The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-13
ALLIsoN's SENATE RECORD
THE LONGEST IN HISTORY

Washington, Aug. 7.-Senator Allison
entered the Senate March 4. 1873, and
had served continuously eyer since,
making the longest period as a mem
per OF that body ever covered by any
individual.
When he died he had just completed
he fifth month of the seth year OF his
occupancy Of this post, thus exceeding
by almost three years and a half the
81 years and min months service of
Senator Morrill,. OF Vermont, who held
the record for continuous service pre-
vious to Senator Allison, and the 81
years IL months and IA days service
OF Senator Sherman, who previous to
Senator Allison had served the longest
time In the Senate. although not with
out interruption. Senator Sherman's
time was broken by two terms in the
Morrill, suffered by such interruption.
Mr.. Allison entered the Senate as the
successor OF Senator Harlan. OF Iowa.
He entered upon his first active term
in 1878 and was excessively chosen for
hi terms beginning In 1884, 1890, 1896,
1902. His last term would have expired
March 4, 1903, but by the recent repub-
lican primaries Of the state he had been
indicated as the states preference for
another term.
Also In House.
In addition to his service in the Sem
ate, Mr.. Allison had given eight years
Of his life to h House Of Representa-
tives.
Going from his state OF Ohio to Iowa
In 1857, when 2S years old, he almost
Immediately entered public life as a
member or the staff Of the then gov
ernor of his adopted state. and six
years later, In 1863, vas elected for the
hrst time to a seat In the lower house
OF the national legislature. He served
in that body during the thirty eighth,
thirty-ninth and forty first congresses
and after two years of retirement en-
tered upon his illustrious career In the
Senate. When he entered the House
the civil war was ct it's height and his
service covered not only that exciting
epoch, but also the scarcely less excit-
ing time of the reconstruction. He had
been closely Identified with the history
Of the country during the administra-
lions of Lincoln, johnson, Grant,
Hayes. Cleveland, Harrison, Mckinley
and Roosevelt.
On Important Committees.
For many years Senator Allison had
been chairman OF the republican caucus
or n Senate of the republican steer
ing committee and Of the Senate COM
mittee on appropriations. He was and
had been for over 80 years a member
Of h committee on finance and dur
ing much of that time held the second
position on that committee. ,
By virtue of his position as chairman
OF n republican caucu committee, es-
pecially of the steering committee Mr..
Allison was technical leader Of the Sen
ate. As chairman of the steering COM
mittee he was permitted to select his
own associates and thus he became in
q peculiar sense the arbiter of the for
tunes of legislation in the Senate for, as
is generally known, this committee, al
though not recognized by law, prac-
tically determines what important bills
shall be passed n what shall be de-
feated or allowed to die. 1t was the
steering committee more than any 9TH
er sub-organiZation of the Senate which
directed h legislation in connection
with the Spanish-American war. In
deed, OF late years there has been little
legislation OF moment that has not had
the sanction of this body.