The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-11-01
NESTORS OF THE SENATE.
Members Of Congress- Who Have
Served Long Terms.
Statesmen Who Have Spent Over Quar-
ter OF q Century In the Legis-
iatlve Halls OF tho
Nation.

While the celebration OF the eighty
fourth birthday Of Senator Justin s.
Morrill,, who has been Gptly called the
"father Of congress-" Is fresh In mind,
It may DO OF especial interest TO recall
the terms OF few other men who have
nearly or quite equaled him In the
length Of their public career at Wnsh-
ington, says the Washington Star.
Senator Morrill,, even, cannot sur
pass the senate record of Thomas II.
Benton, the member from Missouri to
the first congress which convened after
that state was admitted 10 the union,
and who served from October 9, 1920, TO
March 4, 1881. He was afterward
member of the house for two years
Senator Morrill, has been In congress,
however, for thirty-nine years, and In
the senate for twenty-eeven. William
Rufus King, who wHs vico president
under Franklin Pierce, served in the
senate for twenty-nine years, but his
service was not continuous He began
his first term tn 1910 and ended his last
In 1888, Henry b. Anthony, of Rhode
Island, had he lived TO see the end of
his last term, would have equaled the
record Of Mr.. Morrill,. He wes elected
five times, but only served year and
half Of his last term. He died In
1884. Hannibal Hamlin, Of Maine,
comes next In point of length Of serv-
ice. Practically he was In the senate
continuously from 1s4s to 1868. Four
years of this time was as vice president
under Lincoln, when he was presiding
officer. Mr.. Hamlin was elected to the
upper house In 1869 again, so that his
service In that body was twenty-eight
years and six months, and he had been
six years In the house before his first
senatorial election. II Is true no re-
signed from the senate In 1887 TO be-
come governor of Maine, but he re-
turned In less than three months to his
seat In congress.
Among the Massachusetts senators
Charles Sumner has first place for
length of continuous service. In March,
1851, he took his seat, and was there
when he died, In 1874; Senator Sherman
has the congressional record next
best to Mr.. Morrllls Had II
not been for the break in his
term, when he was secretary of the
treasury under President Hayes, he
would have been In continuous service
exactly the same length of time as the
senator from Vermont Senator Nor
rill, It will be remembered, refused q
cabinet position under the Hayes ad
ministration. Mr.. Sherman has served
twenty-nine years In the senate. Mr.
Allison, of Iowa, has been In congress.
thirty-one years, Of which time TWEEN
ty-one have been in the upper chamber
Mr. Allison Is six years the junior o,
Senator Sherman and eighteen years
younger than Vermonts veteran. Mr.
Harris, of Tennessee, was In con
gross six years before Senator Morrill,
but his terms have not been continu
GUS, and in point Of congressional ex
perience he stands but number ten to
day. There are two other senators
who have served continuously for NOR
than twenty years They are JohI
Gaillard, Of South Carolina, whose tern
began In 1904 and ended in 1926, and N
l R. Knight, Of Rhode Island, who servec
from 1921 to 164l.
II is o remarkable fact that no mnl
! ever served thirty years In the house o
! representatives Judge Kelley, Of Penn
sylvanin, ives In his thirtieth year thcT
q when he died. When Mr.. O'Neil, q
Pennsyivania, died he had served a.
most twcnty-nine years lie was ono
told by Mr.. Holman that he was 3
strong he would beat his record an.
serve his thirty years, but he did mol
If Mr.. Holman serves out his presen
a term, however, he will have beaten tn
!. record He has met with the house 70
twenty-nine years