The Washington times., 1901-11-13
VIEWS OF MIR. M'MILLAN.
Opposed to Radica! Action on In
pOrtant Public Questions.
Michigan Senator Thinks There IL
No Present Need for Tnrih or
Financial BeEisiatiOn-He Fnvors
Firms for Bcnutifying Washington

Among the Presidents guests at the
White House Iu cheOn yesterday was
Senator James Mcmillan of Michigan. He
Is now serving his third term in the Sen
ate and is Chairman of the Committee on
the District of Columbia, second ranking
Republican on the Committee on Com
meTce, and has been a member of the
steering committee which arranges the
programme of legislation in the Senate.
Mr.. Mcmillan is a man Of wide expert
ence in large business affairs. and Is
broad-minded and conservative in the con-
sideration O. all public questions. He was
invited to come to Washington to consult
with the President on matters that are
to be dealt ;1ith in the message. and to
give his advice on some subjects that are
at this time of great interest to the pub
lie Before leaving for New York yester-
day Senator Mcmillan said that he felt
assured that President Roosevelt will
strike popular chord in the Tecommen-
dations or suggestions that he Will SUD
nit to Congress in his first message
Senator Mcmillan is one of the influential
men in Congress who believe that there
is no necessity for tariff or financial leg
islaticn at this time, and that the ques-
tion o. trusts is one that will eventually
settle itself without radical action on the
part of Congress.
Senator Mcmillan belongs also to that
group of Western Senators who did not
enthusiastically favor the passage of the
Shin Subsidy bill. althoJsh he never
brought himself to the point of opposing
it. He believes that Congress should en-
act some legislation designed to aid and
encourage American shipping, but he is
pia nf
bounties or subsidies. or Whatever they
may be called on American built vessels,
according 10 their tonrag instead of
basing it on their maximum speed power.
Senator Mcmillan is also opposed to the
idea that is agitated from time to time,
and that has again been brought forward
by REPRESENTATIVE BouteIl, of Chicago,
that this Government should make an eff
fort to secure the abrogation Of the Rush
I}agot Treaty which practically prohib-
its the building of any war vessels on the
Great Lakes. Senator Mcmillan is no
longer a director of the American Ship
building Company. having been succeeded
by his son; but he retains his interest in
t"r ards that control the business on
the lakes.
.,el era.l years ago he came to the conclu-
sion that it would be poor policy TO DIS
turb the existing conditions Of things and
give England a free hand to build and
maintain a war fleet on the lakes to men
ace Our large cities. Besides, he says The
shipyards have all the work they can do
now, building vessels for the lake COM
merce. and he does not think they are
carr estly endeavoring to have the Rush.
Bagot Treaty abrogated.
Seantor Mcmillan is very much inter-
ested in the work of the board that was
appointed last spring to outline a plan
for identifying the city of Washington by
bringing into one comprehensive chain all
the parks of the city, reclaiIning the An
acostia fats along the Eastern Branch of
the Potomac, and connecting all the parks
with system Of boulevards. The COM
mission visited Em ope during the sum
mer ana are new putting the finishing
touches upon report 10 be submitted TO
Congress in December
The plans of Congress with regard to
this park system viii be enlarged as well
as simplified by the fact that the recent
practical consolidation of the Pennsylva-
mia and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
companies VIII make 1t possible to re-
liove the raiIrnd tracks and bridges that
now cross the Mall. leaving a clean sweep
OF driveway and park from the Capitol
to the White House. Under the provisions
Of two bills that passed Congress last
session. after years of hard work, these
railroad companies were to spend about
Sl3 600 in the erection Of two railroad
stations, the moving and elevation or
tracks building viaducts. and a bridge
across the Potomac to take the place -lf
the historic Long Bridge, whose anti
Quate piers have become an obstruction
to navigation and a cause OF the Mood
ing Of the city streets each spring. In
stead of two railroad stations there will
now be one, a union structure, and, ac-
Cording to the plans of the railroad com
pany il Will be one Of the most elaborate
In the United States. II will he unique In
design and a credit to the National Capi-
tai.