Evening star., 1939-02-15
Efforts 10 Complete
Seaman Memorial
To Be Renewed
Bill Asks Fund to Finish
Work on Navy ond
Marine Shrine

Efforts to complete the Navy and
Marine Memorial on Columbia Is
land will be renewed with the IA
vorable reporting to the House, prob
ably this week by the Committee on
the Library, of bill by Representa-
tive LAC, Democrat, of California.
The memorial has stood partially
completed since October, 1894, when
the aluminium casting of a cresting
sea wave and seven sea gulls in flight
was erected on its concrete subbase.
The Izac bill authorizes the appro-
priation of $189,634 for completion
OF the base, which will consist of
three sea-green granite platforms.
OF the total authorization, not to
exceed $3.50 is to be allotted for
architectural fees and $44.384 to the
sculptor, Ernest Begrri del Plata,
for design work and for materials
which he purchased and disburse-
ments he made between 1923 and
1884.
The monument would be COM
pleted under supervision of the Ma
tional Park Service, in accordance
with plans approved by the Fine
Arts Commission. The bill stipu-
lates that the work shall be COM
pleted within one year from the
passage of the act
$355,630 Expended to Date.
The National Park Service also is
authorized to provide adequate
drives, parking space and landscap-
ing around the memorial.
Records of the Park Service show
that total of $355 $50 has been ex-
pended on the Navy and Marine
Memorial to date. OF this amount
$4,000 represents contributions
from the people of the United States.
These contributions represent every
State in the Union and people in
all walks of life, from school chill
dren to sailors and high officials of
the Navy and merchant marine.
Although the monument has been
carried to its present state under
contracts between the sculptor, the
architectural firm of Corbett, Har-
rison & MacMurray of New York
and the Navy Marine Memorial As
soclation, Inc, efforts have been
mace since 1884 to have the work
completed by the Federal Govern
nent.
Last year a bill authorizing COM
pletlon OF the memorial was blocked
by a single objection when it was
called up in the House under the
consent calendar. In reporting that
measure the Committee on the Ii
orary told the House that compile
ton OF the memorial lis incumbent
upon the Government because of
the wide interest in it among the
people"
One-Half of Fees Donated,
Inc sculptor and architects have
co-operated by making a concession
OF one-half of their fees in the in
terest OF completing the memorial
and are willing to render service
to the end" the committee re-
ported. Federal cooperation is nee
essary to fulfill "the legitimate ex-
pectation of the countless people
who have participated, morally and
financially. in the cause" according
70 tne report.
The Navy Marine Association has
listed contributions to the memorial
fund from every unit of the NAVY
merchant marine and Coast Guard
numerous religious bodies, all the
recognized patriotic societies anc
more than 100000 pupils anc
teachers.
THE desire to complete this
memorial with dignity worthy of its
object is alive in the hearts of the
American people, as is most poign.
antly witnessed in the remarks oj
those whose interest in it has
brought them to Washington te
view it and find it incomplete" the
House committee reported. Such
completion would make the history
OF this memorial parallel to that OF
Washington Monument in that they
were both growth out of the
hearts of the people, contributed te
by the people and finally completed
with Government funds. What bet
ter service to its people can gov.
ernment in democracy render
Z than to give adequate and complete
expression to the dreams of the
people-particularly when the ef.
fort of the people has already &C.
complished the major part OF the
undertakings"
Only Monument of Kind.
The Navy and Marine Memoria
Is intended to commemorate al
Americans who have been lost in tht
service of the country at sea. 1t i.
the only monument, it is said, dedi.
Gated to the thousands who have
gone to sea in war as well as peace
and, never returned.
The memorial bears the inscrip.
ton:
Ito the strong souls and ready
valor OF those men of the Unitee
States, who in the Navy and mer'
chant marine and other paths O.
activity upon the waters of tn,
world have given life or still offer i
in the performance of heroic deeds
this monument is dedicated by {
grateful people"
AS it stands today, the memorial
which measures IS by Is feet ex.
elusive of the base and stands IS fee
high, rises above an unsightly mas
of rough cement surrounded by wile
grass and shrubbery, Congress ha!
been informed.
without its granite base and tn,
proper landscaping, which are ar
integral part Of the whole design
the beauty and dignity of thu
memorial are lost," the memoria
association has reported.