Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-27
SENATOR NEWLANDS
DIES SUDDENLY
End fastened by Hard Work
Day and Night on Railroad
Problem.
WAS 50 YEARS OF AGE.
Pre.cminent Congressional Expert ON
Rail and waterway Transportation
Author of Newlands Bill.
WAS 50 YEARS OF AGE.


els Griffith Newlands of Nevada, died
of heart failure at his home here Tonight
after an illness Of few hours. He was
stricken while at work in his Office at the
Senate office building during the after
noon, but was able to go 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 a physician was not called
until late this evening. Then the heart
attacks had become acute The end came
suddenly at 1O:15 o'clock, as Mrs. New
lands and her brother watched at the bed
side.
For several weeks Senator Newlands,
working almost night and day on his prep
arations for an investigation OF war
time transportation problems, had been
in a weakened state of health. He kept
at his desk, however, and In spite OF his
60 years appeared alert and active.
The senator was a native of Mississippi.
He was born near Natchez August %. 1913.
and lived in the 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
received his diploma. From Washington
he went to San Francisco. where he prac-
ticed law until 1888. Then he became a
citizen OF Nevada and was elected to the
53rd. 54th. 55th. seth and 57th Congresses.
During his ten years as a member OF the
Eouse he served on various important
committees.
Succeeding Senator John P. JONES' re-
publican, in the Senate on March 4. 1903,
Senator Newlands soon became an active
member of that body and when the demo-
Gratis gained control was made head of
the interstate commerce committee. In
1908 he submitted his candidacy for re-
election to the popular vote and was re-
turned by a large majority.
( As chairman of the joint congressional
/ committee on transportation problems as
well as of the interstate commerce com.
mittee, the senator has been prominently
| identified with consideration Of what the
| government is to do about the railroads
during the war. He had conferred with
the President several times and at the
Presidents request deferred hearings thu
interstate commerce committee was pre-
pairing to start until after the Christina.
holidays. when the President is expected
to submit his solution Of the railroad
problem to Congress.
The senator's chief interest for year
had been in Americas railway transpor
tation lines, and in the development o
national waterways. both for transporta
ton and for greater fertility of land
Because of his close touch and deep in
terest in these questions he was univer
sally regarded as the pre-eminent exper
on them in the Senate, and probably 4
Congress.
AS author Of the Newlands' act, whic
provided a plan Of land improvement !
the arid West by development Of water
ways. he also was we'll known He ha
for a long time pressed legislation 70
expenditure of many millions Of dollar
for waterway and irrigation improve
ments, recently witnessing partial fruitio
of his hopes in the appointment Of
special commission authorized by Cor
gress for a comprehensive study of AmeI
lean waterway development.
In his railroad legislative work Senate
Newlands enjoyed the closest confideno
of President Wilson and had been n
, garded as administration spokesman o
such matters in the Senate. There he we
not a frequent debater, but always wa
= given the closest attention when speal
ing. He piloted the Adamson eight hol
day bill through the Senate during tn
last Congress
!, Most Of Senator Newlands' business IL
terests are in the West. He was repute
to be quite wealthy. having extensi,
: mining interests in Nevada and Califol
j, mia.
= Colleagues Of Senator Newlands fe
. that his loss will be peculiarly felt at II
present time. Only to-day he was el
gagged on preliminary work Of the inve
. tigation ordered by the Senate of the Il
terstate commerce commission recon
= mendations for dealing with the raj
q roads. Leadership In this task now pro
a ably will devolve upon Senator Smith
: South Carolina. next in rank to Senat
a Newlands on the interstate CONNER
committee