Evening star., 1940-03-31
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star
Dispute Over
Monuments
News from Paris that the Lafayette
monument was ready for shipment to


this country renewed a
Dispute Over controversy so years ago
Monuments between the residents of
the District and the
committee in charge Of the placement
of the monument over the selection of
a site. In its news columns on March
27 1890, The Star prints the following:
Secretary Proctor is in receipt of ad-
vices from the United States Legation
at Paris to the effect that the Lafayette
monument has been inspected by Mr..
Franklin Simmons, an American sculptor
Of note residing in Rome, and also by M.
Henri Taine. the celebrated art critic,
both Of whom are very enthusiastic In
their praises. The statue was to be
shipped in about three weeks from the
date of the letter
THE work on the foundation on the
south side Of the square is progressing
rather slowly. owing to difficulties that
have been encountered in the way Of
soft soil and sewer and gas pipes that
will have to be DETECTED. There is no
doubt, however. that the place will be
ready for the statue by the time of its
arrival here
In regard to the criticisms that have
been made upon the commission for its
selection Of site, Secretary Proctor said
this morning that he was trifle sur
prised that nothing was said against
the site when the committee made their
preliminary announcement of the deci-
sion, which was printed in The Star some
weeks before the commission finally
agreed to call the matter decided. This
final decision was based partly upon the
seeming public acquiescence in the selec-
ton. The Secretary did not favor the
southern edge site unless the Jackson
statue could be removed either to some
more suitable place in the square or else
out of it entirely He says that nothing
the jackson statue without the authority
of an act of Congress, but he does not
think that it lies within the province Of
the commission to ask for such legisla-
ton, and he looks to Senator Evarts, the
congressional member Of the commission,
passage of bill to this effect.
Among the objections that have been
suggested against the locating Of the
Lafayette statue on the southern edge
of Lafayette Square there is one that 1t
necessitates the removal Of the statue
of Jackson from its present conspicuous
place in the center of the square. Pro-
tests against such action have been made
by Jackson Democrats, who claim that
the Jackson Association evolved the
Jackson Monument Society, and that
through the efforts and financial en-
deavor Of this society the statue was
made and located. To remove 1t would
be arbitrary and wrong; unjust to the
original Jacksonians who invested cash
in the artistic enterprise.
"A Star reporter looked for the re-
spective legal rights of the society and
the Government. At the first session Of
the Thirty-second Congress the follow
ing was enacted in an appropriation act:
"'For the purpose of erecting ped
estal in Lafayette Square for the eques-
trian statue of Andrew Jackson. on such
plan as may be approved by the artist
for that work, $15,000.'
"At the second session Of the same
Congress more money was appropriated,
as follows: For the purpose Of complet-
ing the pedestal for the equestrian statue
Of Andrew jackson in Lafayette Square
and the erection of suitable iron rail-
ing around the same, $1,000
''The pedestal being about paid for, the
Government then took charge Of the
statue and before the Thirty-second
Congress concluded Its work the follow
ing legislation took effect:
"That there be placed at the disposal
Of the President of the United States the
sum of $4,000 to enable him to COM
pensate Clark Mills for the erection Of
an equestrian statue Of Andrew jackson
recently placed upon the public square
in the city Of Washington north of the
Executive Mansion and to make the
same the property Of the United States,
and that the said sum be paid, under
the direction Of the President, out Of any
money IN the Treasury not otherwise
... 4