Evening star., 1937-07-26
Jefferson Memorial.


A difference of opinion as to the loca-
ton OF the proposed jefferson Memorial
has developed and unless it is settled
promptly 1t will result in either a pro-
!ongeo delay in the construction of this
tribute of the Nation to one of its most
Alusrlous statesmen or placement that
Will be unsuitable. The Committee on
Library OF the House of Representatives
mas taken issue with the Memorial Com
mission IN respect to the site and has
submitted to the House a report rec-
ommendlng the enactment of the bill
introduced by Representative Treadwav
providing that In no event" shall the
commission select the Tidal Basin site
for the memorial.
1hls action causes a conflict of iuris-
olction over the matter of the place
ment OF the memorial The commission
was by act of Congress given AUTHORITY
10 select design and a site for the
tribute to Jefferson. Only by act of
Congress, therefore, can it's decision in
favor OF the Tidal Basin site be set aside,
II the House Goes not act upon this
report of the Library Committee, with
the Senate concurring, at the present
session, the commission may, under it's
general authorization, proceed with the
letting OF contracts and the construc-
ton OF the memorial on the site Which
1t taVors. Congress may, however, with
hold appropriations for the construction
upon such site, which would be EQUIV
alent to a disapproval of the proposed
location.
The reasons advanced by the Library
Committee against the Tidal Basin Site
are, first, that the cost would be excessive
If the memorial should be erected as
planned by the commission, that indeed
there is no way of knowing what the
actual cost will be, the estimates of the
Army engineers ranging from So 2.5OO, 900
10 so'ooo,0oo. 1t is next urged by the
Library Committee that there is no
assurance of a substantial foundation
being secured for the memorial at the
site chosen by the commission. 1t is
further noted that the Basin site would
Lead to a grave traffic condition, that
1t would conflict in esthetic relationship
with the Lincoln Memorial and that it
would destroy some of the artistic values
OF the general location, which have be-
come traditional.
This present session of Congress
should not lapse without some deflnitiye
action on the question of the placement
OF the Jefferson Memorial. At least there
should be some decision as to the juris-
olctlon OF the now conflicting bodies, the
Memorial Commission and the Congress
itself. The House Library Committee
represents Congress directly, to the ex-
tent Of its jurisdiction. The Memorial
Commission likewise represents Congress,
through its authorization by Congress
to proceed with the selection of site
and plan and the presentation of a
requisition for an appropriation. Only
by act of Congress can this matter be
adjusted.
So far as it has been manifested, public
judgment upon the matter of the site
has been adverse to the location favored
by the Memorial Commission. That is
not entirely local public judgment.
Protests against the intrusion of another
great structure upon the park area and
the incidental destruction of many of
the cherry trees which form one of the
most charming and appreciated features
OF this park have come from others than
residents OF the Capital
All considerations point to at least a
delay in the matter, to permit fuller
study OF the esthetic, as we'll as the
financial considerations involved. That
can best be assured by the passage of the
Treadway bill, which the House Library
Committee now urges. In any event. it
must be borne in mind, steps toward the
actual construction of the memorial
upon the site chosen by the commits
sion and opposed by the House Library
Committee cannot be taken until Con-
gress provides through appropriation the
funds necessary for the execution of a
contract.