Evening Star Newspaper, April 18, 1937, Page 6

CONGRESSRULING MEMORIAL FIGHT Request for $500,000 for First Work in Hands of House Unit. Congress today holds the key to the much-confused controversy over plac- ing the Thomas Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. Over President Roosevelt’s signa- ture, a request has gone up from the Budget Bureau for $500,000 to begin construction of the memorial without delay. This is now pending in the House Appropriations Committee. It is considered likely that this item will be included in one of the deficiency supply bills—unless opponents of the memorial as projected can pievent it. The item conceivably might be at- tdched as an amendment to one of the regular appropriation bills, now running the congressional gamut. Apparently only by failing to appro- priate money, in the face of Presi- rent Roosevelt's request, or by chang- ing the act setting up the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission, by re- quiring that Congress itself pass upon the design or location—or otherwise circumscribing its powers—can the Nation's lawmakers halt the pro- spective march of the memorial toward completion. “Battle of Flowers” Continues. ‘While Washington's “battle of flow- ers” goes on, over whether the cele- brated Japanese cherry trees around the Tidal Basin will or will not be de- stroyed if the memorial, as conceived by the New York architect, John Rus- sell Pope, be constructed, not a dollar yet has been appropriated for the work. Originally, it was announced that the memorial would cost $3,000,- 000 and that half of this sum would be asked immediately. Just why this initial sum now has been cut to $500,- 000 has not been fully and officially explained. Opponents of the program say that it will be just as bad if only $10,000 is appropriated, for if Congress em- barks upon any spending at all for the Pope design at the Tidal Basin, they argue this will commit the law- makers to its execution. Another major factor that is confus- ing the situation, particularly officials in the executive branch of the Gov- ernment, is the absence of an ap- proved final plan for the Jefferson Memorial, giving engineering details, down to the grades of highways pro- Jected and other pertinent data. Thus far two of the agencies most inti- mately concerned—the United States Engineer Office, which has jurisdic- tion over the Tidal Basin, and the National Capital Parks, which super- vises West Potomac Park and the famed Japanese cherry trees, are without detailed information on the whole program. 3,000 Trees Sent by Japan. Lacking an approved plan, the park officials cannot say with certainty Just how many of the Japanese cherry trees might have to be eliminated. ‘They have no road grades under the project, a vital factor affecting the fu- ture of the cherry trees. Originally 3,000 of the trees were received here from Japan and planted, not only around the Tidal Basin but in East Potomac Park, in the Department of Agriculture grounds and elsewhere. ‘They were about 5 years old when they came to Washington and were planted in March, 1912—a quarter of a century ago. The prospective life of the Japanese cherry trees is placed &t 40 years—10 more to go. About five years ago, when Lieut. Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, was director of public buildings and public parks, & replacement program was launched. The park authorities began to plant American-raised stock, and officials say that some of these young trees now are around the Tidal Basin and forming part of the display. Some 500 young trees have been planted under the replacement program thus far. They are in varying stages of maturity, some having been set out each year. The park authorities are planning on setting out some 1,200 young trees this Spring, but are waiting un- til the current display is over, so that the program will not interfere with the public enjoyment of the blossoms. In East Potomac Park the grade has been raised to get the roots of the trees above the ground water level. In the past floods have caused many of the trees to die. 515 of Original Trees. Around the Tidal Basin there are about 515 of the original trees from Japan and some 208 younger trees, Cherry Trees May Live 1,000 Years, Botanist Declares Wild cherry trees in Japan, ancestors of those around the Tidal Basin here, are sald to be 1,000 years old and reach im- mense proportions, with trunks