The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-25
Francis g. Newlaa,ds Stricken
While at Work in Office
at Capital.
WAS AN AUTHORITY
ON RAIL PROBLEMS
Owing to State of Transp0r.
'tation Conditions, Death,
Is UnfOrtunate.N

washington. Dec. Ex-senator Fran
CHS Griffith Newlands of Nevada died
OF heart failure at his homo here to-
night after an illness of few hours
He, was stricken while at work In his
office at the senate office building
during the afternoon but was able to
80 home and the capitol knew nothing
Of his illness until the announcement
of his death.
No one realized the seriousness of
the senator's condition and physician
was not called until late this evening
Then the heart attacks had become
acute. The end came suddenly at
1915 O'clock as Mrs. Newlands and
her brother watched at the bedside.
The senator was native of Missis-
sippi. lie was born near Natchcz,
August %. 1913, and lived in that state
until he went to Yale in 1867. After
nearly two years at Yale he entered
the Columbia college law school here
and graduated. being admitted to the
District of Columbia bar before he re-
ceived his diploma
From Washington he went to San
Francisco where he practiced law un-
til 1883. Then he became a citizen
of Nevada and was elected to the
fifty-third. fifty-fourtb. fifty fifth.
fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh con-
eresses. During his ten years as "A
member OF the house he served on
various important committees.
Heads Commerce Commission.
Succeeding Senator John p. Jones.
Republican. in the senate on March
I, 1903. Senator Newlands soon be-
came an active member of that body
and when the Democrats gained con-
troll. was made head of the interstate
commerce committee. In 1908 he sub
mitted his candidacy for reelection to
the popular vote and was returned by
a large majority.
As chairman of the joint congress
siOnal committee on TRANSPORTATION
problems as we'll as of the Interstate
commerce committee the senator has
been prominently identified with con-
sideration of what the government is
to do about the railroads during the
war;
For Improvement of West.
As author of the Newlands act,
which has provided a plan of land i'm
proyement in the arid west by devel-
opment of waterways. he also was
well known. He has for long time
pressed legislation for expenditure OF
many millions of dollars for waterway
and irrigation improvements, recently
witnessing partial fruition Of his hopes,
in the appointment of special COM
mission authorized by congress for a
comprehensive study of American
waterway development. sa ss.@
In his railroad Legislative work. SEN
ator Newlands has enjoyed the closest
confidence of President Wilson and
has been regarded as administration
spokesman on such matters in the
senate. t7t
Colleagues of Senator Newlands feel
that his loss will be peculiarly. felt
at the present time. Only today he
was engaged on preliminary work of
the investigation ordered by the SEN
ate Of the interstate commerce com. .
mission recommendations for dealing
with the railroads. Leadership in this
task now probably will dcyolve upon
Senator Smith of South Carolina. next
In rank to Senator Newlands on the
interstate commerce, committee.