New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-05
OBITUARY.
WILLIAM M. SPRINGER.

Washington Dec. 4.-Ex-Congressm William
NJ Springer, of Illinois, a Democratic leader con-
spicuous in the House of Representatives in the
XLIVth to the Lid Congress, inclusive. and
once chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
died at his home in this city to-day. His death
was due TO pneumonia contracted in Chicago
Thanksgiving Day. He was attending a dinner
there, and was suddenly taken with violent chill
He left Chicago the following day and arrived here
on Saturday afternoon extremely i'll His family
physician, Dr. J. B. Gregg Custls was Immediately
summoned. but Mr. Springer steadily grew worse
HIS condition became critical yesterday, and
radical change for the worse occurred last night
He sank rapidly and died at as o'clock this morn
ing. His wife and son, Chaplain R. W. Springer
q S. A, who has been stationed at Fort Washing
ton, but who summoned home when his
fathers condition became serious were al the bed
side in the patients dying hours. Mr. Springer
had been resident Of this city for the last few
years and had followed the practice of law. he
represented many OF the Indian tribes before the
Interior Department and the federal and local
courts here. He also frequently appeared in the
United States Supreme Court.
1t is probable that the funeral services will be
held on Monday at the Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal Church. in this city the Rev. Frank
Bristol officiating. The body will be placed tenn
porariy in the receiving vault at Rock Creek Gem
etery and later taken to Springfield H., for burial
in the family plot. It is expected that the pail
bearers Will include many OF Mr.. Springer's for
mer associates in Congress
Mr.. Springer was chief counsel for the State of
Illinois in the Chicago Drainage Canal suit brought
by the State Of Missouri. and account OF his
death the hearing of testimony in the in Chi
cago has been indefinitely postponed.
William McKendree Springer was born at New
Lebanon. Ind. May 80 1886. His parents removed
to Jacksonville. Ill. when he was twelve years
old He began his college course at Illinois Col
ege,. but was graduated at the Indiana State
University in 1853 He was the publisher of a
Democratic newspaper in Lincoln, Ill, in the Lin
coln-Douglas campaign. end afterward asso-
ciate editor of The Illinois State Register at
Springfield. While engaged in newspaper work ne
studied law and admitted to the bar in 1861
and practised his profession In Springfield. His
political career began in 1872. when ne elected
the Illinois Legislature Two years later he went
to Congress, where he served for ten successive
terms and became of the most prominent fig
ures on the Democratic side and frequently filed
the Speakers chair temporarily. He cand-
date for the Speakership OF the Lid Congress,
but withdrew in favor Of Mr.. Crisp, and made
chairman of the Ways and Means Committee to
succeed William Mckinley Mr.. Springer made a
speciality of the tariff and currency questions and
was prominent in all the debates on those SUP
jects in the House, He also spoke for tariff re-
vision in many places. He the author of a
resolution in the XLIVth Congress against the
election of any person for a third term In the
Presidency, which adopted by a vote of Do
to 49, He served on the Potter committee, which
committee which reported the Electoral Commits
sion bill He also chairman of the committee
which exposed the Star Route frauds.
AS chairman of the Committee on Territories ne
was the author of the bill which organized Okla
homa Territory and created a judicial system for
Indian Territory. and of the bill which admitted
Washington Montana, North Dakota and South
Dakota States. In his last term in Congress ne
was chairman of the Committee on Banking and
Currency. \ volume Of his speeches on the tariff
appeared in 1892 and he frequently contributed to
magazines and reviews.
Al the end of his career in Congress- in March
1885 ne appointed by President Cleveland
Judge Of the United States Court for the North
District Of Indian Territory and Chief Justice
of the Court of Appeals OF Territory After
the expiration of MS term in 1899 Judge Springer
made mis- home in Washington where he prac-
tised law his wife. who was Miss Rebecca Ruter
when ne married ner, in 1855, mas written several
novels ana many poems. Their only son is an
army chaplain.
Mr. Springer led the Democratic side of the
House some OF the most bitter and exciting con
tests ever seen in Congress Although ne and
Speaker Reed were close personal friends the y
frequently came into conflict politically. M
Speaker said Mr.. Springer in debate 4
would rather be right than be President" We'll,
ret0rted Mr.. Reed. you'll never be either" Mr.
Springer was man Of genial and kindly Iempera-
teemed and respected both sides Of the House
whom ne served on the Ways ard Means Commit