Evening star., 1902-08-11
annually. His health has always been b.
Gifted after stay there.
Reception of the News Here.

Reception OF the news here.
News of Senator McMnlan's death was
received at The Star office before noon yes
terday ard the sad announcement was at
once posted on the bulletin board in front
of the office The sad news was quickly
spread over the city, and was received
everywhere with expressions of the deep
est regret 1t seemed almost impossible
that the man whose genius has conceived
the most magnificent project for the devel-
opment of the District of Columbia should
have been cut down by death a few months
after having begun The execution of this
splendid project People everywhere fully
realized that the death of Senator Mcmillan
could be regarded only as great calamity
for the District of Columbia. They were
thoroughly informed az to the plans en-
bodied in the report of the park commits
sion. and understood how serious matter
it was for the District at this time to lose
the services of the man who was respon-
sible for these plans and whose heart was
thoroughly enlisted in their execution.
But it not only the material loss that
the District suffered by this untimely death
that called forth widespread comment.
Senator Mcmillan had become known per-
sonally to thousands of citizens of the Dis
! trict. In framing much important legi<la-
tion he had been visited by men indiyid-
ually and in delegations and these men had
always received patient hearing and had
found in Senator Mcmillan a man of deep
sympathy, who. at all times, considered
should not be interfered with by any prof.
ect, however important from a public
standpoint it might be, until every effort
had been made to minimize the effect of
disadvantages that might come to the citi
zen. He labored during the last session of
Congress in order to frame the bill pro-
viding for union station that ii might as
far as possible protect the rights of citi-
zens. and it was because of his great efforts
to make it as near perfect as possible in
this respect that the passage of the bill by
the Senate was so long delayed
In respect to many of the measures that
received his approval and were passed by
the Senate it was often said that he
achieved legislation by unanimous consent.
not only of Congress. but of the people of
the District. This could hardly have been
said to apply to the personal tax legisla-
tion, but in respect to that law Mr.. McMil-
Ian always declared that he was satisfied
that Congress was determined to have a
personal tax law and he wished to see it
framed in such d way as to raise the de-
sired revenue and at the same time to min
inize all inquisitorial especially undesir-
able features.
Stood for the Citizens Rights.
A story is told that illustrates Senator
McMillan's attitude toward the rights of
the individual citizen when brought in con-
tact with the interests of a corporation.
This occurred several years ago, before the
street railroads of the city had entered into
the extensive combinations that have since
taken place. There was then talk of COM
bining these roads and improving and ex-
tending them. Several Philadelphia capi-
taliSts came to this city to consider the
project. Some of them had already acquired
rights in the properties under cOnSidera ton
At their first interview with Senator Nc
MILAN who was then chairman of the
District committee. they outlined their
plans. which involved the extension of
tracks on several streets.
said Mcmillan 10
people on these streets should object to hav-
ing tracks laid in front of their houses?''
The promoters looked at the senator in
astonishment. That was a method of deal
ing with 'he public that they had not con-
Sidcred.
What difference will that make?" asked
one of them.
The senator add5d that it would make a
great deal of difference He told them that
while there might be urgent cases in which
people would have to submit to disadvan-
tageS resulting from such public necessity
and Improvement as street railroad, yet
so far he was concerned he would as
chairman of the District committee, ap-
prove no project for extending street car
lines in the city in the face of popular OBJ
lection on the part of citizens living along
the line of such roads. except in view of an
overwhelming necessity. which he did not
believe existed in relation to any of the
plans which the promoters had laid before
him.
Influence in Congress.
In a general way that incident illustrates
the method pursued by Senator Mcmillan
in relation to the people at large. Because
of that fact his committee room was con-
stantly thronged by citizens who wished to
secure a modification in proposed legisla-
ton in order that far as possible they
might be relieved from disa advantages that
would otherwise come to them. This fact
gave him an added influence in Congress.