The Chairmanship of the Committee
on Claims was then with two or three exceptions the most
important position in the House. He spoke very seldom and
then to the point, stating very perfectly the judgment of
a clear-headed and sound business man. But his opinion carried
great weight. He was universally respected. Every man felt
safe in following his recommendation in any matter which he
had carefully investigated.
Congress was beset by claims to the amount of hundreds and
hundreds of millions, where fraud seemed sometimes to exhaust
its resources, where, in the conflict of testimony, it was
almost impossible to determine the fact, and where the facts
when determined often presented the most novel and difficult
questions of public law and public policy. Mr. Washburn's
dealing with these cases was the very sublimity of common
sense. He very soon acquired the confidence of the House
so completely that his judgment became its law in matters
within the jurisdiction of his committee. I became acquainted
with him, an acquaintance which soon ripened into cordial
friendship, when I entered the House in the spring of 1869.
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