Proceedings in the Senate

TUESDAY, January 27, 1959.

Mr. HENNINGS. Mr. President, there is on the desk a resolution which has come from the House relating to the death of our late beloved and respected colleague, Representative GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, of the State of Missouri. I ask that the Chair lay the message from the House before the Senate.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair lays before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives, which will be read.

The resolution (H. Res. 134) was read, as follows:

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S.,

January 26, 1959.

Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of the Honorable GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, a Representative from the State of Missouri.

Resolved, That a committee of ten Members of the House, with such Members of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the funeral.

Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms of the House be authorized and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of these resolutions and that the necessary expenses in connection therewith be paid out of the contingent fund of the House.

Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HENNINGS. Mr. President, I submit a resolution on behalf of my junior colleague from Missouri [Mr. Symington] and myself, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be read for the information of the Senate.

The legislative clerk read the resolution (S. Res. 64) as follows:

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of Hon. GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, late a Representative from the State of Missouri.

Resolved, That a committee of two Senators be appointed by the Presiding Officer to join the committee appointed on the part of the House of Representatives to attend the funeral of the deceased Representative.

Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased.

Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the Senate at the conclusion of its business today adjourn until 12 o'clock meridian tomorrow.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the consideration of the resolution?

There being no objection, the resolution was considered and unanimously agreed to.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair appoints the senior Senator from Missouri [Mr. Hennings] and the junior Senator from Missouri [Mr. Symington] as the committee of two Senators provided for in the second resolving clause.

Mr. CLARK. Mr. President, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Representative GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, I move that the Senate stand adjourned until 12 o'clock noon tomorrow.

The motion was unanimously agreed to; and (at 3 o'clock and 28 minutes p.m.) the Senate adjourned, the adjournment being, under the order previously entered, until Wednesday, January 28, 1959, at 12 o'clock meridian.

Remarks by Senator Hennings

Mr. HENNINGS.

Of Missouri

Mr. President, the State of Missouri has lost a great man, a man born of Missouri soil, a man who drew his living from Missouri soil, a man who represented in the House of Representatives of the United States those friends and neighbors of his who also lived by the soil.

I refer, Mr. President, to the Honorable GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, Representative in Congress from Missouri's Fourth District. Representative CHRISTOPHER passed away last Saturday. His death is a loss to the State of Missouri-a loss to the United States of America.

Representative CHRISTOPHER was born near the small Bates County town of Butler, Mo. Except for a few years of his life, he made his home on a Bates County farm. At the time of his death he still operated a 975-acre farm in Bates County. He was, in short, a farmer, and he had the interest of all farmers, everywhere, in his heart.

He served in the 81st, 84th, 85th, and 86th Congresses as a member of the House Administration Committee and the Committee on Agriculture. He served in the executive branch of the Government as Assistant Director of the agricultural conservation program. His service in these tasks was peerless.

Representative CHRISTOPHER, however, leaves a legacy to Missouri. He leaves seven fine sons and two fine daughters. Their loss is shared by his many friends both at home and here in the Nation's Capital.

Remarks by Senator Symington

Of Missouri

Mr. SYMINGTON. Mr. President, it is with a deep sense of personal loss and sadness that I rise to pay tribute to GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, my distinguished colleague from Missouri, and Representative from the Fourth District in Missouri.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER served the people of his district and his State well. His first interest was agriculture. He was a firm believer in the family-sized farm as the backbone of our rural economy.

No one was better qualified to speak on agricultural affairs than GEORGE CHRISTOPHER. He was born on a farm near Butler, Mo., and except for a short time in his early years, spent all of his life farming in Bates County.

He knew his people well and he served them well.

As a Member of the 81st, 84th, 85th, and 86th Congresses, his was a respected and authoritative voice in the House of Representatives.

He had truly earned the tributes paid him when he was recognized as one of our truly great farmer-statesmen.

Along with respect for his knowledge and experience, all who knew him shared in admiration of his personal courage.

It was not only the courage to fight for what he believed in, but also the courage to serve his people in the face of a physical handicap that would have put lesser men on the sidelines.

A year ago GEORGE CHRISTOPHER underwent an operation for the removal of a leg. Nevertheless, he remained an active Member of Congress, and last summer and fall waged a strenuous campaign for renomination and reelection.

No finer tribute to his courage and dedication could have been given than the overwhelming vote which he received last November-the greatest victory of his career.

Yes, Missouri and the country have lost a dedicated and courageous public servant.

And all of us in the Missouri delegation have lost a personal friend and a distinguished colleague.

His service to his district and to his country will be long remembered.