The New York herald., 1921-01-20
CONGRESS ASKED
TO BURY UNKNOWN
HERO in CAPITAL.
Bills Offered i'm Senate and
House to Bring Dead
Soldier From France.
AS TRIBUTE TO ARMY
Interment. at Arlington or
Under Rotunda OF Cap
itol Proposed.
SENTIMENT is FAVORABLE
Secretary Baker is Sympa-
thetic, but Believes Action
Should Be Deferred.
SENTIMENT Is FAVORABLE
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.

Special DcsDotcA to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 10.
o Proposals that the American nation
shall pay tribute to the valor 'of its
soldiers who fought in the world war
by bringing from the battlefelds OF
France the body Of an unknown SOL
der and interring it with elaborate
ceremonies In Arlington National Gem
etery or under the rotunda Of the
Capitol are now before Congress for
consideration.
Legislation embodying this purpose
has been indorsed by the American
Legion and has been introduced in
the Senate by Senator Penrise (Pa-)
and in the House of Representatives
by Representative Hamilton Fish, Jr.
IN. W.
Both bills have been referred to the
Military Affairs committees of the
Senate and House, respectively. While
no hearings have been held on either
measure it is understood that there
is considerable sentiment In both
branches of Congress favoring the pro-
posal
When the two bills are considered In
ments will be offered to comply with
the request OF Rodman wanamaSer and
other New York citizens that the War
Department allow the return of a body
for interment in Central Park, New
York. where an appropriate monument
would be erected. IT was in opposing
the Wanamaker request that Secretary
Baker first expressed his opposition to
the proposals for thus honoring the un-
known dead.
Similar ceremonies commemorating
in a national way the deeds of the
soldiers of France and Great Britain
have been held by these nations In
each instance the body of an unknown
soldier was brought back to the coun-
try for which he gave his life and in
TERED In ground consecrated for the
purpose of symbolzing the gratitude of
his country to him and his comrades,
dead and living.
The measures now pending In the
American Congress providing for SINH
lar ceremonies here authorize and direct
the Secretary OF War ito cause TO be
brought to the United States body of
an American, a member OF the overseas
American force who was killed on the
battlefelds Of France and whose iden-
tity has not been established, for burial
in the amphitheatre of the National
Cemetery at Arlington. Va"
The measures provide that the body
so selected shall be the only unidenti-
fed body authorized TO be brought to
America
"The body so selected" the bills state.
shall typify the spirit and sacrifice OF
tho people Of the Republic Of the United
States of America I'm the great world
war and shall be entitled 20. and shall
receive the highest official honors en-
route and at the reinterment."
While Secretary Baker is said TO be,
in sympathy with the broad purpose
OF the bills. he is unwilling yet 70 give
consent TO enactment of such legisla-
tion. His reason for opposing. 1t IL
said TO be that he believes the bodies
of all soldiers unidentified now ulu-
mately will have their identity estab-
lished. There are said to be only about
100 Americans who fell in France whose
bodies have not been identified. and the
process OF identification Is still continu-
ing.
The Secretary believes that nnal ac-
ton ought to he deferred until the
means OF Identification have been ex-
hausted.
II is probable that representatives OF
tho American Legion in appearing be-
fore the House Military Affairs Commit
tee Tomorrow to ask Congressional ac-
ton on several matters will urge action
on the renrcse and Fish bills. Representa-
tives OF the Legion are unable TO under
stand why Secretary Baker is opposing
the bills. but believe there Is no objec-
ticu OF much strength to the proposals in
either house.
Mr.. Fish's bill provides that the soldier
may he buried either in the National
Cemetery or under the rotunda of the
Capitol. Should the latter proposal be
agreed TO II will mark the irst burial un-
der the Capitol in much the same fashion
a. the great men OF Great Britain have
been Inferred IN Westminster Abbey.