Evening star., 1937-12-01
HONOR FOR DEWEY
REEVES SHIP PLAN
House Marks Anniversary of
Hero and Hears of Navy
Museum Proposal.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
The plan of President Roosevelt to
have the Nations five historic ships
the Olympia, Constitution, Constella-
ton. Hartford and the yacht America
brought to Washington as a per-
manent Navy museum was discussed
on the floor of the House today dur
ing commemoration of the centennial
OF the birth of Admiral George
Dewey.
Under a special order Representa-
tive Plumley.. Republican, of Vermont
eulogized the Hero of Manila Bay"
cooperating with the State of Ver-
mont, where Admiral Dewey was
born, December 26, 1887, and which
by action OF the State Legislature is
observing the anniversary throughout
this month.
Representative Cochran, Democrat,
Of Missouri pointed out he has for
several years been trying to get
Dewey's flagship, the Olympia, per-
manently docked at the National Capt.
tai as memorial to the men and
women who served with the United
States in the war with Spain, and
as a shrine to be visited by people
from all over the country. This bill,
he pointed out, several times has been
favorably reported by the House Naval
Affairs Committee and was once
passed by the House, but has never
been out of the Senate committee.
Time Appropriate for Olympia.
Mr.. Cochran explained the Presi-
dents larger program for the Navy
museum, but declared that, pending
the time when it could be carried out,
it now is particularly appropriate
time to have the Olympia brought
here. Mr.. Plumley Endorsed this pro-
poSal.
1t was from the bridge of the
Olympia, on May /, 1898, that Ad-
miral Dewey, commander of the fleet,
said to the commander of the flagship:
"You may fire when you are ready,
Gridley."
Without the loss of a man or seri-
Gus damage to a ship in the United
States Fleet, the Spanish fleet was
destroyed.
The Olympia was on duty during
the Boxer rebellion in 1900 and again
went into service April g. 1917, at the
beginning of the World War Its last
important mission was to bring home
the body of the Unknown Soldier,
arriving here November 9, 1921. 1t
has been tied up at the Philadelphia
Navy Yard since August 81, 1922. and
has been out of commission since De-
cember 9, 1922.
Cities Object to Transfer.
The yacht America, first to win the
international racing cup, is tied up
at the United States Naval Academy,
Annapolis; the Hartford, first steam
vessel of the Civil War, is at Charles
ton, S. c.; the Constellation is at
Norfolk, Va, and the old frigate Con-
stitution is at the Boston Navy Yard.
The President wishes them all brought
to Washington, and there is some op-
position to this plan from the cities
where they now are located-especially
from Boston.
It is due to the fact that Senator
Walsh of Massachusetts, is chairman
Of the Senate Naval Committee, which
must act on this legislation, that its
passage has been delayed.
Mr.. Cochran believes the Dewey
flagship should be brought to the
Washington Navy Yard and anchored
where the presidential yacht May
flower formerly had its station. This
would be especially fitting, he said
both because it brought home the Un-
known Soldier and because this was
Admiral Dewey's home port. where he
lived after he became a national hero,
in house purchased by the coin con-
tributions Of school children.
Eulogizes Dewey.
Eulogizing Dewey, Mr.. Plumley
said: "The rise of Admiral Dewey was
the result of a great character un-
consciously combined with situation
IN which his country had placed him
IN its hour of trial. He walked out
to do his duty, and as a consequence
to change the course of the circle of
empires, open the door of opportunity
to and determine the destiny of mil
lions of men relieved from the bondage
and oppression of centuries, remake
the map and write a new chapter in
the history of the world"
He quoted concentrations from
President Theodore Roosevelt and
President Woodrow Wilson and ex-
cerpts from a review of Admiral
Dewey's career by committee consist
ing of Profs. Webster. Howard and
Flint and Librarian Moore Of Norwich
University, as we'll as the resolution
adopted by the Vermont Legislature.