Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-04
Propositions Pending in Congress
for Monume nts and Memorials.
EIGHTEEN BILLS HAVE BEEN OFFERED
From Lincoln. and Grant Down to
tho Private Soldier.
THE MONEY APPROPRIATIONS

should all the bills which are now pend
ing before Congress providing for the erec-
ton In this city of monuments and statues
to great men become laws the national
capital will be given a sudden and ire
mendous accession of art that would easily
give 1t the name, Of the monumental city
OF the country and perhaps of the world
! There are no less than eighteen different
propositions for such enterprises, and the
bills In which they are embodied make APP
| preparations aggregating 81, $4,000. To this
amount should be added the cost Of one OF
the statues for which the sum to be ex-
| pended is left blank in the bill, so that the
estimated money value of tina entire out
put Of art suggested at the first session OF
the Fiftyfourth Congress is easily over a
million and half dollars.
The Grant Statue.
1t is not by any means probable or posi-
BILE that Congress will give approval to all
or even small part OF these Legislative
suggestions. 1t is perhaps doubtful If any
one of them will become laws, although
there are many of them of striking appro-
| priateness such as the proposed monument
to Gen. Grant, of which Senator Squire
spoke at some length in The Star the other
day. The Grant statue bill! has an 1m1ne-
date interest owing to the recent ann
versary of the birth of the soldier Presi-
| dent, when the city of Brooklyn unveiled a
beautiful statue erected In his memory. L,
has since then been noted as striking that
Washington, the city with which Grant
was perhaps NEST thoroughly identified
and in which he passed many years or his
life, has absolutely nothing whatever In
the way of statue, monument or memor.
ial to commemorate him. True, the Grand
Army of the Republic recently gave a
marble statue to be erected In the rotunda
of the Capitol. but the committee In charge
neglected to observe the Formally OF sub
hitting the model to the authorities of the
Capitol beft re the completion of the work
and as a result the statue was rejected by
the committee on library as an UNFIT repre-
sentation Of the man. and 1T now stands In
boxes on tie east side of the rotunda, In a
sort of no mans land, haHging, like Ma
hommed's coffin. between the heaven and
earth of fir al acceptance and rejection.
AS was stated the other day, the Squire
bill appropriates 100000 for an equestrian
statue in bronze of Gen. Grant. to be To-
Gated on public ground in this city. and d.
reefs that the Ell tire enterprise be under
the direction of the Secretary Of War. the
chairman of the joint committee on library
and the architect Of the Capitol.
The Lincoln Memorial.
A more costly proposition is that of Rep
resentative Evan srwhose bill for the erec-
ton Of a monument to Abraham Lincoln
was introduced in February and is now be-
fore the committees on library. This creates
a commission, consisting of the President
the Vice President. the Speaker Of the
House. the Secretary OF State and the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury to he known as the
Lincoln monument commission, with power
and authoritY3 to cause to be erected on
public ground in this city "a monument to
Abraham Lincoln. that may appropriately
and adegua tely express the nations graft
tude for his iilustrious and patriotic serv-
ices and it's exalted appreciation Of his
fame" The bill appropriates 100000 for
the purchase. Of the monument and the
Is given absolute authority to secure the
most appropriate design for such monu-
ment There are two public outdoor statues
of Lincoln already in existence in this city
One of these is the marble statue on a high
column in front Of the city hall on the south
side of Judiciary Square, by Flannery and the
other Is the bronze statue in Lincoln Square
at the present eastern end of East Capitol
street. In addition to these there is a
statue Of the martyred President by Winnie
Ream Hoxie in statuary hall at the Capitol
Early in January Mr.. Meredith introduced
a bill apprOpriattng $4,000 for the execution
of the Anacostta statue of George Wash
ington by Theophilus Fisk Mills. This
statue was projected several years ago.
The Private Soldier.
One OF the most Interesting projects is
that which was advanced by Mr. Watson OF
Ohio April 2. providing for a monument to
commemorate the services and achieve
ments of the private soldiers and sailors OF
the United States in the late war of the re-
| bellion. This bill Is prefaced by a preamble
stating that there are many monuments In
this city erected to the memory Of Union
officers Of the army and navy, but there is
none to commemorate the services of the
private soldiers and non-commissioned Off
GERS, and the bill, therefore, creates a com.
mission. consisting of Give fuyr
of whom shall have served as private sol
diers or non-commssioned officers in the in
fantry of the army, one in the cavalry and
one in the artillery, and one as an enlisted
man in the navy of the United States in
said war" 1t is possible that the protector
intended this commission to consist Of rep
resentatives In Congress, but the bill does
not so state. This commission Is to select a
design for and superintend the erection of
the monument described, which Is to cost
not more than $250.00O. The sum of $40 OE
Is Immediately appropriated by the act
OK similar nature. but much more modest
III expense, is the proposition Of Represen-
tive Shafroth Of Colorado, who, March 8.
introduced a bill to erect a monument to
the memory OF women who. during the re-
bellion, attended and nursed the sick and
dying soldiers of the United States. The
bill appropriates $4,000 for bronze statue
which is to be erected under the direction
in this city. The officers of the Loyal Lc-
gion of the United States are empowered
to select the design for this statue.
The John PhHl Jones Monument.
Mr.. Low Of New York, in December, pre-.
scented bill for the erection Of a monu-
| ment in this city to the memory Of the late
Commodore John Paul Jones. The peculiar
phraseology Of the bill, which Is worth
REPETITION, is as follows: Whereas, the flag
Of the United States Of America was first
hoisted on the sloop-of-war Ranger by Capt
John Paul Jones Of heroic memory; and
whereas, the! said Ranger was the first
ship to carry the stars and stripes to
Europe and, lthe first vessel to engage in
battle and win victory under said flag, Id
the capture OF his Britannia majesty's shi,
Drake; and, whereas, his brilliant victory
in the Bon Homr1e Richard was of ines
timable value indgaining for the patriot
cause the favorable opinion Of other coun-
tries; therefore, be; It enacted, etc., that q
statue, harmonious in general des,sn with
the statue Of Lafayette already erected al
the southeast corner of Lafayette Square
be erected atthe southwest corner of said
square, facing thu Navy Department. in
memory of Commodore John Paul Jones. as
a slight tribute from this republic to his
glorious services in the cause of liberty
while fighting under a national emblem Of
his adopted country. And the sum of $40
600 is hereby appropriated for the above
mentioned puCpOSe.'