Evening star., 1937-04-25
TREADWAY JOINS
BORAH IN URGING
MEMORIAL DELAY
ldahoan Holds Conflict in
Opinion Justifies Post
poning Appropriation.
PLANNING BODY HEAD
OPPOSES SITE CHOICE
Albright, in Letter to Boylan,
Urges Commission to Recon.
slider Action.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

WILL r.
Postponement of construction of the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, author
lied by Congress at cost of 5000 900,
is advocated at both ends of the
Capitol in view of the controversy
over the site and design as approved
by the Memorial Committee, and in
view Of the economy drive urged by
President Roosevelt.
Senator Borah, Republican, of
Idaho, said yesterday he believed that
if Jefferson could speak to us today,
he would recommend delay in erection
OF q monument in his honor, while
many persons are hungry"
He also expressed the thought that
in view of the serious difference of
opinion and criticism of the proposed
site and design, it would be advisab
to postpone appropriation of any
large amount of money ($500,000 has
been recommended by the Budget
BureaW to start construction work
Representative Treadway of Massa-
chusetts. ranking Republican member
on the House Library Committee, ex-
pressed the same view. Treadway in
troduced Friday a resolution which
would prohibit the use of the Tidal
Basin site because it would despoil
many OF the cherry trees and detract
from the Cherry Blossom Festival
which has attracted many thousands
Of visitors annually.
Sends Letter to Boylan.
Meanwhile, Horace NJ Albright,
former director of the National Park
Service and now president of the
American Planning and Civic Asso-
citation, sent letter to Chairman Boy
Ian of the Jefferson Memorial Com
mission urging reconsideration of the
site on the ground it would destroy
existing beauty in Potomac Park both
IS regards cherry blossoms and other
trees and landscape features.
Hearings are to start Tuesday on
the Treadway resolution before the
House Librsry Committee, headed by
Representative Keller, Democrat, of
Illinois with the time specially desig-
mated for those who wish to be heard
in defense Of the cherry trees and
opposing change In contour of the
Tidal Basin.
Treadway last night suggested sew
eral other sites that have not yet been
considered for the Jefferson Memorial,
saying he believes they should be
studied. He emphasized that he is not
antagonistic to the action OF the Me-
mortal Commission in engaging John
Russell Pope as architect for the me-
mortal, and that he recognizes that
Pope Is outstandingly qualified to be
placed in charge of erection of the
memorial. He said he believes Pope's
talents and vision were circumscribed
in having to draw plans for a me-
mortal on the Tidal Basin site, and
that in another setting he could en-
vision much more impressive and
fitting monument.
Gives Reason for Activity.
Treadway stressed that his activity
at this time Is solely to represent the
sentiment OF the American people as
he sees 1t against the Tidal Basin site.
AS long as the appropriation is not
made to start work on the memorial,
he argues, the wishes of the people
can be respected.
After arguing that there was no
assurance 100000 would be suffi-
cient for the memorial, Treadway
added:
II, after careful consideration of
all the questions that have been
raised. the Memorial Commission and
the President feel that they should at
this time insist on going ahead with
this project, then feel confident that
Congress will at least direct that it
be not located at the Tidal Basin.
MY thought is this: Jefferson can
have a much more impressive monu-
ment, and Pope can have a much
broader field in which to make a
unique conception in honor of Jeffer-
son, at some other site where he will
not be circumscribed by the smallness
OF the area, and by proximity to the
washington and Lincoln monuments.
believe that location where the
Jefferson Memorial could dominate
an entire section of the city would
be preferable.
Il recall that when the Lincoln
Memorial was contemplated studies
were made of a site in the Soldiers
Home grounds, on the line of North
Capitol street, and that Mr. Pope him
self was invited and made designs for
the Lincoln Memorial on that site.
A monumental entrance to the Sol
diers' Home grounds facing the Capt.
tol dome has long been contemplated
There, the Jefferson Memorial could
have vista unmatc tched in the Capital
except along the main axis of the Mall
from the Capitol to the Lincoln Me-
mortal.
Site South of Capitol.
Another location which per-
sonally prefer might be facing the
Capitol dome from the south. Few
persons in Washington seem to ap-
preciate that the area directly south
of the Capitol, along South Capitol
= street, is the most beautiful undevel-
oped area in the District. II the JEFF
ferson Memorial was placed near the
river end Of South Capitol street it
could be landsaped to make it as i'm
pressive As the Lincoln Memorial and
could lead In the Identification of
that entire section. It is worthy of
note that another bridge across the
Potomac has been considered for q
long time. somewhere near that site
So. the Jefferson Memorial, If located
there could have a bridge approach
from the Virginia shore, comparable
with the Arlington Memorial Bridge
approach to the Lincoln Memorial"
In his letter to Representative Boy
Ian, Albright asserted that not only
would the cherry trees 60 if the
scheme Is carried out, but about 1000
shade and ornamental trees would be
taken out" making 4 total Of l,700
tree4