several feet in diameter, Paul Russell, botanist in the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Depart- dmenc of Agriculture, said yester- ay. Russell says the life of the cultivated variety is around 40 vears, but they may live longer under good care. As early as 1846 Japanese cherry trees were introduced into the United States, in New York. In 1926 Dr. David Fairchild of the Department of Agriculture planted 25 cherry trees from Japan at his residence in North Chevy Chase, Md., and many of them are still growing, Russell observes. Dr. E. A. Merritt, di- rector of the X-ray clinic at Garfield Hospital, who acquired that property, at 9312 Kensington road, described those trees as “the finest specimens in the Western world,” holding them far superior to those at the Tidal Basin, They are located north of Chevy Chase Lake, near Kensington, Md. ON DIAMONDS. WATCHES, JEWELRY, GUNS. CAMERAS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, ETC. LOWEST UNREDEEMED RATES PLEDGES POSSIBLE FOR SALE Take Any Bus Leaving 11th and Pa. Ave. Established 1890 -Opp. Washington Airport_ officials say. Soon about 100 addi- tional trees will be planted there. Authorities assert that it will be dif- ficult, if not impossible, successfully to transplant the original Japanese cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. They have been there for a quarter of a century, and their roots have become so interlocked, because of the closeness of the trees, to achieve the mass bloom effect, that it is con- sidered fatal to attempt to move them. Further, the trees would have to be pruned to transplant them and achieve a balanced effect above and below ground, sccording to those in a posi- tion to know. This pruning would interfere with the present “feathery” appearance of the much-publicized trees, say some officials. It is possible, they say, to construct a memorial at the Tidal Basin site so that only a few trees will be af- fected, but in the absence of an ap- proved plan the officials shrug and say they do not know. If the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission is now given $500,000 to make a start on the memorial, this will be the last year the Tidal Basin Oriental floral display will be seen in its present seiting, some authori- ties assert. Dredges and other equip- ment in the Tidal Basin, they hold, will detract from the peaceable set- ting that now reigns there. Suggest Construction Delay. ©One suggestion is for erection of the memorial be delayed until the end of the life-span of the original trees from Japan. Then, the theory is, the younger trees might be more easily transplanted, with the old trees out of the way. The projected rearrange- ment of the shores of the Tidal Basin could then proceed with less thought of interfering with the gift from Ja- pan. It is argued that it might be preferable to wait until the young trees have reached their maturity be- fore interfering with the present status of the trees. The $3,000,000 announced as the cost of the Thomas Jefferson Me- morial will have to be duplicated for the development projected at the end of East Capitol street, on the banks of the Anacostia River, say opponents of the Tidal Basin project. They argue that it would be better to put that money into a stadium and auditorium rather than destroy the cherry trees and the present Tidal Basin. The Fine Arts Commission and the National Capital Park and Planning Commission have submitted reports to te Thomas Jefferson Memorial Com- mission, urging that a study be made of the whole area of West Potomac Park. This would provide for a study of an adequate setting for the me- morial and all its approaches, includ- ing bridges, proper highwi land- scaping and other features, consider- ing the project as a harmonious whole. Broad Enabling Legislation. 