The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-03
G. E. LITTLEFIELD,
LAW MAKER, DIES
Former Congressman Well
Known as Chairman Of the
Judiciary Committee.
MORSE'S CHIEF COUNSEL

Former Congressman Charles r..
Hospital yesterday. His death was
caused by embolism, the formation OF
blood clot resulting from an operation
performed ten days ago. lie was 81
years old. and his home was at ESQ
West Nine,y-first street.
Since his resignation from Congress-
In 1908 Mr. bittleheld had made New
York city his homo and had been prac-
Using law here. His office was at 81
Broadway Before he quit public life
to take up private practice he was one
Of the leaders in the national House OF
Representatives. coming from the Sec
ond distric; OF Maine.
Charles Edgar IhttleAcid was born In
Lebanon. Me. In 1851. His father was
Baptist minister. and the son received
his schooling in various Maine towns.
where the Rev. william n. Littlefeld
had his charges At the age Of IS he
was working at the carpenters trade.
and later he became a millwright. set
ting up a business with his father. who
had retired from the ministry. Tho son
saved up the money which enabled him
to study law.
In 1876 he was admitted to the bar
and began to practice In Rockland, Me.
He formed partnership with his
brother. Arthur. and soon made repu-
tation which led to his entrance into
politics. He was sent to tho Maine
LEGISLATURE in 1855 and was Speaker
Of the Maine House OF Representatives
I'm 1855 Then he was elected Attorney
General OF the state.
on June 10. 1889, he was elected b
serve out the unexpired term in Con-
| gress OF Nelson Dingley. He was re-
| elected and in all served In me FIFTY
sixth, Ftfty-seventh. Fifty eighth, Fifty
ninth and Sixtieth Congresses. He was
a delegate to the Republican Natioral
| Conventions OF 1892 and 1896, and he
was chairman Of the Maine delegation
Mr.. Llttleneld was a big man physi-
cally. 6 feet inches in height, and an
aggressive and persevering one. When
/ President Roosevelt began TO take vi
/ the subject OF trusts Nj. Littlefield was
/ A member OF the Judiciary Committee
| Of the House and IL was announced that
/ he had been selected By the President
! 10 be his champion in carrying out a
/ programme OF antitrust legislation.
Mr. Littleaeld began campaign fol
F the regulation OF trusts IN the Fifty
sixth Congress-. Indeed his frst speech
In the House was an arg ume Mt in favor
OF a proposed amendment To the Con
! stitution which was intended TO confer
/ upon Congress power not only TO regu
T late and control but also to prohibit anC
B dissolve any form OF business enterpr!s,
I which tho law should define as a trust
In 1903 the antitrust bill which Mr.
| Littlefeld had prepared was passed b,
f, the House. IL had been introduced IL
| the previous session but had not gon'
through the Senate II was doomed neve
TO be passed by the Senate. for the rea
| son that the Senate majority had decided
upon publicity provision which wouiC
affect only corporations engaged IN in
tcrs;atr commerce.
The r-m stand which NJ. Ii'tlefelc
took in regard TO antitrust Legislation
, sharGc'or. ned hts other political aciiyt'
ties lie opposed President Mckinley.
Porto Rican policy and he was In op
position TO President Roosevelt wher
. he question OF Cuban reciprocity cam,
up, because he believed II to he inimica
TO the Republican party's doctrine o.
protection.
In 1905 his election was opposed by
Samuel fompers. president OF the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor who stumpeC
I the second district OF Maine in an eff
fort 20 defeat Mr.. littlehsld. His re
election came about that year, however
and Il was assured for tho following
term. 3, was said. when he resigned
from Congress to come N New Yorl
and form law partnership with hi!
son. Charles W Littleheld. AS chic
counsel for Charles W, Morse at tn
bankers trial no came prominently be
fore the New York public as "A cour
practitioner.
The former Congressman leaves
wife. who was Clara II. Aver, n daugh
ter OF Gen william " Aver OF Mon,
VILE. Me. son, Charles W, and
daughter Caroline A.