Evening star., 1940-05-21
Bill Emissions Park
Near Supreme Court
To Honor Holmes
Report by Special
Committee Cites
Building Development

The memory of the late Justice
Oliver Wendell Holmes, who willed
his estate to the Government when
he died five years ago, will be
honored by the establishment of a
small garden park near the Su-
preme Court Building and publi-
cation of the writings of the dis
tinguished jurist, if a bill intro
duced late yesterday by Senator
Walsh, Democrat, of Massachusetts,
is enacted into law.
The bill carries out recommenda-
tions of a special committee ap-
pointed pursuant to President
Roosevelt's message to Congress on
the subject shortly after the death
of Justice Holmes. The report of
the committee. just made public,
states that at its request and that
of the President, the National Capt.
tol Park and Planning Commission
made very careful study of the
possibility of setting apart an open
space in the city of Washington
as suitable memorial"
Building Needs Weighed.
'The commission" the report
continues, "has for some time been
of the opinion that in order to
meet the need for additional public
buildings, the Government should
acquire the two blocks lying I'M
mediately east Of the Supreme
Court Building, bounded on the
north by Maryland avenue and B
street, on the south by East Capitol,
on the east by Third street NE,
and on the west by Second street
NE. It is thought that this area,
which has much to commend it for
the purpose, will be needed in the
near future for projected public
buildings, including a new court
house for the Court of Appeals and
the District Court of the District
of Columbia, a courthouse for the
Court of Claims and other needed
buildings such, for example, as
would accommodate the invaluable
library of the surgeon general of
the Army, and fulfill future needs
in connection with the Library OF
Congress"
The report suggested that the nee
essary open space around which
these buildings would be grouped
could appropriately be devoted to
memorial park or garden close to
the home of the court with which
Justice Holmes was so long asso-
ciated.
Sculpture. Suggested.
AS an initial step the commission
proposed immediate acquisition Of
part of one of the squares east OF
the Supreme Court which, it is esti-
mated would cost approximately
$350,000. The report suggests that
in addition to the garden atmos-
phere, the memorial park could in
clude a piece of sculpture dis
tinguished, however modest, de-
signed to emphasize the significance
of the place and to accommodate a
suitable inscription commemorating
Justice Holmes service as soldier,
judge and emminent citizens"
The committee expresses hope 1t
may be possible to dedicate the me-
mortal on March 8, 1941, the Tooth
anniversary of the birth of Justice
Holmes.
The committee suggests 5000
be made available for the memorial
publication of his writings and not
to exceed $4,000 for Identification
of the memorial park, and that the
remainder of his bequest to the
United States, "and the proceeds of
his residence when sold be used for
governmental purposes, as was his
wish" The committee recommends
that the residence at 172O I street
NV. be sold upon condition that
the house be demolished or upon
other terms which will preclude the
commercial exploitation of justice
association with it.