Evening star., 1946-05-27
Mason RefusesPIace
On Committee Trying
To Save Key House

commissioner Guy Mason told F.
Regis Noel, president of the Co.
lumbia Historical Society, today he
would not serve on committee of
the society which is to seek resto-
ration of the Francis Scott Key
house at the Georgetown end of
Key Bridge.
The society president had listed
Commissioner Mason and Commits
sioner John Russell Young, together
with other prominent Government
officials and local residents as mem
bers OF the committee. The group
plans to save the house from being
demolished to make way for the
road link between the proposed X
street elevated highway and Key
Bridge. 1t is hoped to use the
house as society headquarters.
I'm view of the fact I have sup
ported the District of Columbia
Governments position in this mat
ter, I must decline serving" Com
missioner Mason said in a letter to
Mr.. Noel. Il am not in accord with
the views of the society,"" he added,
saying it would put him in an in
congruous position"
Replies to Noel.
He also advised Mr.. Noel, "I think
1t would be better before appointing
committee, to consult members as
to whether they would be willing
to serve"
Mr.. Noel has the right under the
society's constitution to make ap-
polntments to committees without
prior consultation.
Sharing Commissioner Mason's
surprise at being appointed without
prior consultation were several other
individuals listed as being on the
committee, including Frederick V.
Murphy, architect member of the
Fine Arts Commission, and Charles
H. Tompkins, prominent Washing
ton builder. A third man of prom
lnence, who asked that he not be
identified, said he had not been
asked.
Mr.. Noel said, in announcing the
committee and its aims, that Su-
preme Court Justice Harold H. Bur-
ton has agreed to lend his name to
the committee as honorary chair
man. Wade H. Ellis, Washington
attorney. Is chairman. George r.
Llnkins is vice chairman and Chris
Jacobsen and Fred S. Tyler are
treasurer and secretary, respectively
Appointed to the committee be-
side the Commissioners are: Sec
retary of the Treasury Vinson,
Architect of the Capitol David
Lynn, Vernon E. West, Charles Fahy.
Chief Justice Bolitha j. Laws of the
District Court, Chief Judge Edward
S. Delaplaine of the Maryland Court
of Appeals, L. Corrin Strong. Fred
A. Smith, Gilbert Grosvenor, Miss
Eta Taggart, president of the So
ciety of Natives; Mrs. Eleanor Pat
terson, publisher of the Washing
ton Times-Herald: John O'Rourke.
editor of the Washington Daily
News; Francis Scott Key-Smith, a
descendant of Francis Scott Key,
Frederick v. Murphy, architect mem
Der OF the Fine Arts Commission:
DR.. Laurence F. Schmeckebier, John
Claggett Proctor, Richard c. Musser,
H. P. Caemmerer, secretary of the
Fine Arts Commission: Christian
Heurich, jr.; Lloyd B. Wright,
Charles C. Glover. jr.:; :; John R.
Waller, Arthur P. Drury, Nelson
Harrison, Albert w. Fox, B. Huston
McCeney, Edward D. Merrill, presi-
dent of the Capital Transit Co. :;
Charles H. Tompkins, Harry A.
Grant. Paul B. Cromelin, David
Lawrence, L. Perry West, Appleton
P. Clark, Arthur May, Col. Julius T.
Peyser, Maj. William L. Browning.
Judge Walter T. Mccarthy of the
Arlington Circuit Court, and F.
Barnard Welsh.
The committee plans to raise ap-
proximately 100000 for the restora-
ton provided highway engineers are
willing to replan the road link SO
that the house can be spared.
Only the foundation of the orig
lnal house remains and descendants
of the composer of the National
Anthem have opposed reproducing
the original building, recommend
ing rather an obelisk or a fountain
Present plans call for commemo-
raation in the form of a bronze
plaque.
Investment advice: The only Sc