Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-25
AMI SMITH IS DEAD
Was Many Years Head of Sen
ate Document Room.
FRIEND OF FAMOUS MEN
Known Far and Wide for His Marvel
Gus Memory.
VALUABLE TO GOVERNMENT
No Index Necessary When He Was
Around-Funeral Arrangements
Announced Later.

AMI Smith, for forty-three years con-
nected with the document room of the
United States Senate, and for many years
in charge of that important branch Of the
Senate died last night of typhoid fever, in
the sixty fourth year of his age. He would
have Been, had he lived until today, just
sixty-four years old
Mr.. Smith was known by every public
man whose business took him to the United
States Capitol for the last generation ana
he possessed a remarkable memory both
for faces and for the indexes of public
bills, documents, reports and executive
communications which annually found
their way into both houses of Congress.
1t took him but a moment to indicate
where any public document could be found
In the vast storehouse over which he pre-
sided. Senator George of Mississippi once
said to him: You might burn up all the
indexes in the Senate, AMI, and you would
be all right.
When the end came the deceased was
surrounded by his wife, two daughters,
Mrs. Richard Halves of this city and Mrs.
John Schreyer of Milton, Pa, and his son,
Frank P. Smith, architect of Boston.
Another son, AMI Smith, jr, of Johnson
City, Pa, has been telegraphed for, but
has not reached the city.
Mr.. Smith became ill about one month
ago, but said little to the members of his
family. Finally, about ten days ago, he
was compelled to take to his bed, and the
physician in attendance announced that
he was suffering with typhoid fever. His
condition gradually grew worse until the
end. The funeral arrangements have not
been completed.
Since the FortySeventh Congress.
Probably no better test of the esteem in
which Mr.. Amzi Smith was held by those
who were his employers can be shown than
by the annual insertion in the appropriation
bills of Congress of this item: For super
intendent Of the document room (Amzi
SMITH, $1,000" In other words Congress
stipulated that the appropriation for that
office should be expended only in favor Of
one man, AMI Smith.
This was done for one purpose; namely,
that in event of a change in the head of
the department to which Mr. Smith was
accredited, during the recess of Congress,
no one would dare to appoint another man
to his place. 1t also served notice upon the
horde of hungry office-seekers ever throng-
ing the Senate that the Senate was salts
fed with Mr.. Smith and did not want any
one to come proving around after his
place.
Since the Forty-seventh Congress land
that is long time) this provision has ap-
peared in the annual supply bills. In recent
years it has probably been superfluous,
since man who had knowledge of af-
fairs as they existed would have possessed
the temerity to ask for AMI Smiths place.
1t was acknowledged that he was nvalua-
BILE and that the Senate so regarded his
status.
/ Col. Bright's Tribute.
Col. Richard ]. Bright who served twice
as sergeant alarms of the Senate, told a
Star man the other day an incident bearing
upon this phase of the case.
when first took charge Of the office Of
sergeant-at-arms in 1870" said Col. Bright,
Mr.. Smiths position was under my office.
There had been change Of administration,
the democrats coming in, and there were
about 5000 applications for some one hun
dred positions. Among the demands l re-
ceived was one for Mr.. Smiths place. l
pointed out to those who asked for it. that
Mr.. Smiths office was peculiar; his office
was workshop of the Senate, and 1t was
necessary to have a man at the head Of 1t
who could do the work demanded by the
Senate. 1t was far more important to the
democrats of the Senate that they should
have in that place a man who could on
the spur of the moment answer calls made
upon him, for Information to be used for
partisan purposes, If you please, than 1t
was that some good democrat should be
provided with place. That view was ac-
cepted and Mr.. Smith was not disturbed"
Col. Bright went on to say that later,
when he was about to go out of Office. he
was called upon to supplant Mr. Smith.
One of the greatest republicans in the Sem
ate was back of the applicant for Mr..
Smiths place. Col. Bright went to this
senator and suggested that while he would
not take it upon himself to anticipate his
successor (Col. Dan RansdelD and would
not make a change in Mr.. Smiths place
anyhow, he suggested that If this senator
CHI frU AM ha to
unanimously opposed to the change. The
senator concurred in this view and with
drew his Endorsement.
Later, Mr.. Smiths Office was placed un-
der the jurisdiction of the secretary Of the
senate. and it would probably have required
a caucus of senators to have displaced him
at any time.
Held in High Esteem.
Disbursing Officer Nixon, who is one Of
the Oldest and most valued employees of the
Senate, said of Mr. Smith:
Il have served the Senate contemporaries
ously with him for forty years and more
No man had a wider acquaintance among
public men or was held in higher regard
He knew every one, he seemed to know
everything that every one wanted to know
and he knew all about it, l was looking
over the records the other day and found
that Mr.. Smith came here in 1864. He held
minor positions at first, but was steadily
advanced. l mink ne OBTAINED his great
hold upon his position in 1877. In that year
the Senate adopted a resolution directing
the removal of the public documents from
under the roof of the Capitol and their
proper assortment. This work Mr.. Smith
undertook He became acquainted with
every public document on file, and possess
ing remarkable memory was able there
after to refer at a moment notice to the
document treating of any specified subject.
and could give its number off hand
This was Mr.. Smiths great forte If a
senator should come to him and saw
'Amzi, am going to talk about so-and- so: :
what can you refer me to having a bearing
on that subject?" Mr.. Smith in a jify
could tell him that away back yonder in
the year so and SO the Secretary of the
Treasury, or the Secretary of State, or the
public printer, or somebody else had sent
in report on that question. Also, senator
or representative this or that had made a
speech on 1t; all of which he would refer
to in his records, and in a few minutes
have the inquirer loaded down with infor-
ma ton.
This faculty came in handy to men of
both parties, in both the House and Sen
ate. Mr. Smiths mind was encyclopedia
and not partisan. He was employed to re-
member. and he did remember. If there
was hot debate in either the House or
Senate. and some statesman sent a page
scurrying to AMI Smith with perhaps lust