New-York tribune., 1901-12-28
A NOTABLE FIGURE GONE.
DEATH OF SENATOR SEWELL GREATLY RE
GREETED IN WASHINGTON. THOUGH
NOT UNEXPECTED
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE-l
Washington, Dec. Z7-The death of Senator Will
lam j. SeweIl. of New-Jersey reported to-day from
Camden. came surprise to the political world
of Washington, in which the serious nature of his
illness has been known for many months. His last
appearance at the Capitol was at the special ses-
of last March. He was then broken in health,
and the steady growth of his malady prevented his
return to the capital on December 2. when the
regular session opened. General Sewelrs death
leaves another gap in the ranks OF those Senators
whose political service and influence stretch back
into the early eighties. New-Jersey sent him to
Washington member of the deberative branch
in 1881. and honored him again with two elections
in 1895 and 1901. Democratic ascendancy at home
excluded him from the Senate from 1887 1895.
But his activity in national politics kept him in
close touch with legislation and national leader
ship, and he easily regained his temperance in
the Senate the position of influence and RESPONSE
bility which he had won in his earlier term. Cen
eral Sewelrs force in the Senate felt. in the
main. in the work of two ocommttees-Appropria-
tions and Military Affairs. Himself gallant and
distinguished soldier in the Civil War, his tastes
and experience fitted him deal with all questions
of army administration and organization, and no
member of the Military Affairs Committee had
which fell to the care of that body In the Appro-
priatiOns Committee he helped to frame and man
age the Military Academy, Fortiications Indian,
Army and Pension bills, so that his influence
exerted along lines which were both familiar and
nrmest character, he enjoyed the respect of those
with whom he labored in and out of his committees,
for his ability was as unquestoned as his deter
1ndomitable energy. Senator Sewell rarely spoke
public questions, but his interest in the work of
Congress was keen and continuous and no session
passed on whose work he did leave an appre-
ciable mark
In national politics he the accepted leader of
the Republican party in his State and at the ma
tonal conventions of the last twenty-five thirty
years he always figured the New-Jersey delega-
uons spokesman. At these gatherings. as in Wash
ington, he was easily recognized as the unChal-
lenged leader of Republican opinion in his own
State Senator Sewelrs ill health led him to de-
cline several offered committee promotions the
rearrangement of the Senate committees just be-
fore the Christmas holiday adjournment. He
cepted the Craftsmanship of the Committee En-
rolled Bills. and retained his membership in the
committees Appropriations, Military Affairs,
immigration and Territories.
Committees were appointed to-day on behalf of
the Senate and the House of Representatives TO
attend -e funeral of Senator sewel. The com
mittee behalf of the Senate consists of Senator
Sewelrs colleague Senator Kean; his fellow men,
bers of the Committee on Military Affairs. Senators
Hawley. Proctor. Burrows Warren. Scott. QuarleS,
Bate. Cockrell Pettus and Harris; his associates
on the Committee Enrolled Bills Senators
Hanna and Foster. of Louisiana. and in addition.
Senators Platt of New-York; Platt of Connecticut;
Cullom. Hale Aldrich Penrose Elkins and Turner.
The House committee is composed of the members
OF the New-Jersey delegation. Messrs- Louden-
slayer, Gardner, Howell. Salmon Stewart. Parker,
McDermott and Fowler.