Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-13
MOVES TO REPEAL
RECENT ENACTMENT
Cramton Protests Bill Au-
thorizing Tall Masonic
/ Tower in District.

The extraordinary procedure OF in
Producing a bill in the House to repeal
q law only two weeks on the statute
books was started yesterday by Repre-
sentative Cramton of Michigan, author
Of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission act and other meas
ures for the harmonious development OF
the National Capital.
Representative Cramton's position is
that the law of April 29, authorizing the
construction OF a tall Masonic tower
on the Dean tract between Connecticut
avenue and Florida avenue, was passed
on misinformation furnished him at
time he was ready TO object to unani-
mous-consent action. After protesting
stressing that result will be an affront
to the esthetic development OF the
Capital and a dissertation" OF the
unique Lincoln Memorial acting on
the suggestion of Representative Arentz
of Nevada and Minority Leader Gar
ner, Mr. Cramton introduced q bill to
repeal the authorization act.
Cramton Makes Statement:
Speaking in the House, he said:
"A certain bill was reported to allow
the Masonic Temple Association, In
Washington, to erect portion OF their
building higher than the building regu-
lations of the District permit. When
that bill came up for consideration, /
asked for certain information, but the
information given was not accurate.
The gentleman who gave 1t to me was
not at fault, because the plans OF the
association had not been fairly disclosed
to the committee. BY reason OF the IN
formation given me did not make the
objection to the bill which would have
made. The bill passed and has become
law. Since that time certain facts have
been developed of which Congress was
not aware. First, that instead OF being
simply fraternal structure that would
be an ornament to the CITY, in con-
spicuous location, q part of the project
Is commercial one, the erection OF sew
eral apartment houses, SO that Congress
gave consent TO an exception to the
building regulations in connection with
o commercial project. This Congress
would not have done If we had known
the facts. Secondly, the portion Of the
structure that is to be higher than the
building regulations would have per-
mitted, as now planned by the archt-
tects is to be practically a replica Of the
Lincoln Memorial.
Reasons for Protest.
'Tn other words. we are permitting,
In connection with a semi-fraternal
and semi-commercial project, the plac-
ing, in very conspicuous part OF the
city, of a replica of the Lincoln Me-
mortal, to some extent taking away the
unique beauty that characteriZes that
structure. do not know what author
ity, if any. the Fine Arts Commission
and the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission may have left to |
them. but hope they have enough au- |
thority that they can prevent the des- |
ecration of the Lincoln Memorial by
uniting it with this pending PROPOSE |
ton. (Applause.) I think there ought |
not to have been that exception for any |
project. However, that has
gone by, and only take this time to
express the hope that the committee
legislation they are going to bring be-
fore the House today will know the
facts"
Representative Arentz reminded Mr..
Cramton that he had many followers
and suggested the bill to repeal. Mr.. |
Cramton replied: st think that would
be very desirable"
Gamers Suggestion.
Minority Leader Garner then engaged |
in brief dialogue with Mr.. Cramton |
IS follows:
Mr.. Garner. The gentleman said that |
the time had gone by. but is there not |
legislation? Have they ac-
CURED rights that we could not take |
away from them?
Mr.. Cramton. No. If Congress would |
pass the legislation, it would still be in |
time.
Mr.. Garner. Why does not the gen
tleman introduce the necessary legisla- |
ton and try to remedy the situation?
Mr.. Cramton. will be very pleased |
to do that and see how far we may get |
with it.