Evening star., 1952-02-29
House Unit Ends
Open Hearings
On Nevius Tract
Most Members Appear
To Favor Retention of
Site by Government
By Harold B. Rogers

A House Public Works sub
committee today completed hear
inRs on the controversy over the
Government-oWned Nevius tract
In Arlington County with indica-
tionS that committee members
oppose return Of the property to
private ownership.
Questions by subcommittee
members during the hearing today
indicated considerable sentiment
for retaining the 27-acre tract,
but some objection was raised TO
proposed legislation TO set up q
memorial commission TO plan
national memorial there.
The subcommittee. headed BY
Representative Timble, Demo.
crat. OF Arkansas. plans to meet
soon to act on two bills.
One. sponsored by Representative
Smith. Democrat. Of Virginia,
would force the sale Of the
property TO private ownership In
eFaeF 10 increase county revenues,
Bill for Monument,
The second bill, supported by all
witnesses at the hearing today,
would establish a commission 10
design memorial TO the ideals of
American liberty. The bill would
prevent sale OF the property, which
formerly had been intended for a
Veterans Administration Hospital,
but now Is elassed as "exeess" and
IN custody of the General Services
administration.
Witnesses today centended that |,
II a large apartment house hotel
were to be erected on the tract it
would damage" the view from the
mall past the Washington Monu-
ment and Lincoln Memorial,
Maj. Gen. U. s, Grant III, speak
ing as president of the American
Planning and Civic Association,
declared the memorial should
eventually be built as an inspira-
ton to the visitors who come to
Washington.
Does Not Specify Design.
Pointing out that the bill does
not specify what the design shall
be. Gen. Grant, former chairman
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, said that
the Netherlands government is
going to give to this Government
carlton tower and the Nevius i
tract might be considered as a
possible site for it.
Representative Murdock, Demo-
crat, of Arizona, author of the
monument bill, told the subcom-
mittee he sympathized with people
who have complained against the
expanding Government acquisition
of local property, taking it from
the community tax rolls. But he
urged the preservation of the [
Nevius tract for a monument as
Of great historical significance"
John Nolen, jr., director of
planning of the NCPPC, displayed
to the subcommittee a large sketch ,
and several photographs to dem
onstrate the Importance Of saving
the NeviuS tract for use as a
"backdrop" to the Lincoln Me-
mortal.
Sees Damage to View.
An apartment house Of II
stories. as proposed some time
ago, would damage the view, he
said. especially at night.
Mr. Nolen said that instead Of
the serene and dark background
behind the Lincoln Memorial at
night now. there would be the
lights Of a commercial establish
ment."
Representative McGregor. Re-
publican. Of Ohio. and Represen-
tative Scudder. Republican, OF
California. objected to the idea
Of another commission to plan
the memorial. They said they
favored saving the site and hold
nix ~ III VIC huIlub Vi bilC 1ON~
ernment by some means other
than the monument bill.
Law Requires Sale.
Mr.. Nolen insisted that the
Government could not hold title
to the property indefinitely be-
cause the law now requires that
surplus property must be sold.
II the committee should agree
TO hold the property uhder some
legislation. Mf. Noleh explained
the Nevltis tract might be Used
temporarily either for recreation
by Arlington County or rs 4 park
% exploit the highland for Its
view over Washington eastward
10 the Capitol
g. Melvin Sharpe, speaking for
the Committee of 100 on the Fed
efal City, OF which he IA chairman,
vigorously opposed the plan 10 sell
the property 10 private interests
for development,
Blair Lee, executive assistant of
the NePPe, also supported the
m0nlImant bill