Evening journal., 1920-04-09
SERVICE men FOR
MEMORIAL HALL
Delegation Asks Legislature
to Aid in Erection of Will
mington Structure
WOULD TAKE PLACE
OF BONUS TO MEN
stan Correspondent.

STAFF Correspondent.
STATE HOUSE, DOVER. April s.-
That many OF the former service men
of Wilmington favor cash bonus from
the State in preference to a large
amount OF money being spent for a
memorial hall in Wilmington. notwith-
standing tile action OF Delaware Post,
No. 1. American Legion. OF that city, In
going on record as favorable TO the hall
proposition, was stated by Senator
Gormley and Representative McNabb at
a hearing in the House chamber yester-
day afternoon. Both Senator Gormley
and Mr.. McNabb have introduced bills
providing for State bonus for the
former service men. Senator Gormley
said n he succeeds In getting his bill
out OF the Senate committee ne VIII
insist on action being taken on 1t and
the Senators voting as 10 whether or
not they favor a bonus for the men.
The hearing was before both Senate
and House members, and was on Repre-
sentative Lyons bill 10 appropriate
s3O0OOO for memorial hall TO be built
in Wilmington, and Representative Han
ratty's bin 10 appropriate $4,000 for a
memorial building on Dover Green.
Lieutenant Colonel Ellison explained
the Lyons bill, and said the State ap-
propriatlon would be with the pro-
vision that the city OF Wilmington also
appropriated 100000. The plan, he
said, was to also raise 100000 by pub
lie subscription, making a si.00O000 for
the proposed home. lie said 1t could be
used as a houre for the American Le-
gion. convention hall and headquarters
FOR Community Service work. Colonel
Ellison said he had heard some opposi-
ton TO the bill because OF the amount
of the appropriation. He recalled that
ehere are several bills before the Leg
!slature providing for a bonus for the
len, but that Delaware Post, No. 1, with
ID 1900 membership in Wilmington, was
sack OF the memorial hall bill. He said
the men preferred a home TO cash
bonus, and at a meeting attended by
500 members OF Delaware Post, voted !
unanimously for The Memorial Hall bill, |
believing that II would not only be OF |
most benefit. but not so expensive 10 |
cost more than si,000O00 Colonel ELI !
son said even should the b.ll be passed |
the money would probably not come |
out OF the State treasury for a year or /
more, as there was no Thought OF fore |
ing it on Wilmington at once, as that |
city would also be called on TO appro- |
PIRATE 100000
Father Francis Tucker. who served as !
a chaplain during the war, stated that |
Delaware Post had gone on record as
favorable TO the bill before Congress
for a national bonus, and thought that
would be sufficient TO do away with the
idea OF a State bonus. The boys. he
sa q, appreciate what some members OF
the Legislature desire 10 do for them,
but they think the hall would be OF
more benefit 10 thmeselves and the
State. He thought n many States
should so ahead with a bonus n might |
interfere with the chances OF getting a 1
national bonus.
Henry Ridgely. OF Dover, spoke for
the bill providing for a memorial hall
on Dover Green In memory Of soldiers
Of the World War and wars OF former
years. Mr.. Rdgely thought the people
are inclined to go from ldealsm TO
I'VE are centering our
thoughts too much on ourselves" he
said. He said such a memorial would
be a fitting tribute 10 pay 10 the former
service men and a wise thing to show
10 the younger generation. 1T would
be In glory OF those who risked all they
had"
Major John p. LeFevre. OF Dover. said
The idea OF a memorial hall in Whining
Ton meets with the hearty approval OF
The service men OF Kent county and
that all whom he had talked with were
opposed 10 the bonus and In favor OF
The hall. He also advocated the bin for
The hall In Dover
William T. Turner. post commander
Df Delaware Post, OF Wlmington. as
he representative OF that post. also
advocated the memorial hall bin. and
'a'd the men would rather have that
han a bonus.
Senator Gormley stated that he Of
cred his bonus bin in entire good
aith, and pointed out that other States
lave rewarded their service men IN
'arious ways He stated that regardless
u Delaware Post he knew there is
entiment among the former service
nen in Wilmington for a bonus as
hey tell him so. He said his bin pro-
,ded how the money for the bonus
lhall be raised and how distributed
senator Gormley then stated that II he
can get his bill out OF the committee IN
ne Senate he win insist on vote so
tnat the members and mot me" can
decide whether or not they shan vote
Representative McNabb slso sia,oa
maj ne knew many former service nen
VINO nave been 10 him and stated ibo,,
desired the bonus. He said be VoS hoS
heard IT said that II is mostly ofnceua ,.Su
who favor the memorial hali and ~
pose the bonus plan. Il was ihe nj
vate, he declared. who made the nnan
ciai sacrifice during the war and ibat
II II is shown TO him that the prlvates
want the memorial hall plan he will he
glad 10 support it.
Colonel Ellison replied that n, ths
meeting when Delaware Post went nm
ecord for the memorial hall every
member had been notified what was ~
u considered at the meeting. and thai
7 about 500 who attended, not a one
avOred the bonus.