Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-01

mausoleum But the efforts of the commit
tee at first fruitlesS. The Congress
was divided in its political sentiments. the
House being democratic and the Senate re-
publican. The democratic majority of the
House was the first democratic majority
since the civil war; presidential ign
was at hand. The policy Of the House was
one of so-called retrenchment and reform
in the civil service. pairing down of all
estimates submitted to operate the gov
eminent and a spirit Of severe economy
prevailed in the matter of proposed national
expenditures. To this policy the debates of
the times show the Senate was strongly
opposed. 1t was therefore with little hope
of success that the committee of the so
ciety urged an appropriation by Congress,
that resumption of work might begin upon
the Monument before the influx of foreign
visitors to our shores to attend the Centen-
NAL exposition to be held in Philadelphia In
the summer of 1876. Finally. convinced from
the attitude of the House of Representa-
tives. that no appropriation could be had.
the committee reported its conclusions to
the society which at once redoubled it's eff
forts through circular appeal. letters and
the patriotic aid of the press-especially the
newspapers of Westinghouse secure funds
and reliable pledges of contributions toward
completing the Monument.
The early summer saw the nominations of
Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel ]. Tilden
for the presidency. The campaign promised
to be intense and bitter.
House Declined to Respond.
The House declined to respond to a reso-
luton of the councils of Philadelphia for
Congress to adjourn to that city and sit
in Independence Hall on the Fourth of
July It declined by a vote to adjourn
over the Fourth Of July, and Congress sat
on that day. To the distinct surprise Of the
society, and probably every one in the
country, on the 5th Of July, Mr.. Sherman
In the Senate offered resolution provid-
Ing that Congress- assume and direct the
completion of the monument.
But the resolution proposed no approp-
Ration to execute 1t. 1t was then properly
referred. The first public impression was
that the Senate proposed to impress upon
the country the lack of patriotism in the
House in failing to concur in an adjourn
ment over the national birthday. What
ever the object the resolution SO long
sought and pressed by the society was
actually now before Congress, and for
action. Its special committee reassembled
and called upon VIM. s. Holman OF In
diana, then chairman Of the House COM
mittee on appropriations to ascertain what
the disposition of that committee would be
toward passing the Senate resolution and
appropriating money to execute 1t.
Mr. Holman said the committee was
heartily in favor of a grant Of funds to
complete the monument, that sum should
long before have been given oy Congress
toward the work. but he feared from the
policy Of retrenchment, wisely adopted, he
thought, by the House, 1t would be prac-
ticaIly impossible at that stage of the
session to pass any appropriation Of any
sufficient amount toward executing the
Senate resolution.
It was suggested by the committee that
the sum of 500, 600 might be appropriated,
payable in four equal annual installments
and thus lessen the criticism OF the House
passing large appropriation for the work.
District Patriotic Sentiment.
It was further pointed out that the OPP
portunity would be afforded to show to the
country a united vote on the part of north
ern and southern members on a matter Of
distinct patriotic sentiment applying to the
nation as a whole, and such vote might
avail politically to the benefit of the ma
iorfty party. The great watch dog Of the
Treasury adopted tho suggestions made.
The appropriation Of $2N,o00 was condt-