Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-08
GIFT ACCEPTANCE
RESTS WITH K. Of c.
American Legion Declines
$4,000, 900 offer if Bound
by Conditions.

Whether the s5,000.000 offered by
the Knights of Columbus TO the
American Legion to erect a war
memorial building in Washington will
be utilized for that purpose now
rests with the Supreme Council OF
the former order. the national execu-
tive committee of the legion having
decided at it's meeting here that 1t
could not accpt the offer 'fn its
present FORM" which provides for a
joint building committee and joint
trusteeship.
The committee expressed apprecia-
ton of the generous motives of the
Knights of Columbus in making the
offer and National Commander F. w.
Galbraith, jr., appointed John J.
Wicker jr, of Virginia, John G.
Emery, of Michigan and T. S. Walms-
ley of Louisiana, as committee to
confer with the representatives of
the order. They will confer with otti-
Gals of the Knights of Columbus at
an early date.
The offer as made to Commander
Galbraith provided for building COM
rnittee, with three members repre-
senting the Knights of Columbus and
three representing the American
Legion. with a seventh member to be
appointed by the Secretary of War.
The maintenance fund of approximate
~ S1,0OO,00O would be administered
by one trustee named by each of the
two organizations, and third named
by the Secretary of War.
After a discussion, which lasted
until after midnight, the legion COM
mittee decided that it could not ac-
ccpt the offer unless it was made un-
conditionally. A similar condition
came up last year. when the legion
was offered 100000 by the Y. NJ. c..
A. with certain conditions, but it
was not accepted until the stipula-
ton for joint control of the fund
had been removed.
Statement by Committee.
A statement issued by the executive
ward the offer of the Knights of Co.
lumbus. read as follows:
Acting on the offer of the knights
of Columbus to donate $5,000,00O to
the American Legion for the erection
and maintenance of a national me-
mortal building in Washington. the
national executive committee Of the
not best to accept the offer in it's pres
ent form with the conditions imposed
therein.
"a special committee is to be ap-
pointed by the national commander to
confer with Knights of Columbus to
ascertain whether the Knights of CO.
lumbus are willing to revise the of
tionally. It was decided that if such
revision is made the offer will be ac-
cepted.
committee who took part in the dis
cussion we're unanimous in their ap-
probation of the generous motives
impelling the offer"
Activities ut the Capitol.
The f1fty-hve members Of the COM
mittee now in Washington spent the
morning at the Capitol, some testi-
lation Of interest to former service
men il pending and others discussing
with individual members the condi-
lions that call for action on the part
of Congress. Activities centered
chiefly around the Capper- Rogers bill
for recognizing the work Of the pub
lie health service, the war risk bureau
and the board for vocational educa-
ton under one bureau chief. and in
the program for building new hos
pitfalls for disabled soldiers.
The committee resumed its sessions
at 3 o'clock this afternoon. and wilt
be in session all day tomorrow
men were not being given the prefer
ence in the government service to
which the law entitled them resulted
in Commander Galbraith appointing a
committee to investigate conditions.
rotten outrage" William R. Pooley
Of Buffalo told the committee that
men had received lower
ratings In the postal service there
because Of their absence while in mil
itary service.
The legion will urge Congress to
award congressional medals Of honor
to TIE unknown British and French
soldiers who were buried with un-
usual honors in Westminster Abbey
and under the Arch OF Triumph. re-
spectively. A committee also was ap-
pointed to confer with the French
government concerning the placing OF
q picture Of the late Jane A. Delano
of the Army Nurse Corps in the