Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11
JAHNCKE OLYMPIA
PLAN TO RECEIVE
TEST OF CITIZENS
Federation Will Sound Out
Public Opinion on Main.
tenance of Memorial.
BELIEVE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD PROVIDE FUND
Havenner Holds d. C. Residents
Should Not Be Asked to
Bear Expense.

0cdI CApeuhGs
To test public opinion In the District
the suggestion made at the Navy De.
partment that the maintenance of the
u. s. s. Olympia as a historical relic
should be borne by the citizens of the
community to which it may eventually
be assigned, will be put to a vote at q
meeting Of the executive council OF the
Federation of Citizens Associations
Wednesday night.
Whether the people Of Washington
would take kindly to the suggestion of
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
Jahncke. In the opinion Of George C.
Havenner. president of the federation.
can only be determined after a can
vass Of the situation.
Although Mr.. Havenner believes the
cost Of preserving the historic flagship
Of Admiral Dewey should be met from
Federal funds, he said yesterday that he
intended to submit the question to the
executive council with a view Of having
individual citizens associations pass
upon 1t. 1.-THE council represents 10000
citizens In the District" he pointed out,
land In this way we can pretty well
gauge public opinion as to whether the
people Of the District want the Olympia
preserved here badly enough to finance
1t by public subscription
No Funds for Memorial.
Much as the District Commissioners
would like to see the old flagship kept
in Potomac waters for future genera
tons. Commissioner Sidney r. Tal1a.
ferro said yesterday that there are no
District funds which can be diverted
to that use. nor have the Commissioners
authority to do so without an appro-
priation from Congress.
The only alternative. he said. would
be to raise the money by public sub
scription and this involved details
which he was not in position to dis
cuss. Whether the Commissioners
would 60 so far ss to recommend an
appropria ton from Congress, Mr.. Talif-
ferro indicated. is another matter which
by the whole board.
The suggestion that washingtonians
bear the burden Of caring for the Olvn-
pia as the people Of Portland. Ore, are
doing in the case Of the old battlesf1tp
OREGON, met with comment that the
situation IN the District is entirely
different. Washington is the Capital
try Is interested in the preserva.
ton Of the Olympia as q monument
to a famous battle OF the Spanish
American War, 1t was pointed out. The
Olympia has none Of the personal re-
lation to the citizens of the District
that the Oregon has to the people OF
that State, Mr.. Havenner suggested,
and In the case Of the flagship, the
burden Of caring for It should be made
Q charge against the Federal Govern
ment.
Every Citizen Interested.
Whatever the fate Of the Olympia
is to be-" he said. every patriotic clt1-
zen is interested In 1t and would like
to see it preserved. The people OF
Washington should not be called upon
to pay the expense any more than
they should be asked to bear the e&-
pense Of caring for the Washington
Monument or other monuments OF q
national character located here.
TT would be a wonderful thing. now
ever. II the Olympia could be shown
here on next Navy day, II possible.
While the Secretary of the Navy has
not yet decided upon the disposal OF
the Olympia. 1t is understood that the
preservation Of the warship as E1s-
torical relic Of the American Navy viii
be considered before the disposal Of
the vessel is approved.
Mr.. Havenner thinks 1t would be
fine thing for the patriotic spirit Of
the country If the old fighting ship
can be brought to Washington for Navy
day, even II 1t Is ordered scrapped
before any bill is put through Congress
"In 1898. when Admiral Dewey re-
turned to Washington, We gave him q
torchlight parade, IN which I had
part" said Mr.. Havenner. 81 believe
all patriotic citizens join me In wishing
to see his flagship preserved for historic
purposes"
Protest Scrapping Of Ship.
The suggestion that the Olympia
be sent to the scrap heap has prompted
scores Of protests to the Navy against
thus ending the career OF the old man
of-war whose guns in Manila Bay more
than a quarter Of q century ago roared
out q brilliant chapter in American
naval history.
The Navy Department said yesterday
that kilograms protesting disposal Of
the Olympia and urgently recommend
ing its preservation have been received
at the department from practically all
chapters of the Veterans of the Span
ish- American War.
. In Minneapolis yesterday q resolu-
ton opposing the scrappinz Of the
vessel was adopted at the final session
of the annual convention Of the Fra
ternal Order Of Eagles. Col. a. J.
Grayson, Savannah, Ga. national COM
mander Of the Spanish War
veterans, offered the resolution.
If the Olympia Is preserved 1t will be
another addition tn that historic feet
which includes the frigate Constitu-
tion-"Old 1ronsides"-tfe Oregon,
Constellation and Hartford.
Preserving Constitution.
The Constitution now Is being recon-
ditioned at Boston by funds raised
through penny contributions from
school children and the sale Of pictures
through the Navy Department. The
the British ship Guerrero, known as
"the Terror OF the World" In this bat
tie shot Of the Guerrero rebounded
nom the Georgia oak In the sides Of
the Constitution, and this incident gave
rise to the name "Oid Ironsides."
The Constellation won fame In the
War OF 1872 and also in ENGAGEMENTS
with French ships at the time the inn
pressment Of American seamen had
reused storm Of protest throughout
the United States.
The Hartford was rragut's nag ship
at Mobile Bay when the veteran ed-
miral, warned that the harbor was in
tested with Confederate torpedoes,
shouted out, Damn the torpedoes! Go
aheadi"
The Oregon IL remembered for It's
historic dash from the Pacific to the
Atlantic by way Of Cape Horn in the