Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-30

the art1llery:-ileut- Col. +. i. Dent to be
colonel, Major John c. Hamilton to be lieuteu-
ant colonel. Capt. r. T. Frank to be na jor
First Lieut.. j. NJ ingalls, to be captain and
Second Lieut.. j. S. oyster to be first l:puten-
ant.
Investigating the Government Ho-
tamicaI Garden.
WHAT LIARARIAN sPOFFORD SAYS ARoUT 1T.
The subcommittee of the House committee
On agriculture. Of which Gen. Ietevre OF Uaio.
is chairman, have been engaged for some time
past in an investigation OF the methods and
workings OF the Agricultural department, anu
soon after the assembling OF Congress the com-
mittee win submit report recommending some
radical changes and reforms For the past
two days the committee has directed its atIen-
t1on 10 the botanical gardens which for many
years past have been under the nominal man
agement or direction OF the librarian OF Con-
gress and In course OF their inquiry have dis
covered that it has cost the government s55o, oou
IN tie past thirty five years. Mr. SpoTord the
congressional Librarian. was before the com
mittee yesterday ana stated that he had
frequently called the attention OF Congress 10
ihe ,hI mater and mad expressed the opinion tnat
noSeGay establishment and the library OF
Congress, and that its accounts should be KEEP
elsewhere in the course OF his examination
Mr.. SpOf0rd said: III the botanical garden Is
TO be a credit TO the government of the Unitc
States. the endeavor should be made to enliT rye
Ii by consolidating 1t with everything parallel
to II In the city OF WashingtOn-W1th the green
houses at the Agricultural department ana {.
the Executive Mansion and In the prnnagating
garden. All Of them should be under the charge
OF the Commissioner Of Public Buildings and
Grounds. They are now costing great deal
more money than they need cost under q con
Solidated management. They should De admin
istered with the idea Of producing the greatest
ana most impressive results with the money
expended. The botanical garden here would
not Go any great credit to private gentleman
OF large means and Of the requisite education
and taste who should devote himself to nCrti-
culture and Horticulture. There are many
private establishments in this country much
finer, and that is an additional reason why
when we undertake 20 make a great show p!ac..
ln the front CT the Capitol. We should make as
good show as We can. II we cannot have &
great Kew Garden, We should at least hava
something that would do credit to the nltsi
States. You have not got 1t there now. YOU
have goi three or four rival small shows In the
city OF Washington, when you ought to have
one great exhibition OF botanical science. This
little garden here costs more than the famous
Jalden Ges Plantes, in Paris which has not
only the greatest collection OF botanical spe;t-
mems In the world, but also the greatest coIlec-
ton OF living animals and of comparative an
atCDy. II Congress would devote Itself to pro-
v1Ging tine display In the direction OF b0tan-
lcal science 1t would render service of great
value. Is 1t Is now, visitors come and look at
the botanical specimens In three or four differ
ent en- piascs, separate from each other; In not one
state OF things is disgraceful for those who are
responsible fUrit.n
THE ALLEGED TESTIMONY
taken before the SUD committee OF the House
committee on agriculture yesterday, seems 70
have been considerably garbled in the extract
furnished the newspapers by the committee
Inls I'M ~ v ould certainly appear from Letter writ
ten By Librarian SpotfoTi TO Mr.. Smith the S,l-
perinteEuent OF the Botanical gardens dated
to-day. The letter says:
LIBRARIAN sPofFORD CONNECTS THg PUBLISHED
REPORTS or HIS TESTIMONY.
The great and unwarrsntable variations fro n
my testimony in regard 10 the Botanical Ga;-
den In the published report, require. In justice
TO myself as we'll as 10 you, the statement u
what did say:
l.t / went before the committee as a sworn
witness, required 10 produce the accounts f0r
one year. SO called of TO the reporter, item
by item as Instructed by the chairman, tha
bills fer horse ana cart hire, he footing them
up. did rot testify that two teams had beea
charged ever since l can remember nor dfd
say anything about the amount so charged
crCtDl as 10 he S'nqte ySdj' 1889. This vas re
qulfed 10 do under OATH
I'd. AS TO the Barthold fountain. {Questio s
regarding which were asked BY MIR. Hatch),
said that IL was offered at very low price
S6,G00-greatly less than coat, and that both
Senator Morrill, and yourself interested tne
proper committees In securing 1t for Washing
the library committee, and that senator Nor
I'LL, then chairman OF the public buildings and
grounds, pressed its favorable action. and thar
| was not aware by what authority it was
located lD the botanic garden.
Sd. did not say that when all the govern
ment botanical collections are consolidated
they should be under the charge of the com
missioner OF public buildings and grounds buf
under competent and responsible head
whether that officer or the present supernten-
dent or the botanic gardens, or some other
officer. who should devote his energies to the
advancement Of botanical science.
| now notice this matter ONLY IN CAV that
they lthe reporters> have garhled and e1agger
ated the accounts TO suit themselves.
II you could have heard my evidence land /
wish you had, you would have seen that while
desiring the concentration OF scattered coliec
uons SO as 10 make one great and credltable
botanical exhibition, l had nothing to renect
numoerless personal and official favors, should
be the last to disparage you, and my Criticisms
oore upon Congress and the system.
WHAT SUPERINTENDENT SMITH SAYS.
A STAR reporter called on Mr. Smith to day
He states that when he needed q cart or carts
he rented them himself to the United States al
so much per day. but he points to the fact that
a ike system prevails with the officers OF the
House ard Senate. and has for years sack AS
to the Bartholdi fountain he says he had no
more 10 90 with its purchase than the man In
the moon, but that after it was purchased he
was sollcitous to have it placed in the Botanical
garden, distance sufficient from the Capitol
10 prevent lts architectural effect from being
Nv diiSN. ~ 10 ilc aTCAlLetlurdi
In the world" said MIR. Smith. AS TO the
bouquet department. OF the Botanical garden.
Mr.. smith said that he had long since recon-
meDded that The giving OF boquets be limited
to an occasional floral gift 10 stranger con-
SI1tuent Of congressman. Touching the Bo.
tanical garden, it has in 1t the finest collection
on this earth,' said Mr.. Smith, ''and that is sag
Ing good deal"
.HB COMMITTEES TO DAY INvRSTIG LTR THR AGRI-
CULTURAL BUREAU.
The subcommittee OF agriculture held a
meeting to-day. The branch OF the inquiry
touching the Botanical Garden was laid asid'.
for the present. General Conner. the chief clerk
OF the Agricultural department. was examined
at length In reference to the general working
OF the department.. General LeDUc will be
called when he gets through with his expert
mental tea farm In South Carolina.
COMMANDER G. W. sumner Z. s. ", has been
ordered to special duty at Washington.
IHE BRULK SIOUX did not go to the Interio
department to-day, they having asked Secre-
Laly schurz to allow them to think over the
proposluon OF the railroad companies to pa :
t tnetn ior the right OF way. II is understood
M onaI tney Will accept the terms offered, how
e'ef' only one OF the chiefs now dissenting.
Mr.. A. =. LOGAN, a nneai descendant of the
celeDrated Indian chief OF the Six Nations. of
tnat name SO we'll known to juvenile orators.