Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-08-10
ALLISON WILL Be MISSED
Death Leaves Void in Senate Not
Easily Filed.
LONG HEAD OF MONEY COMMITTEE
As Charm. 4 of Appropriations He
Had Supervised Expenditure of
More Funds Thpn Any other
Member of Congress.
CFrom a staff Correspondent.)


WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-(SpeciaL)-The
death OF Senator William Boyd Allison,
while not wholly unexpected. came at
most inopportune time by reason OF polit-
ical conditions in Iowa. His death will
leave a void in the senate that cannot cas-
lily be filled, for Senator Allison occupied
most unique position. not only in the
senate. but in the country as well.
As chairman of the committee on appro-
priations he has dispensed more millions
than any man in the history OF the nation,
and in his treatment of the great supply bills
OF congress he ceased to be a partisan and
became the statesman invoking all his pow
ers for the public veal
Although a man of few friendships and,
in a large sense, a rather reticent man,
William b. Allison had the confidence Of
both republicans and democrats in the up
per branch OF the national legislature and
when that body was in the hands OF the
democrats and ex-senator Cockrell was
the chairman OF the appropriations com
mittee, William b. Allison was the vital
force on the committee during all the years
OF his connection with the great committee,
which position he held until his death.
In addition to his being chairman OF the
appropriations committee OF the senate, he
was a member OF the following other COM
mittees: Additional accommodations for
the library OF congress. finance. organiza-
tions, conduct and expenditures OF the ex-
ecutive departments and the university Of
the United States.
Takes Charge of ApprOpria tiOnH.
Senator Allison went to the head OF the
appropriations committee in 1881, which po-
sition he held until 1893. when the senate
passed into the control of the democrats.
and was succeeded by ex-senator Francis
II. Cockreu. now a member of the Inter
state Commerce commission. Cockrell did
not long remain at the head of the great
money committee OF the senate. the senate
passing into the hands OF the republicans
in January. 1885 when the senate commit
tees were reorgsniEed and Allison again
came to the head Of the committee on sp-
propriations. which position he held until
his death.
Senator Eugene Hale OF Maine. by the
death Of Allison. becomes the ranking mem
ber OF the appropriations committee and
undoubtedly will become the chairman. al
though he will reluctantly give up the
chairmanship of naval affairs in which he
has a very big interest. Should Hale be
come chairman OF appropriations he will
I AAAbNoANAt9 ANhaAh q hAa1t NA haNaA al
| fairs. and in the event OF Senator Perkins
reelection to the senate he will probably
become chairman OF the naval committee
Entered Congress During War Time
! Senator Allison. who is fairly entitled u
/ be called father OF the republic" en-
/ tered public life in 1855. Abraham Lincoln
was then president, the civil war was just
coming 70 an end. There was then no
railroad TO the Pacific coast. The pOpula-
ton OF the United States was only $500. 900
very considerably less than half what Il
IL today. Since Allison first took his seat
IN the capitol at Washington ten new
states have been admitted TO the union
and all our oversee possessions. including
Alaska, have been acquired. Up 10 the
time OF his death there was no man in
either branch OF congress who was there
/ whea Allison arrived upon the scene. Ha
1continued N sacond Es.vea a