Evening star., 1939-03-01
Objection That Ball |ket
Navy and Marine
Memorial Revealed
Virginia Stone Firms
Representative Tells
Of Attitude

Completion of the Navy and Ma
rine Memorial, on Columbia Island
apparently was blocked during the
past session of Congress upon the
request of Lynchburg (Va0 con-
Germ dealing in Virginia green stone
according to a transcript of testi-
mony before the House Committee
on the Library made public today.
Legislation authorizing the ap-
preparation of $189,634 to complete
the memorial was blocked by a
single objection when it was called
up last year. Representative Izac
Of California has reintroduced the
bill, which has been approved by the
House Committee on the Library,
following recent hearings.
One of the witnesses appearing
before the committee, according to
the transcript, was j. H. Doran, rep
resenting the Virginia Green Stone
Co. of Lynchburg. Va.
Il expect that I was probably the
guilty party, when it came to the
objection on the bill last year." Mr..
Doran told the committee, the tram
script shows. Il considered that
we had not had a chance; that we
had a stone that is acceptable, and
I asked to have the bill objected to,
which was done
Plans Call for Green Granite.
Mr.. Doran told the committee that
his company was prepared to fur
nish green stone to complete the
memorial foundation ''for approx
mately half of what it would cost
to do 1t with granite" The plans
Of the sculptor. Begni del Plata, call
for the use of green granite.
Questioned by the committee, Mr.
Doran admitted. however, that his
plan also contemplated changing
the original design for the founda-
ton as a means of saving money.
II think, Mr.. Chairman" he said,
that If Virginia green stone is used
and we were allowed to change the
structure of the design somewhat,
without changing any essential
lines, we can probably reduce the
cost of the whole thing, including
all of the fees. everything else, to
a point below $125,OO"
AS result of this testimony, Mr..
del Plata has told The Star that,
although he does not approve of
the Virginia green stone. he will raise
no objection to its use if the official
design of the base is not mutilated
or changed. The architects, Cor
bett, Harrison & MacMurray of New
York, have taken the same position,
Mr.. del Plata said.
I'VE strongly recommend against
any change in the structural work
OF the memorial Mr.. del Plata ex-
planned.
Doubts Possibility of Saving.
The sculptor said that he believes
If the structural work and the design
of the base are faithfully adhered
to, according to the official plans
and drawings, it will be almost i'm
possible to save dollar on the ap-
preparation"
If the structure and design of
the base are changed" he said, at
would amount to selling the sculptor,
architects, memorial and contribut-
Ing public to a private commercial
interest"
He said that Mr.. Doran's firm
would require year to do the work,
as against four months, contem-
plated under present plans.
Patriotic societies all over the
country are~urging an early compile
ton and unveiling of the memorial,
MIR. del Plata said, among them be-
Ing the American Legion, Daughters
OF the American Revolution, Ma
tional Society of the New England
Women, the United Confederate
Veterans, the Army and Navy Club,
Military Order of the World War,
Military Order of Foreign Wars, the
Steuben Society of America, Veterans
OF Foreign Wars, the Army and Navy
Union. the Fleet Reserve Association,
the Regular Veterans Association,
the National Life Conservation So
ciety and the Naval Reserve Officers
Association.