Evening star., 1937-07-14
JEFFERSON PLANS
STILL IN DISPUTE
Redrawing to Save Trees
Doesn't Satisfy Compe"
tition Advocates.

Announcement Jnat tne InOnaS
Jefferson Memorial Commission has
instructed its architect, John Russell
Pope of New York to redraW plans for
the Tidal Basin site, today was looked
upon as a victory for those who fought
to preserve the informal basin and the
famed japanese cherry trees. This
move. in the opinion Of observers, does
not satisfy those who hsve been clam
oring for a competition among the
Nations architects and the departure
from the classical styles which make
Washington look like Roman prov
lnce" however. The contour of the
existing Tidal Basin and the cherry
trees would be preserved under. the
new plan. commission officials said.
Just where the commission will get
its funds with which to pay Pope was
not quite clear today. The under
standing is that the commission lacks
money and unless it will attempt 10
obtain from Congress a deficiency ap-
preparation, it looks as II Pope Will
have to go ahead with his new work
on the faith that he will get his fee
later.
Cammerer Puzzled.
Arno B. Cammerer. director OF the
National Park Service. who Is also
executive officer of the Thomas Jefter-
son Memorial Commission, was at a
loss to explain just how the program
will work out. He is taking his in
structionS from the commission. OF
which Representative John J. Boylan,
Democrat Of New York is chairman.
Representative Boylan later made
public this resolution. adopted By the
Memorial Commission:
Whereas, there appears to be a
difference of opinion as to the adop-
tion OF formal treatment for the Tidal
Basin area along the general lines
of the Park Commission plan of 1901,
es hitherto proposed,
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Commission is ready to modify its pro-
poeal for the setting of the memorial,
to permit the retention OF the in
formal treatment Of the Tidal Basin
on its present lines, thereby retaining
the existing contour OF the Basin and
the cherry trees planted thereon; re-
ducing the cost, which borings to bed
rock show TO be reasonable, and leav-
Ing traffic undisturbed.
The commission hereby instructs
Its architect to enter on the prepara-
tion OF revised studies for the setting
Of the Memorial, accordingly.
Treadway Opposed.
News of the commissions action
drew from Representative Treadway.
Republican, of Massachusetts, today
determined opposition to the scheme.
Evidencing his interest in the new
plan. he drove around the Tidal Basin
this morning and said that as a lay
man he does not see how 1t can be
done without disturbing the present
layout
At the request Of Representative
Boylan, the Library Committee chair
man. Representative Keller Of Illinois,
DELAYED action on the amendment to
the Thomas Jefferson enabling legisla-
ton until after the Thomas Jefferson
Memorial Commission had met. Now
that this meeting has been held. said
TreadWav, a member OF the Library
Committee. there is no further need
for delay. The amendment would pro-
hlbit the construction of memorial
at the Tidal Basin site and in Tread
ways opinion this will be reported to
the House for action without delay.
Inasmuch as Boylan has not re-
vealed the exact site for the new me-
mortal, it is not clear at this time
just what effect any legislation bar
ring the use of the Tidal Basin would
have.
The commissions apparent deter
mination to construct the memorial
on the south axis Of the White House,
squidstant from the median line of
the Mall, fails also to satisfy OBJ
jectors who say that fortune" would
have to be sunk beneath the waters
OF the Tidal Basin before the memorial
would even begin to show above water.
Fifth Cardinal Point"
The Jefferson Commissions latest
move is in line with the wishes of
DR.. Charles Moore, chairman of the
Fine Arts Comm ission. who strongly
desires to see the fifth cardinal point"
OF the Mcmillan 1901 Commission pls
carried out. The Capitol, White
House and Lincoln Memorial and the
Washington Monument are landmarks
In this program. The Tidal Basin
site, projected for the Thomas JEFF
ferson Memorial, IS described as the
last great site for a major memorial
In the District"
The United States engineer office
has opposed any diminution of the
water flow in the Tidal Basin. holding
that the existing volume of water is
necessary in order to secure proper
drainage OF Washington Channel. I'm
der previous plans of Pope for the
memorial, which passed without Sc
rios challenge by the Fine Arts
Commission and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. the
shape Of the Tidal Basin was to have
been altered. While opponents con-
tended that this change would affect
the water flow and create a stagnant
condition at Washington Channel.
proponents Of the Pope plan denied
this.
Trees Fought For.
c. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
OF the National Capital Parks, one OF
the vigorous opponents Of the Thomas
JEFFERSON Memorial at the Tidal Basin
site. on the ground that it would
sf1ect the famed Japanese cherry
trees, fought against disturbing the
rees.
Civic interests, business groups and
others took up the cry against despoil-