il over his formidable
opposition. But, one day, a private bill championed by his
brother, Cadwallader, passed the House while Elihu kept entirely
silent. Somebody called out to the Speaker: "The watch dog
don't bark when one of the family goes by."

When I entered the House, William B. Allison, of Iowa, had
already acquired great influence there. He manifested there
the qualities that have since given him so much distinction
in the Senate. He was understood to favor what was called
Revenue Reform, and moderation in the exercise of all doubtful
national powers.

But his chief distinction has been gained by a service of
thirty years in the Senate. He was out of public life two
years, and then was elected to the Senate, where he has been
kept by the State of Iowa, maintaining the confidence of his
State and of his associates in public life. During all that
time he has done what no other man in the country, in my
judgment, could have done so well. He has been a member
of the great Committee on Appropriations for thirty years,
most of the time Chairman, and for twenty-six years a member
of the Committee on Finance. He has controlled, more than
any other man, indeed more than any other ten men, the vast
and constantly increasing public expenditure, amounting now
to more than 1,000 millions annually. It has been an economical,
honest and wise expenditure. He has been compelled in the
discharge of his duties to understand the complications and
mechanism of public administration and public expenditure.
That is a knowledge in which nobody else in the Senate, except
Senator Hale of Maine, and Senator Cockrell of Missouri, can
compare with him. He has by his wise and moderate counsel
drawn the fire from many a wild and dangerous scheme which
menaced the public peace and safety.

He almost never takes part in the debates, unless it becomes
necessary to explain or defend some measure of which he has
charge. It is said that he is very careful not to offend
anybody, and that he is unwilling to take responsibilities
or to commit himself. There is undoubtedly some truth in
that criticism. Indeed if it were otherwise, he would find
it very hard to maintain the personal influence necessary
to success in the duties to which he is immediately devoted.
But he never avoids voting. His name, since he has been Senator,
has been first or second alphabetically on the roll of the
Senate. He is found in the Senate Chamber