80 broad is the enabling legisla- tion, which set up the Thomas Jef- ferson Memorial Commission, that the National Capital Park and Plan- ning Commission is not even men- tioned. The commission is clothed with wide powers, for it was author- ized by Congress to pick the site, re- | tain the architect, select a design and construct the memorial. The Fine Arts Commission, under the law, | might be asked by the Memorial Com- mission for its advice, which was mandatory, if requested, but was not binding upon the Memorial Commis- | sion. ‘The Memorial Commission has now named the National Park Service of the Interior Department as its agent to build the memorial and has ap- pointed Arno B. Cammerer, director of the service, as its executive of- ficer. The members of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission are Representative John J. Boylan, Dem- ocrat, of New York, chairman; Sena- tor Elbert D. Thomas, Democrat, of Utah; Senator Augustine Lonergan, Democrat, of Connecticut; Senator Charles L. McNary, Republican, of Oregon; Representative Howard W. Smith, Democrat, of Virginia; Rep- resentative Francis D. Culkin, Re- publican, of New York; Thomas Jef- ferson Coolidge, Hollins N. Randolph, Joseph P. Tumulty, Stuart G. Gib- boney, Dr. George J. Ryan and Dr. Fiske Kimball, Opponents of the memorial as pro- Jected insist the Thomas Jefferson Me- morial Commission, with the approval of Congress, may now go ahead and construct it as an isciated develop- ment, ignoring entirely the setting which ahould be provided for it, in the form of adequate traffic arteries and other considerations. Thus, they say, this problem would be left to others to decide. Friends of the memorial insist that the Fine Arts Commission was asked for its opinion, after the Memorial Commission had decided on a location for the memorial and expressed its preference for a design. President Roosevelt himself, they say, picked the plan he thought most suitable, out of & number submitted by Pope. This south axis, complimentary to the ‘White House, is “the greatest site in the District of Columbia for a me- morial today,” its proponents contend. This has been in the plans for the development of Washington for more than 25 years. In 1925, a memorial was proposed to Theodore Roosevelt at this identical site and Pope won in & competition for that design, his friends recall. Then, there was not the “hue and cry” raised against it that is now being leveled against the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, say its sponsors. Both Fine Arts and Plan- ning Commissions have approved the location for the Jefferson Memorial. FUGITIVE SLAYER, ‘TIRED,” SURRENDERS “Slim” Scarborough Had Escaped 8ix Times From Georgia Chain Gang. BY the Associated Press. ATLANTA, April 17.—8. J. (8lim) Scarborough, elusive life-terra killer who has escaped six times from Georgia chain gangs, surrendered to police to- day in his attorney’s office here. “I'm tired of dodging the law,” he said. Cherokee County convict camp in North Georgia. Only a few days before he had been returned from Hobart, Ind., where he was recaptured after a previ- ous escape. Eight others fled with Scarborough April 3. They sawed the bars of the convict camp dormitory and lowered themselves to the ground with ropes made from blankets. Scarborough was convicted of the slaying in 1925 of W. C. Wright, Put- nam County achool superintendent, who had given him and two other men a ride in an automobile. Deputy Sheriff S. G. Davies took the fugitive into custody. to surrender. “Not that I couldn’t beat the law,” he boasted, “I always could. They never captured me except when some- body put me on the spot.” _— Parcel Post Route Changed. China will send its parcel post to Western Europe through Soviet ter- ritories instead of by sea as heretofore. WASHINGTON ART GALLERIES Take Pride In Announcing THE SALE AT The Property of Scarborough, who has spent 12 of | his 29 years in and out of prison, made | his latest break April 3 from the | chairman of the Memorial Commis- | tioning the Budget Bureau indorse- W ell-Conceived Plan of 1901 Would Be Carried Out. D. C, APRIL 18, 1937T—PARI O JEFFERSON MEMORIAL ARGUED Cherry Trees Around Tidal Basin Would Be Destroyed. The proposed Thomas Jefferson Memorial, projected on the south side of the Tidal Basin, which is the center of the con- troversy. > FOR THE MEMORIAL. It carries out the well-conceived plan of 1901 for the development of the city of Washington. The location has received the ap- proval of both the Fine Arts Commis- sion and the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. This will give Washington another beautiful memorial at an announced | cost of $3,000,000. | It will be executed by John Russell Pope of New York, one of the best | architects in America. | Pope won the competition for the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, proj- ected some years ago in Potomac Park, 50 he has already made his mark in the competitive field. Lincoln Fight Similar. A similar fight was carried on against