The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-01
SENATOR PROCTOR,
Who Is Said to Be the Richest Man in
the Senate.
Proctor and Stephenson
Fayorites, Guggenheim
May Be Third.

It IS declared with much confidence.
on the authority OF one Of the multi
millIonaires Of the Senate. that Senator
Proctor OF Vermont is the richest man
In that body. a
Somebody recently made a compiIa-
ton which showed Sentaor Guggen-
helm 10 be the richest member. with
so. 00o,OO0 10 his credit. II is declares
/ that this comes nearer to representing
the Guggenheim family wealth, there be-
/ ing seven brothers Senator Guggen-
! helm is not the richest nor the second
| richest Senator.
Senator Stephenson Of Wisconsin IS also
a candidate for the distinction OF be-
ing the richest Senator. He recently
complained to a feIlow-statesman that
on. a 60.OO0-acre land deal-he lost s., O00-
O0O-by selling too soon aud only making
| s., 600, 600, when he really ought 70 have
made twice as much ana would have
done so II I hadn't exercised bad Judg-
ment.
But I never did claim very good
judgment about money matters" de-
precistingly. remarked the Senator.
Proctor Marble Trust.
Senator Proctor's fortune is represent
ed by the Marble trust. which is the
same as Senator Proctor. He owns the
marble, and gets the profits out Of it.
He got TO making immense money out
OF it many years ago. and to investing
in select corner lots IN the business dis
tricts OF great cities He now has them
IN cities all over the country. 1t Is said
that he owns strictly choice real estate
IN more cities than any other man in
the country. HIS city holdings have
been adding to his fortune so fast that
nobody. dares estimate his wealth ex-
cept people who don't know anything
about it. But Judging by the specula-
tions Of colleagues who have had some
opportunity to know Of his estate. it
would probably not be an error TO say
that ne is one of the richest men in the
country. worth something like the
$50 1000 that is credited TO the Colorado
Senator. Guggenheim.
Stephenson's Fortune.
Senator Stephenson's fortune is in
lumber, land, manufacturing. city real
estate, and other investments. He owns
an immense amount of very valuable
land IN Milwaukee. covered by sky
scraping office buildings. His timber
holdings are extensive both North and
South He has about 5000 men in his
employ, and though he is seventy-eight
years old, gives his personal attention
to an amount of business that would
horrify most men Of twenty-five years
younger.
During the debate, a year ago. on the
question of raising salaries, Senator
Money of Mississippi declared that de-
spite his name. he supposed he was the
poorest Senator in the body; and It Is
said ne had a good claim TO this dis
hnction. He thought the increase from
S6.0G5 to 1880 was fair and reasonable.
Aspirants to Distinction.
This year new aspirant to the dis
tinotion Of being the poorest Senator
/ has appeared IN the person OF Senator
Brown of Nebraska. who has put forth
the claim IN his own behalf. Senator
Brown went TO the sandhill country
many years ago. landed in a boom town.
saw the boom burst. and almCs Z starved
TO death But he thought that town
would grow up again, and he stayed
and starved with it, His judgment
proved right. The town-Kearney. Neb.
lis again prosperous, and the young
lawyer who wouldn't quit even in the
| face Of adversely and what looked Ike
starvation. is now Senat tor.
There are a good many more rich men
In the House than in the Senate. but
It is hard to get accurate Impressions
about them. for the House IS generally
very democratic body and the rich
members can't be told from tie poor
ones, save by their manner of living at
home. a constantly increasing "a 1nher
Of wealthy statesmen build or buy fine