New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-12
JAMES PMTLLAN-

The death of James Mcmillan. Michigan's
senior representative in the United States Sen
ate depleteS by one the nations not too ample
list of eminently useful and disinterested public
servants The deIiberative branch Of Congress
loses at the same time the ripened counsel OF
an experienced and trusted leader. By length
of service Mr. Mcmillan was scarcely entitled
10 rank among the veterans in legislation, who,
like Messrs. Allison, Aldrich, Hale, Frye, Platt,
of Connecticut; Hoar, Morgan, Vest and Cock
rel. have shaped the Senate's policy continu-
ously for nearly thirty years. The senior Sen
ator from Michigan came TO washington ID
1880 with no previous legislative training and
with no reputation in national politics other than
that given him by career Of successful party
MANAGEMENT in his own State Yet his intel
ligence his highmindedness, his capacity for
mastering the routine of legislation. had won
him by the end of his first term recognition
which it is rarely given to comparative new
conner in the Senate to attain
His disinterestedness as a public man was
shown in many ways-in no other more con-
spicuously than in his acceptance and retention,
In the face of offers far more tempting TO a man
of his capacity ard energy, of the always Ia
borious, often ungracous, role which falls TO
the chairman of the Senate's Committee on the
District Of Columbia. In this post, which he
filled with a constructive zeal and breadth Of
view which no predecessor had ever brought to
the direction Of the District OF Columbas af-
fairs, he generously served until the end of his
career, declining other Shower and perhaps
more congenial chairmanshipS But his infiu-
ence in the Senate did not spend itself in the
often unrecognized labors of his own committee
room. Early in his service he became MEM
Der OF the Republican steering committee"
and his advice was sought and priced in all
crises in party policy or party management. At
his death, besides his District of Columbia
Craftsmanship, he filed assignments on the four
important committees of Appropriations, Com
merce, Naval Affairs and Relations with Cuba
The public project, however, with which the
Michigan Senator's name has been most init
mately associated, and on which his fame here
after will most securely rest, is doubtless the
regeneration, artstically and architecturaly of
the national capital. To renew the capitals ar
rested development along the lines of IEnfants
noble and comprehensive plan was the dream of
Senator McMillan's legislative career. To his
energy far more than TO any other agency in
out of Congress is due the launching of the
scheme of Identification which some day will
complete and crown FEnfant's and Washing
toms farseeing work. The effort, begun by him,
to give the nation Il capital city worthy of its
dignity and station among the worlds great
powers has still to overcome, inch by inch, the
opposition Of economists of the hour, like Mr..
Cannon. But Of the ultimate realization of Mr..
McMillan's dream there can be little question;
and as the chief of the builders of the newer
and statelier Washington his name is sure to
be held by the American people in CRATE
full remembrance.