the Lincoln Memorial, which now draws upwards of 1,000,000 visi- tors annually. People apparently can- not visualize what a magnificent cre- ation the Thomas Jefferson Memorial will be. “Uncle Joe” Cannon and others fought the Lincoln Memorial and said it would “shake itself to pieces with loneliness and ague” in the swamps. The Jefferson Memorial will provide | an adequate vista, south of the White House, for the Chief Executive, and carry out an essential element in city | planning. | It will provide work here and else- where and give a permanent asset to the National Capital. Representative Boylan of New York, sion, says & more beautiful cherry tree display will be possible than now. The display of cherry trees can be created also in other sections of the city, re- ducing the great traffic jams that now come in Potomac Park. Last Great Site Left. ‘The memorial will adequately honor Thomas Jefferson, who has been neglected all these years, but who did | much for the National Capital. | The Thomas Jeflerson Memorial | Commission approved it. This is the | last great site left in that section of | i the District. Scarborough said he decided Friday | the best thing he could do would be | President Roosevelt has indiclbed; his approval of the project by sanc- | ment of a request that Congress ap- Ppropriate $500,000 to begin construc- tion of the memorial. Congress authorized the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission to select a site, pick an architect and approve a design for the memorial— and this law has now been carried out. Borings have shown that construc- tion is engineeringly feasible. ' PUBLIC AUCTION Within Our Galleries, 722 Thirteenth St. N. W. Monday to Saturday. Inclusive April 26th to May Ist. 1937, at 1:00 P. M. Art Objects, Oil Paintings, Bronzes, Ivories, Enamels, Oriental Rugs, Tapestries, XVIII Century French Furiture, eic., Including Woiare D. RockErFELLER MALVERN HALL, WEST PARK-ON-THE-HUDSON and Others The MUlustraled catalogue will include 800 items among which are: PAINTINGS, Origingl Masterpieces by Coreggio, Andrea del Sarto, Van Dyke, Frans Hals, Lancret, Schreyer, Clays Vibert, Dett, Bouguereau: BRONZES, the works of Frederick Remiagton, P. ]. Mene, Barye, 10 A M. to 10 P.M. CATALOGUE ON REQUEST ety 683 722 THIRTEENTH ST. N.W. ME. 1130 Schreivogel. Bonheur, Henry Kirk Brown, Fraser, Lansere, Fremiet. Moreau. RUGS AND TAPESTRIES; A Savonnerie carpet 16'x32, a Palace Kirman carpet 11'x18’, four Kashan Picture Rugs, a pair of Silk Kashan Rugs 4’:_:7') a set of four Aubusson Figure Panels 6'x9: SILVERWARE by Bailey, Banks & Biddle, Tiifany & Co., J. E. Caldwell & Co., Gorham & Co., and others. Also a splendid collection of XVII Century French Furniture; Carved Ivories: Viennese Enamels; China and Glassware: Antiques. Etc. ON EXHIBITION AT THE GALLERIES The Week of April 19th, to April 24th Special Showing of the Art Collection at the MAYFLOWER HOTEL, NORTH ROOM, Lobby Floor Thursday and Friday, April 22nd and 23rd LLERIES INC. _ BEN]. 8. BELL, AUCTIONEER AGAINST THE MEMORIAL. Erection of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial will destroy Washington’s world-famous Japanese cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, a great busi- ness asset to the city. Even if some of the cherry trees will be saved, erecting a marble monument at the Tidal Basin is in effect “gilding the lily.” John Russell Pope, the architect se- lected, has already had too much in the National Capital, for he designed the Archives Building, Constitution | Hall, the Scottish Rite Temple, the Pharmaceutical Building and now the | Mellon Art Gallery. This memorial will further inflict the dead architecture of ancient Greece and Rome upon America. Let’s have something modern, typical of vital America. Higher Cost Feared. Hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions, will be spent in the foundation, nearly twice as deep as the Lincoln Memorial, before anything shows above the water—and it will cost {ar more than the announced $3,000,- 000—perhaps as high as $15,000,000, considering the completed project and its approaches, highways, bridges, etc. It may create a “dead end” in the ‘Washington Channel, giving rise to stagnant water and unhealthy condi- tlons, because of reducing ares of Tidal Basin. It will be just another “useless mon- ument” here. Why not construct something useful, with so many peo now in distressed circumstances? It's & waste of money. The design was picked in secret, without » competition, thus shutting out people with youth, talent, idesz and vision. Minutes Kept Secret. