Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-15
DEATHS in SENATE
Six Members Have Died Since
Close of Last Session.
EULOGIES CONSUME TIME
Upper House Will Give One Day to
Each Deceased Member.
ONLY AZ WORKING DAYS LEFT
Important Bills to Be Considered
Between Now and Day Of
Adjournment.

DedtD. tHat grim SpeCteT tHdt WditS loi
neither time nor tide and that losses
aside the well laid plans of men like
chaff. and Father Time. that monster
whose steady advancement only Joshua
of all that have lived claims to have
checked, are playing important parts IN
the present session of the Senate. And
in view Of the changes in the political
compilations of many wearers of togas,
they are just now playing important parts
in the history of the nation.
There are only forty-two working days
left in the present session of Congress;
and yet before the adjournment sine die
six legislative days must be devoted to
the sounding of eulogies to six United
States senator's who have died since the
close of the last session. The customs
and traditions of the upper house of
Congress demand that before the close of
any session a day shall be set apart
upon which fitting tribute can be paid
to those colleagues who have died during
the legislative year.
The death roll of the present session
bears the names of Samuel D. McEnery
Of Louisiana, John w. Daniel of Vir-
ginia, Jonathan p. Dolliver of Iowa,
Alexander S. Clay of Georgia, Stephen B.
LlkluS Oh west virginia ana CHdTieS y.
Hughes, jr.. of Colorado. Five of these
were veteran legislators; had devoted the
best years Of their life to the public serv-
ice in the United States Senate, and were
close personal friends Of most of the
present senators.
Many Will Pay Tribute.
This means that the number OF those
who will wish to add their last words of
tribute at the proper time will be many.
1t is estimated that as many as twenty
senators will wish to speak on the public
services and the life in the cases of one
or two of the deceased. That precludes
any discussion of the possibility of dou-
bling up, and thus six Of the working
days are probably lost, SO far as legis-
lative accomplishments are concerned.
Besides devoting time to the eulogfes
of the dead. the Senate is bound to take
up the thirteen regular annual appropria-
ton bills, and several Of them are OF
such size and Importance that many
hours will be consumed in the mere read
ing of their texts and of the amendments.
The fight over the unseating of Senator
William Lorimer Of Illinois will make fur
Their inroads on the Senate's time-and big
inroads, too, because the fight will not be
the committee which made the report
UNFOLDING him. and probably to the ,Presi-
dent for what some senators call med
ding" in the Senate's business.
Important Bills Awaiting.
The tariff commission is also to receive
attention. and no small amount of time
will be required to put such legislation
through the Senate or to defeat it. In
odd moments, too, the Senate will find
itself confronted with the mail subsidy
bill, the proposed constitutional amend
ment to allow direct election or senator's,
the forest reserve bill, several conserva-
ton bills and small legislation that is
on the calendar.
While death is putting limitations upon
legislation in the session, 1t is also chang
ing radically the appearance of the
Senate. Four of the senators who have
died occupied front row seats-McEnery,
Daniel, Elkins and Hughes. Seat No. IL,
second from the center aisle on the DEM
ocratic side, seems to have carried a
hoodoo during the year. Senator Daniel
held 1t when death came to him. and
Senator Hughes was its occupant when
he was called by death.
1t now falls to Senator Johnston Of Ala
bama. A less desirable front row seat,
which Senator Johnston has held, has
been assigned to Senator Thornton.
Within q few weeks after entering the
Senate he gets one of its most desirable
seats. =.
Senator Brandegee of connecticut has
obtained the front row seat occupied by
Senator Elkins.. on the republican side.
Some Were Picturesque.
The senators whom death has removed
from sthe Senate were among the most
picturesque In the upper house. and in
that respect they will be greatly missed.
Senator Daniel was the only senator who
used crutches-and his were honorable