Evening star., 1902-08-11
COMMISSIONERS ACTION.
Formal Minute Spread on the Rec
nrdS


stood thoroughly the necessities of all the
situations. Mr.. Mcmillan had studied care
fully and knew the details .of the present
financial condition of the District. His loss
to the District, coming at this time when
so much important legislation Is pending
and desired, seems in many ways practi-
Cally irreparable. 1t has very appropriately
been suggested that a statue of the senator
be erected here in Washington, in the de-
velopment of which he was so important
factor.
The Commissioners met in board session
this morning and took formal action upon
the death of Senator Mcmillan, adopting a
memorial minute and ordering the District
office to be closed on the day of the funeral
The flags on all District buildings will be
continued at half-mast for thirty days fol-
lowing the period of mourning for Commits
siOner Ross.
To the Commissioners the death of Sena-
tor Mcmillan means very much. Mr.. Mac
farland, as president of the District board,
was intimately related to Senator Mcmillan
officially and socially. Col. John Biddle,
the Engineer Commissioner, suffers Sc
we're personal loss. He is a native of De-
troit and was a great favOrite with Sena-
tor Mcmillan. 1t was said that Mr.. Nc
MILAN was deeply interested in Col. Bid
dies assignment to his present post on the
District board. Having known Col. Biddle
practically all of his life, the relationship
between the senator and the Commissioner
was very close. 1t was another bond be-
tween Mr.. Mcmillan and the District gov
ernment, and the District interests were eX-
pected to gain great deal in consequence.
The Minute Adopted.
The minute adopted by the Commission
ers is as follows:
august II, 1902.
ut is the sorrowful duty of the Commis
sioners Of the District Of Columbia to re-
cord the sudden death of James Mcmillan,
senator from Michigan, and chairman of
the Senate committee the District of
Columbia, at his summer residence, Man
chester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, on Sun
day morning, August 10, 1902
"A leader in the Senate, as in his state
and the country at large, he devoted his
great ability and his unusual influence
largely to the interests of the District of
Columbia. He took great pride in the
national capital. For years he has been
pre-eminent among the friends of the Dis
trict of Columbia in Congress, and every
proposition for it's upbuilding has had his
attention. All the varied District legisla-
tion of a decade passed through his hands
and received the impress of his purpose.
'"rhe Commissioners of the District of
Columbia in their formal and informal con-
| ferences over District legislation found
Senator Mcmillan always considerate of
District needs and sympathetic with their
recommenda tions for it's welfare. In their
recent efforts to secure a satisfactory set
tlement of the Districts financial affairs
they had the especial cooperation of Sen
ator Mcmillan.
The Senate park commission was ere
ated by Senator McMilian's efforts, fol-
lowing the suggestion of the centennial Gel
ebration of the District of Columbia in De-
cember, 1900, and that commissions plan
for the establishment of the District Of
Columbia received his unqualified approval
Whatever is done in execution of it will
be his principal monument.
For all his services to the District Of
Columbia ii owes a deep debt of gratitude
The executive government of the District
of Columbia gladly acknowledges that debt
at is acknowledged also in the universal
mourning of the people of the District,
who, with the Commissioners, feel that
they have lost their best friend in Con-
gress.
IN token Of respect regard and SYM
pathy, the Commissioners direct that the
offices of the District of Columbia be closed
on the day of Senator McMilan's funeral
and that the flags on all the buildings of
the District government be displayed at
half-mast for thirty days after the period
of official mourning for the late Commits
soner Ross
THE secretary will transmit to the fam
| lily of the deceased, the President of the
| United States Senate and the members of
the Senate committee on the District Of
Columbia copies of this minute"
MI. Macfarland's Tribute.
In speaking today of Senator McMillan's
death, Commissioner Macfarland makes the
| In the form Of a statue should be erected to
him in connection with the park commits
sion plans for beautifying the capital. Mr..
Macfarland said:
The universal sorrow in the District
| this morning is a striking tribute to Sena-
tor Mcmillan. 1t shows how general was
the recognition of his services to the Dis
| trict of Columbia. No other man in Con-
gress where we have so many good friends
who unselfishly labor for our interest
stood out as conspicuously as the chairman
| Of the Senate District committee in the
grateful regard Of the people of the Dis
trict.
But the Commissioners have an appre-
citation of what Senator Mcmillan did for
the District, and of what he desired to do
for it, which only those who came into
gard to District matters could have We
had opportunity In Informal conversation
as well as at formal conference with the
District committee and the appropriations
| committee to see the wisdom and the zeal
Of the man, and his high disinterestedness
! and sympathetic feeling. He shared every
aspiration for the deyslopment G and embel-
| typifed the new interest and pride in 1t of
| the intelligent citizens Of this country out
side Of the national capital. He led the
| following the District centennial celebration
| Of December, 1900, when the District re-
| ceived it's new recognition from the coun-
try and Congress Tor larger and better
| his instrument to provide a comprehensive
plan, using all the suitable ideas which had
| been advanced, for the improvement and
establishment not simply Of the city Of
| Washington, buteof the entire District 1t
is to be hoped that Congress will adopt and
| observe this plan and whatever is done
| under 1t will be Senator McMillan's monu-
ment Still, think he ought to have
| personal memorial in the form Of statue,
| at some prominent point, in recognition of
| his great work for the District. 1t seems
| most unfortunate that Senator McMillan's
death comes before such recognition Of the
Senate park commission plan has been
| given by Congress as would insure its
| Complete execution. He was looking for
ward to securing such favorable action at
| the next session Of Congress. But I trust
that his very death may inure to the bene-
fit Of this purpose. Certainly his colleagues
in Congress, where he was so much be-
loved, must want to honor his memory in
this way.
.In like manner, I hope that the adjust
ment of the financial affairs Of the District,
which is of such vital practical Importance
to us, left fn the air at the adjournment
of the last session, may be effected as he,
| with the Commissioners. desired and
hoped, at the next session. The tentative
| legislation to tide over our heavy deficit