Evening star., 1901-03-26
HIS MEMORY HONORED
TRIBUTES TO THE LATE CoMMIs-
sIONER BREWER.
Praise of His Ability and Devotion to
Duty by His Associates-
Resolutions Adopted.

Services in memory OF Mark S. Brewer,
late member of the civil service commits
sion, were held yestel day afternoon in the
board room of the commission. Brief re-
marks on the life and character of the de-
ceased were made by John H. MCGOWAN,
w. b. Thompson and L. M Saunders.
Commissioner Proctor presided and the
service was attended by the Office force of
the commission.
In Introducing the speakers, Mr.. Proctor
said, in part:
Mr.. Brewer was peculiarly qualified for
service on commission where there must
necessarily be great differences of opinion
In the construction of laws and rules as
he always approached the subject from an
impartial standpoint, and no matter how
his associates might differ with him on
matters of policy or matters of construc-
tion. these differences were always such as
might be expected from honest men who
are faithfully attempting to execute a law
In all such differences there was never
anything OF personal nature any
thing to break the warm friendship which
existed between all the commissioners. 1t
is lifting that We should assemble today
TO express our appreciation of the many
acts of kindness and courtesy which we
have all received from him.
Judge MCGOWAN is peculiarly well fitted
to eulogize Mr.. Brewer, having been asso-
ciated with him in the state senate of
resentatives, where they represented ad-
joining congressional districts and occu-
pied adjacent seats. After giving a brief
history of Mr.. Brewers boyhood days and
his career in Congress and as consul gem
eral at Berlin, Mr.. McGowan said:
Devotion to Duty.
Since his appointment as a member of
the civil service commission. in 1898, he has
been in constantly failing health. How he
ignored his physical disabilities and de-
voted himself most faithfully to his Off
clai duties need not tell you who have
peen so intimately associated with him in
the work Of this commission. He had
high regard-an ideal regard-for the du-
ties imposed by public office Nothing
sWerved him from his supposed obligations
No want of strength kept him from his
desk until he could no longer rise from
his bed. 1t was one of the pathetic as
we'll as one of the admirable things of his
fast lliness that he kept in mind the un-
hnished things at his office, and when the
awful pains that crushed out his life
| would abate for a brief time he Invariably
recurred to the work that he had dropped
| and planned to take it up again
The strong forest tree is not the product
| alone of sunshine and rich soil. The fierce
wind and the pelting storm are equally
necessaryIand then time long time, for
| SLOW and heaRhful growth. None can quite
enumerate the things that have gone to
oulld a strong life. In the case of Mr.
Brewer it would be difficult to say how
| much the poverty and hard work of those
| early years on the farm, in a new country
| contributed to his sterling manhood or
| how much may be attributed to inheritance
| from his Holland ancestry on his fathers
| side or the Irish blood he got from his
| mother. Neither can We clearly apportion
the influences of environment or the effect
| of education-especially his professional
| training. What We do know is that from
| all these came a grand character, which
we loved and admired. Wherever con-
| science led he followed, with perfect fidelity
| to every trust, with rigid honesty in private
and public affairs, with absolute devotion
| to the truth.
| IF we add to these qualities the genial
| social nature that made friends and bound
them to him, and the great loving heart
| that took upon itself everybodys burdens,
we have my brief picture of my friend of
nearly a third of a century"
Punctuality characteristics.
| An incident characteristic of Mr.. Brewer
was related by Mr.. Saunders. He said: II
1 remember very well the first time 1 ever
| saw him. 1 was seated in the room at the
| Capitol waiting for the members of the
committee on the District of Columbia to
| come in, and the first man of the District
committee to make his appearance on that
occasion was Mr. Brewer" This incident
| Is said to typify his whole life. He was
always at the offices of the civil service
commission in the early morning, notwith-
| standing his failing health, and he never
left until all the business of the day had
been transacted
| In Offering the resolutions which were
adopted by the meeting Chief Examiner
| Server said:
| TT is difficult to express in resolutions
! the affectionate regard We have had for
| him; his character combining all that was
| best and all that was most lovable in the
| old-school gentleman, was also coupled with
| a sturdy intellectually that had no hesita-
| tion but delighted to grapple with present
| day problems, and those of us who came in
| daiIy contact with him simply surrendered
| all Of our most sincere esteem and affection
| to that character and disposition"
Resolutions Adopted.
| After the addresses Mr.. Serven ofs
| fered a resolution expressing the profound
| sense of grief sustained by the Office and
| lauding the ability and devotion to duty of
| the deceased. His work with the commits
| sion, it was declared, was characterized
| by the sterling qualities which had distin-
| guished him elsewhere, conspicuous among
| which We're his intense zeal and devotion
| to duty, his perfect frankness, his abso-
| lutte impartiality in considering all ques-
| tions that came before him. his unfailing
| courtesy exhibited in his desire to give
| consideration to the views of those who
| differed with him, and his loyalty and te
| nacity for what he believed was right and
| just.
| uncDnu