Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-25
RUSSELL SAGE IN CONGRESS

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The world knows Russell Sage as finan-
cier, the Sage of Wall street, whose only
object in life has been to amass millions.
But there is another side to the man that
the passing of years has covered up and
hidden from the view of the atter-day
generations.
Russell Sage was at one time in his early
career in the service of the United States
government as representative of the peo-
pie of the Empire state in Congress. There
he made a record for himself.
He was first elected to the Thirty-third
Congress of the United States and took
his seat at the opening of the first session
of that body December j, 1853 being
sworn in in regular order with the other
new members of that body. Mr.. Sage was
a wing in politics, and was always found
voting and working with that political
party.
Unlike the new members of Congress Of
this day, Mr. Sage was first heard on the
floor of the House of Representatives on
the second day of the session, when he took
part in a discussion relative to the creed
OF the chaplain proposed for election in
the House. His views on this score were
broad, and he expressed himself as being
willing that any Christian gentleman. no
matter what his creed. would be accept
able If the majority of the members saw
fit to elect him.
"All creeds lead to the same end" said
Mr.. Sage, 'and l suppose the members of
the House would be well satisfied to
have prayers said in one way as another,
SO they are to the same purpose"
Mr.. Sage was made a member of the
committee on ways and means and of the
committee on invalid pensions; of the latter
he was chairman. He, from the start, en-
tered actively the work of the House
md at times took part in the debates. His
remarks Oh these occasions were Is rIle
very brief and generally to the point, oft
entimes consisting Of few words spoken
in direct and straightforward manner. He
was always an obstructionist in matters
that he did not agree with and resorted
to parliamentary tactics to prevent censid-
Grafton of bills and measures he did not
approve of.
Motions Made Often.
There is hardly day in the records of
the Thirty-third Congress on which Mr..
Sage did not remark, Il move that the
House do now adjourn" or 81 call for the
ayes and nays on that motion in an effort
to get away from legislation of which he
was not in favor or was not prepared to
discuss, and his standing even at this early
date was such that his wishes in the prem
ises usually prevailed.
Great significance attached to the first
speech of any moment made by Mr.. Sage
in the House of Representatives. The date
of the anniversary of the birth Of George
Washington was approaching.
A joint resolution had been offered in the
Senate and House Of Representatives, au-
thorizing the purchase by the United States
government of the Mount Vernon estate,
the former home of George Washington.
Mr.. Sage was one of the most earnest adj
vocates of the passage of that resolution.
If the consent Of the state of Virginia could
be secured for the sale of the property. He
thought the general government should
own, control and keep up the home of The
Father of His Country"
Mr.. Sage entered vigorously into the de-
bate, trying to overcome the objections that
were raised to the passage of the resolu-
ton. When he found that he could not
carry his point he arose quietly in his seat.
and In his quiet manner said, Il move that
the House do now adjourn which was
carried. and the resolution was saved for
the time being, though 1t was ultimately
lost.
Days Without Word.
Mr.. Sage was accustomed to sit for
days at time without uttering single
word on the floor Of the House. He
watched every turn of the wheels and
when not engaged in committee work was
constantly In his seat. With the exception
of moving to adjourn and calling for the
ayes and nays on some proposition he
wanted to prevent the passage Of Mr..
Sage was not heard from after his effort
to secure the passage of the resolution for
the purchase of Mount Vernon until the
deficiency bill was under consideration.
AS is the case in the present Con-
gress, an effort was made to do
away with the free distribution Of seeds
to farmers else to cut down the amount
to be expended in this direction. Mr.. Sage
was on his feet In minute as one Of the
champions of the farmer. IF there is one
~.
is entitled to the protection of Congress
1t Is the farmer, the agriculturist," said
Mr.. Sage. THE system of seed distribu
ton may be 'humbuggery,' but If 1T is there
are many like systems in the government.
and /, for one, want to see this special sys-
TEN of 'humbuggery' continued" Mr.. Sage
continued in this strain for several minutes
as one of the strongest advocates of the
farmer on the floor of the House. but. as
was usually the case, his remarks were few
and strongly put.
Probably the warmest debate In which
there was more of a show of feeling in
which Mr.. Sage took part was on the bill
for the organization of the territories of
Kansas and Nebraska, in which the ques-
ton of politics, especially in SO far as the
question of slavery was concerned, formed
a dominant part. Mr.. Sage opposed the
of the bill with all his power and
strength. He used parliamentary tactics
in a manner that was successful for the
time being in his efforts to stop the debate
on the Dill ana nave II temporarily laid
aside.
Il ara unwilling for any one member of
this body to consent that the important
business before this country referring to
general business matters that had been
laid aside in favor of the territories billy
shall be thrust aside to take up a matter
which everybody will admit is not impor-
tant business regards the present. said
Mr.. Sage. There Is no necessity for 1t.
was surprised the other day when the COM
mittee of the whole House passed by num-
Der of important bills to take up this Kan
sas and Nebraska territories bill, and, sirs,
so long as I retain my health shall resist
every attempt Of this kind in every legiti-
mate way. think the country will sus-
tain me in so doing. / am not to be de-
tered by any threats here of any kind. My
rights are the same as those of every other
member, and l intend to assert them now
and at all times I look on the Pacific
Railroad question lover which the terri
tories bill had been given precedence) as
far more important than this swindle which
has been thrown before the country with
n,tt INV notice IN the ppon1e His efforts