Evening star., 1937-02-23
NAT|ON'SLEADERS
MOURN BUCHANAN
Roosevelt GrieveS at Loss of
''0Id Friend"-
Joins in Tribute.

President Roosevelt and congress
sional leaders today mourned the death
Of Representative James P. Buchanan,
69-year-old chairman of the powerful
House Appropriations Committee, who
has served in the House for the last
quarter Of q century.
The veteran Texas legislator died
last night in Naval Hospital follow
ing an illness of about a year. Presi-
dent Roosevelt today paid high tribute
to his old friend in a public state
ment.
"A faithful and wise counselor, an
indefatigible worker has been lost to
our national life in the passing Of
James P. Buchanan" the President
said. "As chairman of the great
Committee on Appropriations Of the
House, he discharged his duties with
great intelligence and strict fidelity.
Mourns "Old Friend"
"Unmoved by emotional appeal,
above partiSanship or sectionalism, he
accepted the responsibilities Of his
trust with the single purpose of serv-
ing the highest interests of the Ma
ton as whole. I personally mourn
the loss Of an old and staunch friend"
Representative Buchanan was
critic Of the administration policy of
seeking lump sum" appropriations,
instead of funds allocated for specific
items. but guided budget proposals
through the House.
A strong believer in governmental
economy, it fell to him to work for
the $4,000, 100000 work relief measure,
largest single appropriation in his
tory. and to see national defense costs
reach new peacetime high
He had been handicapped by failing
health for the last year He had
served in the House since 1918, becom-
ing Appropriations chairman in March,
1888, when the late Joseph w. Byrnes
was elevated to Democratic floor
leader.
Speaker Bankhead said Mr.. Bu-
chanan was "a useful and courageous
man." and Representative Rayburn.
House majority leader, called MIN "a
man of fine ability who rendered
great service to his State and coun-
try"
Gov. James v. Alfred said Texas
had lost "a big man" who would be
hard to replace.
Mr.. Buchanan's fatal heart attack
was foreshadowed as far back as jan
uary, 1886. At that time he spent
three consecutive nights, until after
midnight, in dentists chair. A short
time later his heart began troubling
him and he went TO the hospital for
three weeks.
Apparently recovered, he returned
to his desk again to tackle his tre-
mendous job. A bronchial cough de-
veloped.
With the beginning Of the present
Congress last month, Mr.. Buchanan
told friends he was more nervous and
tired than usual, but continued his
work. He was stricken suddenly yes
terday and taken to Naval Hospital.
He is survived by his widow and
one son, James P. Buchanan, jr.,
both of whom were present when he
died at 10:40 pm.
Mr.. Buchanan was elected to the
House to succeed Albert Sidney Burle-
son. whom President Wilson appointed
Postmaster General.
Spoke In Low Voice.
Never noted as an orator, Mr.. Bu-
chanan spoke in a voice which some
times failed to carry across the House
chamber. Frequently he drowned out
q point by smacking his right hand
into the palm of his left with O re-
port like pistol shot.
Visitors to his Office in the Capitol
often found him curled up in a swivel
chair, feet crossed atop his desk. A
cigar usually switched from one side
of his mouth to the other as he spoke.
His infrequent relaxation took two
principal forms. One was to lose him.
self in a gaudy-colored dime novel OF
the west-"the wilder and woolier the
better" he once said.
The other was an informal discus
sion of Government problems at late
night session" with colleagues in the
lobby of hotel on Capital Hill.
He seldom took a vacation, and to
his strenuous committee duties was
added recently the Craftsmanship of the
House committee created to study
President Roosevelts plans for reor.
ganization of the Government.
Mr.. Buchanan's father was wealthy
plantation owner who thought the
South would win the Civil War.
Afterward, the elder Buchanan started
back to his home, but learned some
persons accused him of being spy.
and he decided to leave the State.
The father headed West by one route
and Mrs. Buchanan and her two chill
dren went another. At the age of 8,
James p. Buchanan was picking cot
| ton on rented acres in Central Texas.