Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-04

Ex-Representative VIM. M. Springer.
photo by Belly
dying hours
The news of the death of Judge Springer
was received with sincere regret by the
older members of the House of Repre-
sentatives who were contemporaries of
The gentleman from Illinois during his
national legislative career.
81 Funeral Arran
While the arrangements for the funeral
are not completed, the probabilities are that
the service will be held Monday next at the
Metropolitan NJ. f. Church, the pastor, Rev.
Frank Bristol. officiating. The body Will
be placed temporarily in receiving vault
at Rock Creek cemetery and later taken
TO Springfield, ILL.,, for interment in the FAM
lily burying ground at that place.
The pallbearers have not been selected as
yet but 1t is believed many of Judge
Springer's former colleagues in Congress
will be among them.
Judge Springer had long been a prominent
figure in national affairs, and had lived in
W ashington so long he had come to be
looked upon as one OF the most enthusiastic
and loyal of the capital city's residents
His long service in Congress, extending
over a period of twenty years gave him
desire for Washington life, and since 1915
his only extended absence from this city
was the four years term he served on the
United States court bench of Indian terri
tory. Judge Springer lived at 43 B street
southeast. his house overlooking the Capitol
building, the scene of his best labors.
An Indianian by BIRTH he was soon taken
to Illinois by his family and retained his
official residence there. The date of his
birth was May 80, 1896, his parents Thomas
b. and Katherine Springer living at the
time in Sullivan county, Indiana.
Judge Springer first entered political pub
lie life in 1872, when he was elected to the
Illinois state Legislature, in which body he
became a member OF the Judiciary com
fnittee. taking a prominent part in the af-
fairs of the lower house
Elected to Congress.
In 1874 he was elected to Congress from
the Springfield district and then began his
career with which all students of politics
and the legislative affairs OF the country
are familiar. He was elected to nine sue
oeeding congresses, serving until March 3,
1895
1t was natural that Judge Springer who
had been interested in the subject from the
FIRST. and in view of his extended study of
all matters relating to IL, should have made
the tariff paramount issue. He especially
dweit upon the subject of the wool schedule,
his constituents being mostly concerned in
that feature of the laws. During his entire
career In Congress. Mr.. Springer was a
tower OF strength TO the democratic party
leader among his colleagues. He fire.
quently occupied the speakers chair
Mr.. Springer was a member of the cele-
gated the alleged frauds of the presidential
election OF 1876, and a member of the sub
committee that visited Florida in 1878. He
also investigated the consular offices of the
United States and exposed the loose prac-
tees in appropriating fees that should have
been turned into the treasury. He reported
articles of impeachment against George F.
Seward. late consul general at Shanghai,
and then minister plenipotentiary to China.
Appointed Judge.
At the close of his congressional career, in
1895, Mr.. Springer was appointed Judge
of the United States court for the northern
district OF Indian territory and chief justice
of the court OF appeals for the territory.
His term of Office expired in 1899. since
which time he has practiced law in this
CITY and elsewhere before the United States
courts.
His mission to Chicago, where he con-
tracted the fatal Illness, was In connection
with the famous drainage canal suits, In
which the people OF st. Louis are complain
ing of the pollution of the Mississippi river
by the drainage OF the Chicago sewage
into IT,
Judge Springer was married December L.
1859. to Rebecca Ruter, daughter of Calvin
". Ruter. a Methodist clergyman living in
Indiana. Mrs. Springer is a gifted writer
having published a number OF books and
magazine stories.