The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Randall, Samuel Jackson
1828–90, American politician, b. Philadelphia. A Democrat, he was a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1863 until his death. As speaker (1876–81), he presided over the sessions dealing with the disputed presidential election of 1876 and helped codify the House’s rules of procedure. He was also chairman (1883–87) of the powerful appropriations committee. Because of Pennsylvania’s industrial interests, Randall always opposed his party’s traditional stand for a low tariff. He fell out (1887) with President Cleveland on this issue and thereafter lost most of his influence.
