Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-17
DID MUCH FOR WASHINGTON
Tributes to the Memory of Representative
Milliken.
\ Man of Brains and Energy-Quick
In Debate and Untfring In the
Committee Room.

In the House Of Representatives Satur-
| day afternoon tributes were paid to the
| memory of Representative Milliken of
Maine. Speeches were made by Mr.. Ding
| ley. Mr.. Burleigh and Mr.. Boutele of
| Maine, Mr.. Dinsmore of Arkansas. Mr..
| Skinner of North Carolina, Mr.. Mercer of
Nebraska, Mr.. Hilborn of California, Mr..
Hicks of Pennsylvania and Mr.. Little of
| Arkansas.
Nr. DinEley's Eloquent Tribute.
| Mr.. Dingley paid eloquent tribute to
the memory of his deceased colleague.
My acquaintance with Mr.. Milljken," he
| said. dated from his admission to college,
more than forty years ago, and this ac-
| quaintance ripened into friendship in the
| years which followed, and into a warm per-
sonal attachment during the fourteen years
| in which We served together in this hall as
representatives from the state of Maine.
Mr.. Milllken came unusually early into
public life, having been elected as a rep
resentative TO the state legislature soon
after he reached his majority; for even at
| that early period in his life he developed
| remarkable facility as a public speaker.
He was eminently social in his instincts,
Varm-hearted and manly. Possessed of
talents of Il high order, and of industry and
| courage. united with rare felicity of ex-
preston and fertility of imagination which
made him a ready and even eloquent speak
| er. he easily made his mark as a debater in
the House of Representatives. where there
are always to be found men of great ability
culture. strength and eloquence drawn from
| the best material furnished by seventy-odd
| millions Of people.
| 1t is certainly a misfortune that the
| size and arrangement of the hall in which
| We meet should be such as to discourag e
| real debate of public questions with the
view of shaping decisions of the members
| OF the House who find it impossible to hear
| much that is said. and thus to encourage
ohy formal speeches to be printed in the
! Record for distribution to constituents
| rev members have ever appeared in this
| nan who were more affectionately regarded
| by associates than Mr.. Miliken. His UNI
| falling courtesy in debate, his kindness of
personal intercourse, and his eminently
| social qualities endeared him to all And
| Wnen the Intelligence of his sudden dea h
| reached us there was universal ard sin
cere feeling of sympathy and regret
| On TINS occasion, when we have gather
| eo IN the hall where he was so long associ-
| ated with us to pay tributes to his memory
| l esteem II privilege to add a spray to
ne. ne wrG ia which kindly regard and affec-
tion VIII weave in loving remembrance of
| our departed friend and brother"
MT Mercer present chairman of the COM
! mittee on public buildings ana grounds
over which Mr.. Milliken presided for So
! 10 the national capital.
! "A Man of Brains and Energy.
| MIR. Speaker" said Mr.. Mercer. "eulo-
| sles, no matter how full OF praise. cannot
! add one jot or title to the fame of hin,
| whose death We mourn today. For eight
| terms ne was elected by the people of his
| congressional district as a member of the
Iiouse OF Representatives from the stat.
| VI Ndine' commonwealth rich in states
| mn ALMOST sixteen years n member of
congress ana assured as many more could
| ne nave lived, is most impressive and eIo-
| oue1t tribute to his life. Nv acuuaintance
S Sltit Mr. Mlihken began in the F'ifty-third
| .ohsress' "hen l was assigned to place
| upon the committee on public buildings and
grounds, of which he was an horored and
| ln1uentlal member, but of mis- life and du-
| ues before then 1 know not, save as
| gather the same from history.
Il will refer to him in the main as knew
| MIN through personal acquaintance He
| was u man of brains and energy, and this
| was patent to all who came in contac,
| with him. He was gentle in disposition
| yet If occasion so required, he could pla :,
| the part of gladiator, full of fight to all
| challengers. He was not given to lengthy
! speeches, but delighted in repartee and his
| tongue mixed in cross-fire debates oftener
| than fell to the lot of any other member
| With ten words he would often do more
| harm to the argument of an adversary
| than many members could do in an hours
| tune by set speech. He was hard work
1 er in the committee room and at the de-
| p&rtments, and he was patriotic and full
| of devotion to his state. AS a member of
! the committee on public buildings and
| grounds during his entire service in Con-
| gresS. and as chairman of the committee in
| the Fifty-first and Fifty-fourth Congresses
| he made it possible for the state of Maine
| to lead all other states in the number OF
| her public buildings.
During the F'ifty-first Congress Mr.. Mil
| liken served as chairman of the committee
| on public buildings and grounds, and was
| Instrumental in securing the passage of d
| large number of bills authorizing the cree.
| ton of government buildings in different
| parts OF the country exceeding In this
| spect the work of any other one Congress
| ard forcing upon the chairman a mountain
| of labor. In addition to all this, his com
| rnttee laid the groundwork for and took
| the first steps toward the erection of the
| he n1some Library building across the way
| as well as the large post office building
| now nearing completion on Pennsylvania
| avenue
| His Work for Washington.
! "Mr. Miliken was great admirer of the
city of Washington, and has contributed ir
| no little measure toward making it the
| handsomest city in America. He enter.
| tanned one plan which should be fostcred
| and encouraged today, and that tc
| convert the land south of Pennsylvania
| avenue lying between the Capitol anc
| treasury buildings to governmental pur-
! poses. That great avenue and this beauti
full city will never be complete until his
| dream in this respect Is fulfilled. join in
his ideal view. and wish that between the
two buildings referred to and upon the
| south side of Pennsylvania avenue there
| existed continuous parking 300 feet wide
! and fronting magnificent government build
! ings, set in harmonious distances from
| each other. Thus would beauty be en-
| ha need and business centralized, while ar
| hundred real estate spectators would not
| interfere with the work of Congress every
| time a new building is projected.
|