Evening star., 1937-04-18
CONGRESSRUL|NC
MEMORIAL FIGHT
Request for S500,000 for
First Work in Hands of
House Unit.

Congress today holds the key to the
ing the Thomas Jefferson Memorial at
the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park.
Over President Roosevelt's sigma
ture, request has gone up from the
Budget Bureau for $500,00 to begin
construction of the memorial without
delay. This is now pending in the
House Appropriations Committee. 1t
is considered likely that this item will
be included in one Of the deficiency
supply bills-unless opponents Of the
memorial as projected can prevent it.
The item conceivably might be at
tached as an amendment to one of
the regular appropriation bills, now
running the congressional gamut.
Apparently only by failing to appro-
PIRATE money, in the face of Presi-
rent Roosevelt's request, or by chang
ing the act setting up the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial Commission, by re-
quiring that Congress itself pass upon
the design or location-or otherwise
circumScribing its powers-can the
Nations lawmakers halt the pro-
spective march of the memorial
toward completion.
Battle of Flowers" Continues.
While Washington's battle of flow-
brated japanese cherry trees around
the Tidal Basin will or will not be de-
stroyed if the memorial, as conceived
by the New York architect, John Rus
sell Pope, be constructed, not dollar
yet has been appropriated for the
work. Originally. it WAS announced
that the memorial would cost $3,000,-
600 and that half Of this sum would
be asked Immediately. Just why this
initial sum now has been cut to $780,
600 has not been fully and ofncially
explained.
Opponents of the program say that
1t will be just as bad If only $4,000
is appropriated, for if Congress en-
barks upon any spending at all for
the Pope design at the Tidal Basin,
they argue this will commit the law
makers to its execution.
Another major factor that Is confus-
ing the situation, particularly officials
in the executive branch Of the Gov
eminent, is the absence OF an ap-
proved final plan for the Jefferson
Memorial, giving engineering details,
down to the grades of highways pro-
jected and other pertinent data. Thus
far two of the agencies most inti-
mately concerned-the United States
Engineer Office, which has jurisdic-
ton over the Tidal Basin, and the
National Capital Parks, which super
vises West Potomac Park and the
famed japanese cherry trees, are
without detailed information on the
whole program.
3,0ee Trees Sent by Japan.
Lacking an approved plan, the park
officials cannot say with certainty
Just how many of the Japanese cherry
trees might have to be eliminated,
They have no road grades under the
project, vital factor affecting the fu-
ture of the cherry trees. Originally
5000 Of the trees were received here
from Japan and planted, not only
around the Tidal Basin but in East
Potomac Park, in the Department OF
Agriculture grounds and elsewhere,
They were about S years old when
they came to Washington and were
planted in March, 1912-a quarter OF
a century ago. The prospective life
OF the Japanese cherry trees is placed
at 40 years-l0 more to go.
About five years ago, when Lieut..
Col. U. s. Grant, Sd, was director
of public buildings and public parks,
q replacement program was launched.
The park authorities began to plant
Amerlcan-ra1sed stock, and officials
say that some of these young trees
now are around the Tidal Basin and
forming part of the display. Some
800 young trees have been planted
under the replacement program thus
lar. They are in varying stages of
maturity, some having been set out
each year.
The park authorities are planning
on setting out some 1900 Young
trees this Spring, but are waiting un-
TIL the current display Is over, 50 that
the program will not interfere with
the public enjoyment of the blossoms
In East Potomac Park the grade
has been raised to get the roots of
the trees above the ground water
level. In the past floods have caused
many Of the trees to die.
SIS Of Original Trees.
Around the Tidal Basin there are
about SIS of the original trees from