family and his wide circle of
friends to whom he was attached by the
tenderest ties OF love, his loss Is irreparabie.
He leaves q widow and one daughter.
AuuIied for sRettremeu<