Evening star., 1938-04-08
FUNDS FOR SHRINE
WON'T Be VOTED,
SURVEY INDICATES
House Group Is Certain to
Make Careful Probe of
Jefferson Memorial.
1887 FIGHT RECALLED
BY CHAIRMAN TAYLOR
Poll Made After Keller Asks
for Full Hearing on Budget
Recommendation.


PROBABILITY the House Appropriations
Committee will refuse to include in
the deficiency appropriation bill the
S500,000 recommended by the Budget
Bureau to start work on the S., ,OOO, 900
Thomas Jefferson Memorial was in
dicated today by poll of members of
the subcommittee.
Most of the members said it was
extremely unlikely the appropriation
would be allowed and declared posi-
lively there would be a careful in
quiry to make certain this sum was
not the opening wedge for subsequent
appropriations far in excess of the
authorized $4,000 900.
Chairman Taylor recalled he led
the fight year ago against a similar
appropriation on the ground there
was considerable controversy as to
site and design. as we'll as, aroused
public sentiment against destruction
Of any of the japanese cherry trees.
Would Go Along.
He said that if there were complete
agreement regarding location and de-
sign, with an assurance the me-
mortal would be built within the
$3000,000 figure. and the President
wished it. he would go along" He
was unwilling, however, to speak for
his committee, although other men,
bers said they felt sure the appro-
priation would not be made at this
time
This poll Of the subcommittee was
made after Chairman Keller of the
Library Committee disclosed he had
asked for full hearing on the budget
recommendation and expressed conf
dence the. effort to rush work on the
memorial would be blocked by the
Appropriations Committee.
Says Agreement Broken.
Mr. Keller also charged that Chair
man Boylan of the Thomas jefferson
Memorial Commission had broken
"gentleman's agreement" with him
last year to open the proceedings of
the commission and permit a show
down on just where matters stood
and how far the Commission of Fine
Arts and the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission had ap-
proved the site, design and selection
Of architect.
He accused the commission Of star
chamber sessions and declared his
intention next Monday of introducing
a bill to curtail the powers of the
commission an to balk its present
plans.
Opposes Closing of View.
If the ideas of George Washington
and Maj. L'Enfant are at all sacred,
the view south Of the White House
should not be closed by memorial to
Thomas Jefferson or any one else.
Morley Jeffers Williams, director of
research and restoration for Mount
Vernon, declared today. Mr. Williams
conducted research into the White
House and its grounds in 1884 and
compiled photostats of original docu-
ments, which he describes as "illumi-
mating"
Washington and L'Enfant, who had
all the choice in the world in placing
the White House where it was, decided
that was the spot, because it afforded
a magnificent view down the Potomac
River to Alexandria, Va, Mr.. Williams
said.
Il am convinced that Washington
and L'Enfant placed the White House
where it is today because of the down.
river shot" he added. This preferred
position was designed to exalt and
glorify the Chief Executive"
While the Washington Monument
has been placed in the vista, Mr.. Will
liams says that this does not obstruct
the view, as it is slender and tapering
and 1t is fitting that such a memorial
to the first President should be there.
Nothing should go in that shot
the Thomas Jefferson Memorial or
any other" Mr. Williams insisted.
Repeal Of the law creating the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commits
sion meanwhile was urged in the
House today by Representative
Treadway, Republican, of Massachu-
sets. who led the fight a year ago
against the proposed location of the
$3,o00,0O0 memorial on the Tidal Ba-
sin site on the ground that it would
destroy the cherry trees.
Addressing the House, Mr.. Tread
way recommended to his colleague.
Representative Bruce Barton, who
made his successful campaign last
year on the pledge that he would work
for the repeal of bad laws, that he
should add the jefferson Memorial
legislation to his list.