Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-29
HEEDS G. A. R. PLEAS
Senate Committee 0. KS Me.
mortal Amphitheater.
BILL CARRIES $75O,OOO
Proposed to Erect Structure in
Arlington Cemetery.
PLANS ARE ALREADY DRAWN
Crypt for Distinguished Dead Pro-
vided-Building Will Seat
Five Thousand.
PLANS ARE ALREADY DRAWN

A big advance in the movement for the
erection of en-hundred- and-fifty-
thousand-dollar memorial amphitheater in
Arlington national cemetery was made to-
day, when the Senate committee on pub
lie buildings and grounds ordered a ia
vorable report on the Sutherland bill
making provision for the structure
The bill appropriates $4,000. to be
Immediately available, for the construc-
ton of the amphitheater, and creates a
commission. to be composed of the Sec
rotary OF War. Secretary of the Navy
the superintendent of the United States
Capitol and grounds. and Ivory G. KIM
ball, as the representative of the G. A.
R., to supervise the work of construc-
ton.
Full authority is given the commission
to make contracts for building and for
hiring without regard to the civil serv-
ice laws or regulations. of special archi-
tectural, engineering or other technical
experts.
Will Follow Old Plans.
The memorial amphitheater is to follow
the plans which were prepared by the
special commission appointed a few years
ago by authority of Congress to obtain
designs for the memorial. That commits
sion was composed of George B. Cor
telyou. then Secretary of the Treasury;
William H Taft, then Secretary of War;
Elliott Woods. superintendent Of the Cap
itol buildings and grounds; Ivory G. Kim
ball. representing the Grand Army of the
Republic. and Curtis Guild, jr.. represent
ing the United Spanish War Veterans.
That commission recommended the plans
submitted by the architectural firm OF
Carrere Hastings of New York.
Their design was prepared with the
| keeping with the old colonial buildings
at the seat of government. chiefly the
White House. The amphitheater will
seat comfortably 5000 persons and afford
room for a large number to stand in the
colonnade. The stage will be sufficiently
large to accommodate several hundred
persons, where special delegations or
guests could be cared for; and around
the amphitheater Will be large num-
Der of boxes for families Of distinguished
guests.
Crypt Is Contemplated.
The plans also contemplate, under the
amphitheater. a cdypt where would be
buried the distinguished dead Of this
country, similar in it's aims to Westmin-
ster Abbey in London and the Pantheon
in Paris. Opening from the main vesti-
bule. which is arranged for the reception
of special guests and is in communica-
ton with the platform. is planned a
staircase leading to large room over
that part of the building where the plat
form will be, and it Is suggested that
this room be used for the exhibition of
flags and trophies Of historic interest to
visitors in connection with those buried
in the crypt Of the amphitheater and in
the cemetery.
The amphitheater will have no roof, but
the plans call for construction which will
allow the placing of a temporary or
permanent roof in the future, if it is
found desirable
Action Follows Hearing.
The committees favorable action on
the bill followed a hearing during which
a delegation Of members of the G. A. r.
urged that Congress should make this
provision in the national cemetery. In
the delegation were Gen. s. S. Burdette,
past commander-in-chief; Ivory G. Kim
ball. past department commander: Col.
John McElroy, past senior vice comman-
der-in-chief, and Thomas S. Hopkins.
past department commander. Thomas
Hastings, member Of the firm which
prepared the plans, was also heard.
The delegation went over in detail the
plans for the amphitheater, showing the
scope of the proposed structure and
pointing out that 1t would not interfere
with any of the graves. improvements
which have been made in the cemetery
during the last few years. it was pointed
out, have been made with the erection
Of the amphtheater in view.
Washington Memorial.
The committee decided to consider the
bill for the erection of the George Wash
ington Memorial Hall in Armory Square,
where the Pennsylvania railroad station
used to be. at a special meeting tomor-
row.
Some of those friendly to the project
are expected to be heard, and it is likely
that an executive session of the COM
mittee will follow the hearing to take ac-
ton on the measure.