The Washington times., 1912-07-10
Wins POINT |NPLEA
FOR PURCHASE OF
JEFFERSON'S HOME
Mrs. Littleton Induces Sena-
tors to Appoint Investigat-
ing Commission.

Mrs. Martin w. Littleton, wife OF
Congressman Littleton, has won tue
FIRST round in her struggle to have the
Government purchase and preserve
Monticello, the home of Thomas JEFF
ferson. The Senate Library Committee.
after hearing yesterday, decided to
report favorably the resolution intro
duced by Senator MARITIME which pro-
Vtdes for the appointment of FIVE Sena-
tors and five Congressman as COM
mission to inquire into methods AM
cost Of acquiring Monticello.
During the course Of her remarks
Mrs. Littleton said that the estate Is In
bad shape, and should be cared for.
She asserted that the house needed
painting, that the grave of Jefferson lie
in state of shameful neglect" that
visitors are treated with scant courtesy,
that the roads to Monticello are atroci-
ous, and that the general appearance
of the estate is one of neglect.
r. T. w. Duke, of Charlottesville. Va,
appeared before the committee as the
representative Of Congressman Lew,
who owns Monticello.
Says He Wouldn't Sell.
He asserted that Levy would under
no circumstances sell or part with
Monticello. Senator Cummins suggested
that the right of eminent domain might
be exercised. Judge Duke acceded to
this view and opined that Congressman
Levy might change his mind II he wet e
convinced that there was widespread
popular demand for the acquisition CT
Monticello as public property.
Congressman Levy himself was on the
warpath when he was told what Mrs.
Littleton had said about the present
condition of Monticello The Congress
man said that the place was as well
taken care Of as the White House, with
the exception of the grave. The grave,
he admitted, was not kept in good con-
ing that he had left this largely to
the Randolph family, and had not felt
free to interfere. In the '70s the Fed
/ eral Government appropriated $4,000 to
was spent the WORK was dropped. Az
terward, w. w. Corcoran. of Washing
ton, endowed a chair In the University
of Virginia, on condition that the grave
of Jefferson be maintained in security
The estate Of Monticello originally
consisted of $40 acres. The heirs of JEFF
ferson decided TO sell the place. and II
of the Congressman. decided to acquire
the place, a rival appearing in the per.
son Of a missionary, who detested JET.
ferson's religious ideas and intended
when he acquired the place. to wipe
away everything that would recall the
memory of the man he hated.
Has Entire Estate.
Only 21S acres Of the estate was left
when Congressman Levy reached his
majority. He has since picked ur
small tracts of land, making up the
original estate and about Zoo acres
more.
1T has been my aim to maintain the
property as Jefferson left it," said Con.
gresham Levy. Three years ago Con.
gressman and Mrs. Littleton were the
gu 'sts of the owner of Monticello
Congressman Levy states that this Il
the only time Mrs. Littleton has beer
in the house at Monticello.
Mrs. Littleton has maintained hel
campaign for the acquisition of Monti.
cello for more than a year, beginning II
with the distribution of an interesting
pamphlet Her testimony before the
Senate committee yesterday consisted
largely of reading letters from variou.
prominent persons indorslng the plar
for the Government to acquire the his
toric home.