Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-30
REGRET FELT HERE
District Loses Good Friend in
Senator Wetm0re.
NOT OUT FOR REELECTION
Member Of Upper House From Rhode
Island Fathered Many
Local Bills.

| The announcement of Senator George P.
Wetmore Of Rhode Island that he will not
| be candidate for reelection, but will re-
/ tire from Congress March 4, 1913, has
been received in Washington with genuine
regret.
Senator Wetmore has long been regard
| ed as a stanch friend Of the National
Capital. Especially was he interested in
the Identification Of Washington by the
creation of public parks. the extension of
ornamental boulevards and the eszsstion
of monuments.
He is credited with the authorship of
the plan for the purchase of the land
between the Capitol and the Union station
for an deliberately decorated park, ard
congress has given its approval to the
plan and made a large appropriation to
begin the purchase Of the ground.
Also to his credit is the bill for the
purchase of the valley Of Rock creek.
| whereby parkway, running along the
stream that divides Washington and
Georgetown. would connect Potomac and
Rock Creek parks. Senator Wetmore is
and has frequently expressed the hope
| that 1t will be approved by Congress
during the coming session.
Interest Shown in District.
| AS chairman of the Senate committee
on the library, which has supervision Of
all legislation before the Senate relating
to the erection of monuments and similar
memorials in the National Capital, Sena-
tor Wetmore has had occasion many
times to show his interest in the District
1t was that committee. under his chair
manship. that championed the bill, which
| later became law. estab ishing the fine
arts commission, which has supervisory
| control over the character and location of
memorials in this city.
Senator Wetmore, too was member
of the Senate committee on public build
/ ings and grounds. and in that place he
had frequent opportunity to show his
| friendliness toward the District in favor
| ing bills that came before the committee
| for the extension of the park system. He
championed several such bills on the floor
| OF the Senate, and successfully.
Served Two Terms.
| Senator Wetmore's service in the Senate
| began March 4, 1885, and he served two
| full terms. When he came up for re-elec-
| ton for the third term there was a split
| in the legislature of the demi-tasse state
of Rhode Island, and after his term of Of
| flee expired there was a vacancy in the
Senate. After the deadlock had corltin-
| ued for about a year it was finally broken
| by the return Of the toga to Mr.. Wet
| more. That lapse was a loss to the pres
| tige of Rhode Island in the Senate, for
| the continuous service standing of Mr.
Wetmore-on the basis of which influence
| Of individual senators Is established-was
broken. and he had to return to the Sem
ate at the foot of the ladder. His present
service began January II, 1908, and the
term expires March 4. 1913.
Senator Wetmore was born August 2,
1886, in London. England. his parents
being Americans, residing there tenn
porarily. He received the degree of
A. B. from Yale in 1857, and that of
A. NJ. in 1871. In the meantime he
had studied law in the Columbia Uni
| rersity Law School. and was admitted
to the bar of New York and Rhode Is
land In 1863. He early -ook an interest
in Rhode Island politics. was a presi.
Dental elector in 1880 and 1884. He
was governor of Rhode Island from
1885 to 1887, but was defeated for the
third term. although he received more
votes than at either of the two previous
elections in which he was successful.
He was a candidate for the Senate in
1889, but was defeated on the eighth
ballot. He was successful, however. in
1894, and took his seat the following
year.