Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29
RESTORATION OF LEES MANSION
IS DELAYED BY LACK OF FUNDS
Refurnishing in Pre-Ciivil War Style May
Be Found Dif6cult-Removal of Famous
Tombs From Lawn May Be Avoided.

Because of the failure of Congress
to provide the necessary funds. ii is
said at the War Department that no
steps can be taken at present toward
the restoration of the old manor house
of the Gusts family in Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery to the condition in
which it existed just before the out
break of the Civil War, when 1t was
occupied by Gen. Robert f. Lee, leader
of the Confederate Army, and his
wife. who was the daughter of George
W =. Gusts.
An act of Congress approved March
1. 1925. directed the Secretary Of War
to restore the beautiful old colonial
mansion on the heights .Of Arlington.
but the act carried no Appropriation,
and the quartermaSter general re-
ported that there were no available
funds to carry out the provisions OF
the act The situation has been re-
peatedly brought to the attention of
Congress. At the opening of the latest
session Of Congress the War Depart
ment submitted an estimate of $780,
900 for the project, but the necessary
appropriation did not materialize.'
Department officials point out that
the situation is identical with that of
the project for completing the tomb
of the Unknown Soldier. An act OF
Congress directed that the tomb be
completed at cost of not exceeding
$4,000. but overlooked entirely the
appropriation Of the money.
Many Protests Received.
Many protests have been received
at the White House and War Depart
ment from Grand Army organizations
and others against the proposed
transformation of the Custis mansion
tar Ia. - ON
Robert L. Lee. commander Of the Con-
federate Army" 1t was pointed out
also by Mrs John Mason Of Lees
burg, Va, in a letter to The Evening
Star, that the United Daughters of
the Confederacy already have the
most appropriate Lee shrine" at
Lexington, Va, in the little chapel
where Gen. Lee while president OF
Washington and Lee College after the
Civil War had morning prayers daily
with the students Of the institution
and in which chapel his mausoleum is
located.
These communications were so nu-
merous that it became necessary for
Assistant Secretary MacNider, who
has Jurisdiction over the Arlington
National Cemetery, to prepare stere-
otyped letter explaining the position
of the War Department in the matter.
In that letter he quoted the act of
March a, 1925, directing the restora-
ton of the old mansion and said 1t
lis mandatory and gives the Secretary
Of War no discretion in the matter"
He added that an estimate Of 100000
had been submitted by the Bureau of
the Budget for the execution of the
project.
should Congress make an appro-
priation," Col. MacNider added, there
would be no alternative for this de-
partment but to carry out its direc-
tionS."
Quartermaster officers who investi-
gated the matter before the estimate
,, of 100000 was submitted reported
to the department that it would be ex-
tremely difficult to obtain any Of the
original furnishings, which were re-
moved from the old mansion when
Gen. Lee left it to organize the Con-
federate forces, or to get duplicate
pieces, either by gift or purchase,
from descendants of other rich fam
ilfes Of the same era. The only other
sources of supply were dealers in an
tiques and colonial furnishings. who
| undoubtedly would fix high prices.
One Piece Available.
So far but one piece Of furniture
in the mansion when Cen Lee lived
there that is now available for re-
placement is large sideboard in the
possession of Wayne Davis of New