The National tribune., 1909-01-28
"LINcoLN WAY TO GErTYsBuRG.r

y y,
sal holiday, and added an amendmen
that action be taken toward erecting {
monument in the city of Washington
to Abraham Lincoln.
Senato or Carter spoke in favor of some
other form of memorial than monu
ment. and favored the great proposed
Lincoln highway from the city of Wash.
ington to Gettysburg as a more fitting
memorial. He said that public high.
ways are the most enduring menu
/ rnents in the world, and he proposed
one from $50 to 200 feet wide, with
spaces along its length where the State:
of the Union could erect groups of stat.
uary or monuments to their historic
lcharacters.
Senator Gallinger favored this view
but Senator Burkett, while not oppos-
ing the project, was opposed to the
ticular thing without further discus
sion. After some discussion. the resolll-
tion went over until the next day, when
Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, offered
the following amendment:
BE it further resolved, That with a
view to the construction of suitable
memorial to commemorate the public
services and character of Abraham Lin
coin, which memorial shall include a
great National highway, to be called
The Lincoln Way from Washington
to the battlefield of Gettysburg, in the
State of Pennsylvania, the sum of $780,
900, or so much thereof as may be nee
70 hn nd
ton of the Secretary of War, is hereby
appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
to defray the expenses in making a
survey for said highway"
Senator Teller doubted whether the
proposed highway would be a proper
and suitable recognition of Mr.. Lin
coin
Senator Burlsett was opposed to COM
plicating the resolution as originally
introduced by committing Congress to
some other project. He did not feel
sure that such highway would have
the value that had been ascribed to It,
He feared that not enough people
would go over it to make it what it
should be.
Senator Scott recalled that some
years ago he travelled in Japan with
party Of gentlemen headed by Mr.. Taft,
and one of the objects of great interest
was a road leading from Nilkko to To-
kio, about 65 miles. 1t is still in good
preservation for As miles, with i'm
mense rows of trees on each side. For
100 years this was one of the greatest
roads of the country, and it is still one
of the show places of Japan. Monu-
ments of marble, brass and stone have
crumbled, but this road remains.
Senator Carter supported the amend
ment, but Senator Bacon urged that it
was not the proper time to consider
such proposition. He was ready to
cooperate for a memorial when it
should come before Congress in the
right shape.
Senator Nevlands said that this was
only one of many propositions before
Congress for a memorial. There had
been suggestion by the Park Com
that the Mall might be used
for this purpose, and very noble and
a.
Senator Dick objected to the consid-
Grafton of the memorial in connection
with the resolution
Senator Lodge insisted that 1t was
time to take decisive action on this
memorial, and he favored the amend
ment. The idea of the Lincoln Way
was fine and beautiful, and he wanted
something definite done to start it.
Senator Beveridge said that the
amendment presented to him a con-
junction both of duty and the holr.
and he would strongly support the prop
osition. He could conceiye of nothing
nobler than such memorial, and he
thought that it was particularly fitting |
hat this city, which had seen the cul-
of President Lincoln's work. |
and Gettysburg, where he had made a |
speech which stands alone in history |
IS the tendercst and loftiest expression
of merely human wisdom and heart.
should be connected by this grand high |
way
Senator Burkett said that while he |
was in favor of a memorial OF some
kind. that this was too broad COM |
mitment for him to indorse prior to |
any examination or determinai9r I
he plan.
Senator Beveridge said he wanted to |
De committed.
Senator Rayner supported the amend
ment and paid a high tribute to Presi-
ient Lincoln, altho the Senator did not |
accept Lineoln's political views when |
alive.
Senator Aldrich wanted to modify |
he amendment SO as to include all |
memorials and an inquiry into suitable
He suggested an amend
nent TO include other propositions, and |
le accepted for the moment an amend
nent making the resolution read:
BE it further resolved, That with a
Jew 10 the construction of suitable
memorials TO commemorate the public
eryices and character OF Abraham Lin
'oln, which memorials may include a
sreat National highway, to be called
The Lincoln Way from Washington to |
he battlefield Of Gettysburg, in the
State of Pennsylvania, the sum of $780,
100. or so much thereof as may be nee
.ssary TO be expended under the direc-
ion of the Secretary of War, Is hereby
appropriated, out of any money in the
not otherwise appropriated,
o defray the expenses in making a sur
'ey for said highway"
Senator Revaridua ,ra o..o |