Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-29
FORD THEATER USE
BY VETS OPPOSED
Manifested at Hearing in
Connection With Housing
Lincoln Relics There.

Considerable opposition to the pro-
posal to establish headquarters for
veteran organizations In the old Ford's
Theater on Tenth street, in connection
with the housing there Of Lincoln's
relics. arose today at A hearing before
the House library committee.
Col. L. S. Grant, Sd, director Of pub
lie buildings and public parks, agreed
with members of the committee that 1t
would be inadvisable to open the his
toric building as headquarters for Ill
veteran orga nizations in the District,
except the G. A. r.
Az a Southern man, Representative
Bulwinkle OF North Carolina, said he
believed that the G. A. r. alone should
be permitted to maintain quarters in
the building, as that was a right to
which 1t was entitled by virtue of its
association with the Civil War. Col.
Grant said he doubted II there was a
real need for use OF the building by
the various veteran posts in this city,
and especially by the American
Legion.
Would Give G. A. X. Preference.
He agreed with the suggestion that
the G. A. r., whose headquarters on
16nnSNINAnld avenue are SOOn 10 ne
torn down, should be given the pref
erence over all other veteran organ
| izations. Owing to the few members
of the G.. A. r., Col. Grant said 1t
would be difficult for them to get other
suitable quarters, and this argument,
he said. applied to few of the smaller
orga MIA tions, such as the Veterans of
Indian Wars and perhaps tho Spanish
War Veterans.
Representatives of some Of the vet
erans' organizations attended the
hearing, which was on the bill intro
duced by Representative Rathbone of
Illinois. Judge Fl. 3. Moulton, past
departmental commander of the G. A.
r., said he could see no real objection
TO maintaining headquarters for other
veteran organizations in old Ford's
| Theater.
e. J. Nolan, department commander
of the United Spanish War Vet
Grams. and c. Fl. Kelley. depart
mental commander Of the Veterans OF
| Foreign Wars. made the principal ap-
peal on behalf of their orga mutations.
Mr.. Nolan suggested that the situa-
ton could be met by maintaining in
! the building a coordinate headquar
ters for all the veteran posts. The
question of floor space was one which
entered largely into the discussion, as
members of the committee were in
clined to believe that such head
quarters would take up too much
space.
Floor Space Cited.
Col. Grant said each of the three
| floors Of the building afforded about
| 5000 square feet of space. The Old
| royd collection OF Lincoln relics now
| housed in the old Peterson boarding
house in which Lincoln died. would
| require one and a half floors to be
properly exhibited. he said. Since 1t
| Is likely that Capt. Oldroyd will
| donate soon another valuable war
| collection, fully two floors of Ford's
| Theater would be required as museum
space.
| From time to time, he and members
| of the committee believe, these his
| torical collections would be augmented.
Col. Grant said that the 100000
| authorized for remodeling Ford's
| Theater would he sufficient He said
II was necessary to remove the col
| lection from the old Peterson house
| because of the danger of fire and
also the danger of accident on occa-
sions when large crowds assemble In
| the building.
The committee took the bill under
| anV1EGIn@nI To-Day anu WV i'ct tN"@'
anv agreement as to the establish
ment of veterans headquarters IN
| the building as proposed.
| While representatives OF the vet
Grams appeared willing to leave the
| question Of which organizations
| should be permitted to use the build
| ing to Col. Grant. that official thought
| he should ask specific authority from
| Congress before making any decision.
Chairman Luce expressed the op1n-
| ion that it might he an unconstl-
tutlonal use of public funds for the
Federal Government 10 maintain
| Headquarters for veterans organi2a =
lions. The Supreme Court of Massa-
| chusetts. he added, had so ruled In
connection with the state govern
ment.
Representative RAthbone author of
the bill, pointed to the fact thai a
fire could easily wipe out Ford's
| Theater and the house where the
Lincoln relics are now stored and
leave in their place only black wallis.
| THAT would be nothing short of
calamity" he said.
There was not the slightest opposi-
ton on the part OF any committees
member to the proposal for housing
the Lincoln relics In Ford's Theater.
| all Of them agreeing mat IL was a
duty which tho Government should
perform and a proper recognition.
Under the Rathbone bill the build
ing would he under the direction of
Col. Grant and the remodeling under
the supervision OF the Fine Arts
Commission.
Mr.. Rathbone made vigorous plea
on behalf of the veteran organizations,
d~~9ring there should be in the Dis
trict a suitable place for such g.
: headquarters