Later, I saw Levi P. Morton, of New York, preside as Vice-President. He was a fine business man who had served his country with honor abroad, but had no training as a presiding officer. He was regarded as fair in his rulings.
The Senate is now presided over by Senator Frye, of Maine, who has had a long experience in legislative bodies, having served six terms as representative from Maine, and having been elected to the Senate in 1881, to fill the vacancy left by Blaine when he became Secretary of State under Garfield. He was also a member of the Peace Commission which met in Paris, September, 1898, to settle the terms of peace between the United States and Spain. He was elected President pro tempore of the Senate in 1896, and reelected March 7, 1901. He is considered extremely fair to both sides, and is an able officer.
When I take friends to the Senate now I notice they ask first for Mr. Hoar, of Massachusetts; Hanna, of Ohio; Spooner, of Wisconsin; Dollinger, of Iowa; Quay, of Pennsylvania; Hawley, of Connecticut; Lodge, of Massachusetts; Nelson, of Minnesota; Depew and Platt, of New York. Then strangers desire to see Tillman and McLaurin, of South Carolina; Vest, of Missouri, and Morgan, of Alabama.
When I was here from 1885 to 1888 the following were the stars: Edmunds, who for quiet strength, massive force, persistent effort, fertility of resource, and keen sagacity was never surpassed on the floor of the Senate. Like Mr. Hoar, his sentences in rhetorical and grammatical construction were fit for the Record just as they fell from his lips. William M. Evarts, of New York, famous as counsel in the Beecher trial, and attorney for the Republican party before the Electoral Commission. He seemed like a man about to do some great thing, but he originated no important national or international law. Leland Stanford, noted for his philanthropy and great wealth, and Wade Hampton and Senator Butler, both of South Carolina, were picturesque and interesting figures. General Logan, Don Cameron, Preston B. Plumb, Blackburn, and Beck, of Kentucky, stood next in interest, but most of these have given place to a younger generation.
The most interesting rooms in the north wing beside the Senate Chamber are the President’s room, Vice-President’s reception-rooms, and committee room of the District of Columbia.
The walls of the President’s room are in white and gold, with crimson carpet, table, and chair effects—rather high lights if one had to live in it, but very pleasing for the short visits made by the President to the Capitol. On the last day of each term of Congress the President comes to this room for an hour or two and signs any bills which yet remain. He also answers the perfunctory question as to whether he desires to present any further business to the Senate.
The Vice-President’s room is much more used. When the Vice-President in the Senate chamber grows tired “of weary lawyers with endless tongues,” he calls some one to the chair and slips into the Vice-President’s room, to rest and attend to his correspondence.
Among our Vice-Presidents who have occupied this room were William R. King, in the administration of Pierce; then John C. Breckenridge, under Buchanan; Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln’s first Vice-President, and Andrew Johnson, his second Vice-President; Schuyler Colfax and Henry G. Wilson, under Grant (Henry G. Wilson died November 22, 1875, in this room); William A. Wheeler, Vice-President during Hayes’s administration; Chester A. Arthur, under Garfield for a short time; Thomas A. Hendricks, in the first Cleveland administration; Levi P. Morton, under Harrison; Adlai E. Stevenson, under Cleveland; Garrett A. Hobart, in the first McKinley term, and Theodore Roosevelt, in the second. In addition to these were many other distinguished men who were acting Vice-Presidents.
Garrett A. Hobart was the fifth Vice-President of the United States to die during his term of office. The others were Elbridge Gerry, William Rufus King, Henry Wilson, and Thomas A. Hendricks. Gerry was one of the great statesmen of the revolutionary period and hailed from Massachusetts. He was Vice-President in 1812, and died November 23, 1814, while on the way to the capital.
King, of Alabama, was chosen Vice-President in 1852. He was obliged to go to Cuba during the campaign on account of his health, and the oath of office was administered to him there by special act of Congress. He returned to the United States April 17, 1853, and his death occurred on the following day.