Evening star., 1944-03-08
Arlington Called
Selfish in Fight
|0nCenneteryBi||
Gen. Kingmon Says
Residents 'Beerudee
Burial to Soldiers

Brig. Gen. John j. Kingman. rep
resenting the Office of the quar-
termaster general. today attacked
what he termed "the small. selfish
interests" of Arlington County that
would "begrudge burial to our SOL
diers and sailors" He made the
statement in a House Military Af-
fairs Committee hearing on a bill
to acquire 11s acres of Federal and
private land for expansion of Ar
lington Cemetery.
Gen. Kingman said the occupied
land would be taken only as needed,
or as the Government might see fit.
He listed what he termed great
benefits which Arlington County
had obtained through wartime ex-
penditures," mentioning bridges, the
Pentagon, the $15,O00,000 National
Airport and the highway network
serving those developments.
Previous Attitude Recalled.
Asked by Representative Elston,
Republican, of Ohio if in objecting
to the attitude of Arlington County
people he recalled that the War
Department itself had objected to
enlargement of the cemetery sew
eral years ago, Gen. Kingman re-
piled that he was aware the COM
manding officer Of Fort Myer had
opposed the taking of Fort Myer
land at one time.
Asked by Mr.. Elston If he were
aware that the War Department
itself had opposed purchase of the
Nevius tract, near Arlington Memo
rial Bridge, Gen. Kngman said that
he was not.
Representative Smith, Democrat,
Of Virginia condemned what he
called the War Department plan of
not using acquired land until de-
probation had set In and termed
it "the laying of a dead hand of
acquisition by the Government on
Arlington County,"
He quoted Frederic Delano as
having said that such a policy was
economical and feasible" Mr..
Smith listed 1913 dwellings,, seven
large apartments, school valued
at $135,000 and streets and utilities
as portion of a settled community
the Government proposes to acquire.
Nevius Track Discussed.
He then brought up the Nevius
track, which he called "a bone of
contention" and said that it had
been appraised by an insurance COM
pany at $3,250,000, "a grea: sum of
money involved in a small BILL"
Mr.. Elston asked him II he were
aware that previous appraisals
would be admissible in court If the
Government chose to acquire the
land by condemnation.
Representative Thomason, Demo-
crat, OF Texas said he was not in
terested In Park and Planning Com
mission recommendation but that
the report Of Assistant Secretary of
War Patterson that land should be
acquired was the sole point of con-
stderation. He said he would trust
the War Department. and the courts
to see that no citizen suffered an in
justice nor the Government a loss.
Mr.. Smith, declaring the "Gov-
ernment has nearly swallowed us
whole" suggested that Federally-
owned properties down to the Po-
tomac River be used for burial pur-
poses.
Representative Kilday, Democrat.
OF Texas asked Mr.. Smith to suggest
an alternative to condemnation and
ensuing deterioration. He said he
felt the Government should take 1t
and pay for it. Mr.. Smith said he
preferred to give him no encourage
ment as to an alternative.
Representative Fenton, Rep,b-
lican, OF Pennsylvania brought in
the fact that Pennsylvania had
asked for national cemetery within
the State, but the War Department
had turned thumbs down"
Douglas Assails Proposal.
Earlier, Arlington Commonwealth's S
attorney. Lawrence Douglas, assailed
the expansion as "stopgap'' move.
From the Senate report on the bill.
Mr.. Douglas read statement of
Maj. Gen. E. G. Gregory, quarter
master general, that there was ap-
parent room in the present cemetery
for $4,000 more burials.
Mr.. Douglas pointed out that the
ground proposed to be acquired
would supply room for not more
than $4,000 additional burials.
He said he felt the county would
not oppose the bill if there were a
relationship between the bill and the
fulflllment of the need.
THE time will come when there
will have to be an additional Arling-
ton Cemetery, more remotely
placed" Mr.. Douglas said.
He suggested that the Govern
ment utilize large acreage already
Federally owned near the Manassas
VaD Civil War battlefields.
The committee recessed until 1920
am. Tuesday.
TnI D.. III