Arizona republican., 1921-06-06
sx FREpERIck ,. HAskIN

Our national shrines are again in the spotlight. The Mt Vernon Ladies | association is holding its annual con- vention. which always starts the ar eument among Washingtonians: | Should visitors pay to see the home l of the Father of the Country? Should | not the government buy Nit. Vernon | and throw open the doors free to every one Along with this perennial argument, now at it's height. comes l the usual bill giving the government the right and the money to buy the sacred homestead But this time a new idea is inject ed into the stereotyped proceedings. Citizens are writing forcefully to the papers urging that congress buy Jamestown. the first permanent. Eng fish settlement in America Also. there is a bill before congress pro- viding funds for the federal govern ment to acquire Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson This naturally has brought up the question of whether the United States should not own a number of our most venerated landmarks and keep them in good condition and ac- cessible to the public without admis- sion fees.
 There are two sides to the ques- 
 many people are unable to visit some of the most interesting collections ok relics in the country because in priv ate ownership a fee must be charged to pay for the upkeep. On the other hand. if the government would do no more with Nit Vernon or Monti- cello than it has with the house where Lincoln died and Arlington. which 1t has owned for some time. private ownership is far preferable
 The grounds of Arlington are beau tifuIly kept It is vne of the most impressive cemeteries in the country But the mansion. associated with so many historic characters. is an empty shell Washington's adopted son and General Lee lived there, and such famous persons as Lafayette were en- tertained at Arlington House Yet there Is scarcely a souvenir left there, most of the valuable relics having been removed to Nit. Vernon and to the national museum
 In the hands of a historic society. Arlington might have proved a mag net for souvenirs ant might today be as vivid a reminder of Colonial life as Mt Vernon.
 The Lincoln House
 In the house where Lincoln died, as at Arlington, the government ex- | ! coin house contains a fine collection of Lincoln mementos but these rel ics belong to Mir. O. H. Oldroyd- Af- ter the property was bought by the | government, an arrangement Wal made that Mir. Oldroyd was to live there to look after the place. and IT return permission was given him te display his collection for an admis- sion fee.
 | rrl -,... L.. .-o-i-o5 ,-arv wall a, MT. Oldroyd. an ardent admirer o Lincoln. takes infinite pains in caring for his collection It mas. however the undesirable but necessary flea ture of an admission charge NIT Oldroyd. has several times offered his collection to the government fol a reasonable sum, but no action ha ever been taken. If the relics wer' bought. the subsequent expense to tn government would consist only in creasing the usual small annual ap propriation. for care of the property enough to pay a curator's salary.
 The strong point in favor of tn historic societies as guardians of ol landmarks is that they work uneeas ingiy to make .them worthy or pup lie interest The country Is secure for chair or cup used by this that hero. Mt. Vernon. an old fram house. is made as fireproof as pos sible by lightning rods. fire-resistar paint and fireproofing solution Corp of guards are kept perpetually watch ing lest souvenir hunters or ordin ary thieves slip some tiny valuabl relic into a pocket while admiring |
 Cleaning and renovating go on al most continually as in an occupie home.
 To do all this, a private societ
 must have funds. anS the logical wa
 to raise them is to tax visitors. Tn
 tax ranges at different historic build
 ings from ten cents to a quarter. F'
 instance school children are not ab
 to get a dollar for the trolley fare ar
 admission to Mt. Vernon. And
 surprising number of tourists. visi
 ing Washington on an temiz'
 amount of money. do not feel able
 spend so much on one place of il
 terest.
 The Mt Vernon Ladies associate
 has just met the school propositiC
 by agreeing that school children ms
 be admitted free under certain cond
 tions on Saturday. They must con
 as a band of pupils from some scho
 and they must be accompanied
 teachers or guardians. This st
 leaves the tax on all other visitor
 and the proponents of governme
 ownership are still calling for q