Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-20
Many Deaths So Far IN
the 59th Congress.
Days Devoted to Eu|ogies In
House and Senate.
4 New Story Of the Late Speaker
Reed Of Maine.

NaSHllIStoI ~ L., r eD. 1S.-tSpecIal)
Congress has been very busy burying
its dead-not attending funerals. but
pronouncing eulogies. The death rate
has been heavy in the last two years
among the $50 members of the House
and the so members of the Senate
Nearly a score have fallen by the way
side, since March 4, 1905. 1t is n Pc
culiar feature that most Of the deaths
have been during recesses Of Congress-
but it is none the less required by the
etiquette of Senate and House that
oulOgies be pronounced upon all the de-
ceased.
A few days ago the Senate, late in
the afternoon, dropped work suddenly
and devoted itself to eulogizing Hon
r. F. Marsh, a gruff old fellow who
wore great spectacles of horn rims and
who pranced much about the center
aisle Of the House. Most men about
the Capitol had to stop to think about
him. He had been dead so long that
he had passed out of mind As a mat
ter of fact he died soon after the ad-
jucrnment of the 5Sth Congress and
James Mckinney. his successor, chosen
at special election, in November. 1865
has been sitting during all the legisla-
tive life Of the 18th Congress. But
Col Marsh had to be properly buried by
the pronouncing of eulogics and the
printing Of the same verbatim in a
nicely bound volume, of which every
Senator and member will have Il quota
in the document room.
The House has been working much
Sundays of late to clear its docket of
deceased members. 1t inausurated Il
practice some two or three years ago
of holding Sunday sessions for this
purpose. Thus the regular business of
Congress is not interfered with A
handful of members go 20 the Capitol
for these memorial meetings, half Il
dozen or more do the speaking and the
service has more genuine aspect than
was often the case when eulogies were
delivered week days.
Not long ago Sunday service was
held for the late Representative Rock
wood Hoar of Worcester, Mass, and
the eulogirs were devoted almost as
much to his distinguished father. the
late Senator George Frisbie Hoar. Of
Massachusetts. as to him. The lat
est memorial session was to Repre-
sentative l.. r. Hit. a veteran mom-
ber. who was pioneer stenographic re-
porter, who knew and associated with
Lincoln and withal was one of the most
interesting men in Congress for many
years. The euloSies on Mr.. Hit
brought out many good "reminiscences
both at the Sunday session and in sub
sequent conversation.
Hit and the late Speaker Reed We're
intimate friends. They We're col
leagues in the House for probably
twenty years. An interesting story of
their first meeting was recalled soon
after the Sunday euloGies. In these
days Ir. Reed was living at the Ham
ilton Hotel. He knew there was a
member of the House from Illinois
named Hit and Mr. Hit knew there
was n member of the House from
Main" named Reed. One morning Mr..
Reed boarded a street car in front Of
his hotel Horses were the motive
power in those days. long before cleo
trio cars had been invented. He paid
his fare ana rode on down Four ocnth
street to Pennsylvania avenue. As the
car stopped in front Of the old Willard
Hotel. now replaced by modern
structure, Mr.. Hit got aboard and
took seat next To Mr. Reed. The
conductor came along for Mr.. HIT ;
fare. Tho latter found himself with
out change and proffered 4 five dollar
bill, which always makes Washington
street car conductors disagrecabic
There is 4 rule of the street roads here
that passengers must offer money IL
denominations no larger than s. or ge
off. No one has ever been put off 2
car for that offense as far as known
but the rule is frequently mentioned tt
passengers The outcome usually il
thai the passenger rides for nothing.
Mr. Hit and the conductor had ;
wordy exchange which ended by Mr.
Reed pulling street car ticket from
his pocket and silently proffcring it L
the conductor. who seemed to haV'
nothing to do but allow MIR. Hit t.
ride without paying his fare. Th'
horse car logged on down the long ave
nue. and up the high hill on which tn
Capitol sits. The two men alightet
and started up the broad plaza to TIL
Capitol. They had spoken but a fey
words. till Mr.. Reed blurted out.
How often do you try to beat tn
conductor that way?" The humor o
the remark appealed to Mr.. Hit and
vas the beginning Of friendship tina
lasted during the remainder of thei
lives.
Tho House first eulogizes its decease'
members and then the Senate PRO
nounces eulogies on those members
The Senate first eulogizes its oea
Senators and then the House takes
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