Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-10
Hon. Eugene Hale.
Fortland EXpress.D

tOrtland EXPRESS
Senator Eugene Hale, who by the death
Of Senator William Il. Allison has become
senior senator in point of service in the
Senate. odds materially by this advance
ment in standing to Names political
prestige The chairmanships of some OF
the most important committees in the
Senate now fall to him. He is Chiirman
of the committee on appropriations. Of
the committee on change of the currency,
and of the committee on tariff reform.
Always regarded as one of the ahleSt
of the nations statesmen, Senator Hale
in his new position may more than ever
claim the respect of New England citl-
Zens regardless of party lines. lie mas
had a great influence in legislative affairs
and now that he is chairman OF such inn
portant committees this influence vii! he
more thar ever felt.
Senator Hale has beer member of the
Senate since 1881. lie early became a
member of the committee on appronria-
tons and on naval affairs. and was made
chairman of the committee or the cen
sus Among the committees of which
he is a member at the present time are
the committees on appropriations. change
of the currency. tariff reform. naval af-
fairs census. Canadian relations, private
land claims Philippines. and finance.
Senator Hale is descended from David
Hale. one of the pioneers of Turner, and
his parents We're James Sullivan Hale
and Betsy Staples Hale. He was born in
Turner June .. 1896. attended the village
district school and the grammar school,
and then went to Hebron Academy. From
IN l., ;,,{o NO af
Howard e Strout and there he studied
law until he was admitted to the bar in
January. 1857.
He began the practice of law I'm Orland
at the age of 90. and after practicins
there a while moved to Ellsworth. where
| he became n member of the firm Robin
son & Hale. Upon the death of Mr.. Rob
irson. NJ. Hale continued alone in h,.si-
ness for 10 years and built up Il largo
practice He was for nine years county
attorney of Hancock county, and for Il
| number Of years was senior member of
the firm Hale & Emery. Later he was
in partnership with Hannibal T.. Hamlin.
He was married in December. 1871. to
Mary Douglas Chandler daughter of Hon
Zachariah Chandler. senator from Michi-
gan. who afterwards became secretary Of
the Interior
In 1857 Mr.. Hale became a member of
the Legislature. lie was member in 1868
and 1880. the latter year being chairman
OF the committee which investigated the
| so-called state steal.' and helped bring
to light the details of the scheme.
In 1863 he became a member of the
Fortv-first Congress and was afterwards
a member of the Forty-second and Forty
third Congresses. He was appointed to
| the Office of postmaster general by Presi-
| dent Grant in 1874. but declined this Dur
ing the Forty-ffth Congress he was
| chairman of the Republican Congressional
| committee. and in 1865, 1876 and 1880 was a
| delegate to the national, the Cincinnati
| and the Chicago conventions. Elected to
| the United States Senate to succeed Han
| nibal 1amln, he took his seat March a..
] 1881. and was reelected in 1887 and 1893
| AS prominent committee man and
| manager of a number of the important
appropriation bills of recent years. Sena-
tor Hale has had prominent part in the
legislative measures of the Senate. He
| has reported and managed bills which
have passed the Senate for the building
Of the new navy and introduced the first
amendment favoring reciprocity with the
! countries of Central and South America
One Of his most notable speeches was
that on the free trade attitude Of the
Democratic convention in 1882. The sen.
ator is widely known as a forceful, con-
else and witty speaker, and dscourses or
great subjects and on after dinner trifes
with equal ease and readiness. He is ar
extensive reader and derives his style OF
speaking from the best models Of Eng.
fish literature. He has received the de.
gree of Doctor of Laws from Bates, Col
by and Bowdon.