Evening star., 1898-12-28
4 Morrill, Memorial.

man so long and so conspicuously a
part of the public service of the nation as
Senator Morrill, deserves a substantial me-
mortal. not only the work of the people of
the state which he so faithfully represented
for nearly half century. but of the people
of all the states. who should be proud of
this record of long continued usefulness.
Such a memorial ought to be located in
the city which has been the scene of Sena-
tor Morrills labors. and for many years
practically his home. 1t should be char
acterisuc of his life and his works of his
aspirations and his efforts. A singularly
apt opportunity is offered just now for such
a tribute TO this wise. good man. Practi-
cally his last act as senator was a speech
in favor of the erection of Il new building
for the Supreme Court. That speech was.
like all his deliverances. clear, logical, force
full. 1t was listened to with serious atten-
ton and was followed by the immediate
and unanimous passage of the bill which
it accompanied. That bill is now before the
House committee public buildings and
grounds and is in the best shape for an
early report and immediate action. 1t pro-
vides for the acquisition of the site north
of and corresponding to that occupied by
the Congressional Library, and its prepara-
ton for the erection of building suitable
for the Supreme Court and its appurte-
nances. 1t does not actually provide for
the building itself but makes clear the
way for the erection of that structure in
the future.
Senator Morrill's later years in Congress
were marked by his persistent efforts to
beau,ify Washington by the erection of
public structures commensurate in size and
design with the developing proportions of
the government and its capital. He was
always interested in any proposition which
locked toward the establishment of a per-
manent betterment. In local affairs he was
especially alert to preserve the unties. He
was vigorous in his denuncation of the
steam railroad corporations for their en-
croachments upon the public spaces and
their refusal to provide modern terminal
facilities In other local lines he was al
ways to be relied upon to stand on the
side of the best interests of the capital city.
His ideal of a Washington was lofty and
inspiring and his services were given un-
grudgingly, gladly. for any enterprise look
ing TO the development of the city's original
plan and scope.
He was largely instrumental in securing
means for the expansion of the National
Museum and the provision of a building for
that useful institution. The needs of the
Congressional Library early appealed to
him and session after session found him at
work in advocacy of the erection of suit
able house for the books. His conceptions
in this line were broad. He urged that the
problem be solved on a large scale. He
was no false economist when the time came
to provide permanent structures for the
governments use. The magnificent library
building, now the wonder of the country
and admired by the people of other nations,
was largely the result of his unremittng
endeavors.
1t is, therefore, most appropriate now that
Congress should at once complete this work
which he had laid down for himself. He
often said of late years that he hoped to
see his three ideals consummated, a mu-
scum building, library building and a
Judiciary building. The first two of these
are accomplished. The third is well on its
way and under circumstances which make
il exceptionally fitting that one of the first
actions by the House upon its reassemblage
snail be the passage OF the bill which prac-
ticaIiy marks the close of Senator Nor
riirs labCrs in Congress. Such building.
standing opposite the library, would be Il
memorial truly expressive of this long, val
liable life. The opportunity is exceptional
to symbolic the nations appreciation of u
career without blame or flaw in d monu-
ment which shall not only endure for cen
turles, bat by its utility shall typffy the
man and the principles for which he so
steadfascly stood.