News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-09-06
CARROLL S. pAGE--H Tribute
By Hon. William p. Dillingham;

No mao in the United States Senate has
been more regular in attendance, more
devoted to his work, and more painstak
ing in the discharge of his duties, thar
Senator Page. He has brought to the
Senate all of those characteristic activi
| ties of MUD and temperament which
gave him leadership in the business ano
| political circles of Vermont
His general characteristics can be best
| described, perhaps, by referring to re-
| cent conversation had with distin
guished Democratic Senator who made
this remark
"My observation has been that the
Senate is made up of two classes of men,
those who feel it their duty to speak on
every question, but who are quite fire.
quently wong both in their premises
and conclusions, and secondly those who
speak less frequently, and never unless
they have something of value to say, but
who by reason of careful study and pa
tient investigation are almost Invariably
right in their action"
Senator Page belongs in the class last
mentioned.
Those who have watched the course of
the two great parties as represented in
the Senate must have observed that the
Republican party has been composed of
men who have done their o wn thinking
and maintained self-respecting indie
pendence. Caucus action il not tolerated
among them.
On the other hand, the caucus system
hoe Ia hoa, tn in t,n
party, and it's binding authority upon it's
members has been declared superior to
their individual conscience and judg-
ment. This has been conspicuously so
under the present administration. That
party since coming into power has de-
voted itself almost exclusively to the
work of securing the adoption of purely
administration measures, dictated at the
White House, approved by the caucus,
and pushed through the Senate by sheer
force of numbers.
In the meantime, a vast volume of
business, less spectacular in character,
but vitality important to the welfare of
the nation, has been under consideration
by the appropriate committees, at the
meetings of which the Republican mem
bers, trained to the Importance of this
work, have been faithful in their at
tendance while, to a lamentable degree,
the Democratic members have been con-
spicuous by their absence. When it is
that the character of the
work done by the Senate committees is
SO fully recognized by that body that
more than so per cent of the measures
favorably considered are adopted upon
their recommendations, and without de-
bate, the Importance of individual atten-
ton to committee work cannot be over
estimated.
These observations are preliminary to,
and intended to give force to the state
ment that no Senator of my acquaintance
has more consistently attended meetings
Of committees of which he is member
than Senator Page, and no Senator has
given more serious, laborious investiga-
lion and thought TO the problems under
than has he.
In single term of service Senator !
Page has, in addition to less important |
committees. been assigned to Agricul-
lure and Forestry, Banking and Currency, |
Education and Labor, Indian Affairs, and |
Naval Affairs, all of which rank high in |
and on each of which he has
lone exceptional work. Should the Sem
tie again become Republican, lie would
undoubtedly become chairman of the
Committee on Agriculture and Forestry,
me of vast Importance both to the ma
ion and to the individual states, and a
position which was held by Senator Proc
or at the time of his death.
In this connection l want also to say.
What is not generally known, that the
Committee on Indian Affairs demands
more time and attention, presents more
complex problems to be solved, is more
xacting in its demands upon the time
nd patience and integrity of its men,
'ers, than almost any other one of the
'enate committees. 1t has been custom
ny to assign one New England Senator to
his committee with the thought that, as
representative of a state unaffected by ;
indian legislation, perhaps his service
you'd be of special value in protecting
18th the nation and the Indian wards i
f the patton against frauds and loss.
he late Senator Platt of Connecticut ,
TODD for years as a rock of defence /
gainst encroachments upon the rights |
f both. When he, by reason of other {
ublic duties, was compelled to relin- (
uish that work, | was, at his request, as /
gned to the vacancy thus created. Later
~ time was demanded in other direc- {
ons and Senator Page took the laboring {
ar and has spent nights as we'll as days a
faithful but inconspicuous work in a
ERECTING Indian legislation. s
But want to call special attention to
is work as member of the Committee