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission has conducted its deliber- ations with “star chamber” tactics and little real information is available; its minutes are not open to inspection and it has not published any final, ap- proved plan. Construction of this memorial will crowd too many memorials into one section of the city. Why not distribute them in various locations? ‘Why destroy something beautiful for something of uncertain value? Mil- lions of dollars have been spent in cre- ating the Tidal Basin, Potomac Park and the Japanese cherry tree display. ‘Why junk these? Erection of the memorial utilizes funds that could well be wisely used elsewhere in improving undeveloped areas for playgrounds and parks and for the construction of & badly needed auditorium and stadium. HONOR GUESTS Senators James J. Davis and Joseph F. Guffey will be honor guests at an entertainment, reception and dance to be given by the Pennsylvania State Society at 9 p.m. April 27 at the Wil- lard Hotel. The Georgetown University Glee Club will sing. 00F LEAK NA. 4370 GICHNER ¢ BUILD YOUR COLOR SCHEME FROM THE FLOORS SEE CONGOLEUM GoLD SEAL Advertised on Page 16 of “This Week Magazine” in Today’s Star 6x9 Rugs Without Bo iz ” rders________$3.60 L e | () THOMPSON BROS. 1 Furniture 1220-26 Good Hope Road S.E. Li. 0556 FIVE DIE IN AUTO PLUNGE INTO RIVER Riverton, Ind., Residents, Includ- ing Boy, 4, Victims Near Terre Haute. By the Associated Press. TERRE HAUTE, Ind, April 17— Five persons were drowned at the Merom Ferry, on the Wabash River, south of this city, today when an automobile in which they were rid- ing got out of control and plunged into the river. ‘The dead are: Peter Milam, his wife, Mrs. Blanche Milam, and their 4-year-old son; Mrs. Warren. All were residents of Riverton, in 8ullivan County, Ind. The bodies of Warren and the child had not been recovered early last night. The body of Mrs. Milam floated to the surface of the water and the other bodies were found in the car. First reports were that the auto- mobile, driven by Mrs. Milam, en- tered a ferry boat on the Illinois side of the river, plunged on through a guard chain and into the water. The water where the car entered the river is 25 feet deep. POSITIVELY Jack Warren and | £ “EVENING WITH ARTISTS" IS PLANNED AT SCHOOL Hyattsville Mothers and Teach- ers’ Club Sponsors Event Friday Night. Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. HYATTSVILLE, Md., April 17— “An Evening With Artists” will be presented next Pridsy night in tre | Olive Streei School here, under sus- pices of the Mothers aud Teachers® Club of the school. Mrs. Lawton Riley and Mrs. Charles Cook will be in charge. E. G. (Daddy) will be master of ceremonies. TR The Potomac Electric Fower Co. Glee Club, of which John Metcher Moulden of Riverdale is business man- ager, will sing, and there will be other jures. Proceeds wil go for audi- torfum equipment. pacdidion Luncheons from 60c Dinners from $1.00 “NO TIPPING” is our Rule! ESTAURAN LAST CALL BEFORE PRICES ADVANCE WASHINGTON FACTORY BRANCH STORE VEN if you stripped the new La Salle V-8 of its greater beauty and comfort—one factor would still remain to make it worth more than other cars of similar cost . . . L4 SALLE SAFETY! La Salle, of course, is built by Cadillac. It has Cadillac strength; Cadillac endurance, Cadillac roadability. La Salle’s brakes are big and powerful. Its steering is easy and dependable. Its body has the famous Fisher Unisteel construction. La Salle has safety glass—a safe non-glare lighting system— an easy, quick-acting transmission. In fact, La Salle is worth the price in SAFETY ALONE. Remember this when you buy your next car. Step on up to 721 ELEVENTH ST. NORTHWEST CADILLAC-BUILT La Salle—and be safe in ALL ways. Look at La Salle today! *Delivered price at Detroit, Mich., $1095 and up, subject to change without notice. This price includes all standard accessories. Transportation, State and Local Sales Taxes, Optional Accessories and Equipment — Extra, CAPITOL CADILLAC COMPANY 1222 22nd ST. N.W. W. L. KING MOTOR CO. Gaithersburg, Md. ® F. D. AKERS, President " AERO MOTOR CO., INC. 1101 King Street, Alexandria, Va. 8129 1095 NATIONAL 3300 MANN MOTORS, INC, Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md. .