Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-25

Mann and Sherley bills to change the
location of the Grant memorial from the
mendation that it lie on the table. House
The committee reported adversely on
both bills week or ten days ago as pub
liShed in The Star at the time.
The adverse report on the two bills in
question is signed by Representatives
Conner of Iowa Hamilton of Michigan.
Howard of Georgia and Thomas of North
Carolina. Representative Mccall of Mas
sachusetts. chairman of the committee.
favored a change OF site. and he makes
a minority report.
The Majority Report.
Mr.. Howard in his report for the ma
jority. says:
The committee on the library. Ia whom
was referred the bill introduced by Mr..
Sherley. to amend the provision of the
sundry civil appropriation act of June 30.
1906. making an appropriation for con-
tinuing the work of erecting the memorial
to Gen. Ulysses s. Grant. report the same
to the House with the recommendation
that it lie on the table. The committee
also report TO the House, with the recon-
mendation that it lie on the table. House
Joint resolution. III introduced by Mr..
mortal he located upon the large circular
or eliptical plat between the White House
grounds and the Washington Monument
The committee has considered these
propositions together because while diff
fering in their terms, the effect of either,
if adopted. would he to change the pres
ent location of the Grant memorial as
lected by the Grant memorial commission.
The sundry civil act for 1907 contained
this provision:
no ial no in
the unoccupied portion OF the Botanic
Garden grounds between LIST and "a
streets as recommended by the Grant
memorial commission
Mr. Sherley's bill proposes to that pro-
vision this limitation:
But in making such location no his
torfc or other tree planted in such grounds
shall be removed or otherwise disturbed.
Botanic Garden Favored
The site selected by the commission
has growing upon it several trees said
to be of historic interest and others of
botanical rather than historical interest;
consequently if the amendment were
adopted the memorial could not occupy
the selected location. and the precise
question to be decided is shall the Grant
memorial or the trees. hist ORIG and other
wiss. occupy this particular spot. The
preponderance of evidence before the COM
could he removed to some other stua-
ton without material risk of loss and
that the memorial. because of it's design
and size could not be suitably placed in
any other situation in Washington thN
is both available and desirable: and in
this view of the matter the majority OF
the committee resolved and do recon-
mend that the trees standing on the
memorial site be removed at a reasona bic
cost and that the memorial be erected
the site selected
White Lot Site.
The resolution of Mr. Mann. if adopt
ed would fix the site of the memorial
between the White House and Washing
ton Monument. The reasons against this
which controlled the ma jority of the COM
mittee are clearly and cogortiy set forth
by the members of the Grant memorial
commission and others acting for aud
with it in the decision of this question.
The committee has. therefore. quoted
the material parts of the statements of
the commission. artist and other experts
made before il during tn" inquiry these
mea sures have nec"Ssitated. and com
mends them to the consideration of tn"
House as giving full history of the
movement 10 erect memorial to Gen
Ulysses S. Grant in Washingto on. the rca
sons for the site selected. a history of
the Botanic Garden and of the planting
l
others embra ced in the statement OF
Supt William r. Smith.
Those of the committee agreeing to
the action recommended find their views
admirably and SucciDctiy stated in these
resolutions adopted by the New York
Commandery of the Military Order of the
Loyal Legion:
Loyal Legion Action.
Whereas there is an effort OF the
part of some of the press and citizens of
Washington to force the removal of the
memorial to Gen. l.. S. Grant from the
Botanic Garden in that city: and
Whereas Gen Grant was A citizen
of this state Il member of this command
cry. and its commander during the year
1884 and 1885: therefore
Resolved by the New York Command
cry of the Military Order OF the LOYAL
Legion. That the location of the Grand
memorial in the Botanic Garden in Wash
ington meets our approval
Resolved. That the lo"atinn OF the
Grant memorial is an ideal one. at the
foot of the Capitol and on the axis of the
Capitol and Washington Monument. with
ample grounds surrounding it. IT has
received the approval of the Superintend-
ent Of public buildings and grounds. of
various expert architects and scu]ptors.
the sculptor and architect of tho me-
mortal the army societies. the veterans
of the civil war. the Washington Chap
Ter of the American Institute of Archi-
tects also of Gen. Grants family: and
the memorial has been changed to fit the
present location. which was made in
19O:: and confirmed in 1905. To ask its
removal at this time is uncalled for and
impracticable and we earnestly protest
against it,
Resolved. That a copy of these reso-
buttons be furnished by the recorder of
this commandery to the Grant memorial
commission and to the senator's and rep
resentatives IN Congress from this
state
The report contains the statement made
before the committee by Gen. Grenville
NJ. Dodge. president of the Grant me-
mortal statue commission and excerpts
from the testimony of other witnesses.
Mr.. McCall's Dissent.
The minority report made by Chairman
Mccall follows:
Il recognize the strength of the position
of my colleagues and the very great prac-
teal difficulty which exists in the way of
changing the location of the Grant me-
mortal But with the duty imposed upon
me, by the bills referred to the commit
tee to consider carefully the whole ques-
ton I do not see my way clear to an
prove of the site which has been selected
Tine invitation of the memorial com
mission to artists for the submission of
designs contemplated work to be erected
to the south of the White House The
particular design which was selected was
prepared for the so-called White Lot
tween the White House and the Wash
iva Mr.