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Rh 1891, President Harrison made him one of his administrative advisers, as secretary of war, succeeding Redfield Proctor. In 1894 he was elected to the United States senate for the term ending March 3, 1901, as a successor to Johnson N. Camden. On the conclusion of his period of service he was reelected for a second term. In February, 1896, he offered himself as a candidate for the presidency, and was supported by the delegates from several states, but in the convention he gave his support to Mr. McKinley. Senator Elkins has served as chairman of the senate committee on the Geological Survey, and has been a member of the several committees on Civil Service, Retrenchment, Commerce, Interstate Commerce, Military Affairs, Railroads, and Territories. He has recently made himself active against the system of rebates in railroad freight charges.