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Show Columbus' Bones Need Real Tomb Plan for Great Monument Over Discoverer's Neglected Remains Re-mains Is Revived. IS PAN-AMERICAN PROJECT Coffin at Santo Domigo is Now Opened So Visitors May Handle Relics Plan Beacon Light for Navigators. Washington. Reorganization of a movement among Pan-American nations na-tions to provide a suitable memorial and final resting place for Christopher Columbus, the man who gave "the New World to the Old," has been reported to the War department by William E. Pilliam, receiver-general of Dominican . customs. Mr. Pilliam's report says the project was relaunched recently and is commended to the sympathetic consideration of Pan-Americans everywhere. every-where. Open Coffin for Visitors. The remains 'of Columbus were brought to Santo Domingo from Spain in 1540, the report says, adding that it has been the practice lately to opea the casket and permit high dignitaries or distinguished visitors to tne island republic to handle personally some of the bone fragments. "This happened upon the occasion of a visit by Secretary of War Stimson and party In 19li, also the year fob lowing, when Secretary Knox and numerous nu-merous parties made their ceremonial trip around the Caribbean Circle," the report says. The writer was present upon both occasions and admits, but not without some self-reproach, that he, too, handled some of the bone fragments. "It was that fact," the report continues, con-tinues, "which first suggested the idea that it should be the concern of Pan-Americans, Pan-Americans, the peoples of the twenty-one twenty-one republics occupying the territory of North and South America, with the co-operation of Canada, l provide a suitable memorial and final resting place for Columbus in the 'Cradle of America,' as Santo Domingo is called. Popular Move. "A popular move It should be, and with its palpably popular appeal Its failure would constitute a reflection upon Pan-America. Pcor, unfortunate ; Santo Domingo cannot do it alone, though thirty years ago, at the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America, a Junta Naclonal was duly constituted by Dominican government govern-ment decree to erect a monument in the cathedral. That much was accomplished, accom-plished, but nt the time It was understood un-derstood the arrangement was temporary. tem-porary. While the monument at the cathedral Is ornate, it Is nowise commensurate com-mensurate with the greatness of the man. nor does It constitute a fitting or adequate homage for such a world character." The report concludes with a statement state-ment that the project abandoned on account of the World war contemplates the erection of a massive tomb, its In-tenor In-tenor modeled after that at Les Inva-! Inva-! I ides. Paris, with Its exterior patterned after the lines of Grant's tomb. In New York. Superimposed on the tomb itself would be a beacon tower, about TOO feet in height, In the top of which would be a great light as an aid to navigation. |