National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-04
LIE FEVRE'S INQUIRY.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
The Botanic Garden to be Wiped Out as SePa-
rate Institution-The Agricultural Depart
nent to be Enlarged-A New Build
ing to be Erected.

suit of its investigations together with recon-
nlendatiops and conclusions based upon the testi-
mony, and the House ordered the same to be
printed. The testimony is very YoluminouS, en-
bracing the evidence of numerous witnesses, and
including a of statistical information of
value to the legislature and the public generally.
The committee consists of Messrs. LIE Fevre, Dibre,
Hatch, MCGOWAN, and Anderson.
These gentlemen it would seem from the ex-
tent and character of their work have been rather
more industrious than select committees charged
with similar duties usually are, and it is to be
mentioned to their credit that, in order to COM
plete the work, each and every one of them re-
manned at the Capital during the holidays and de-
voted his entire time 10 the prosecution of the in
quiry.
Though the report reaches Congress too late for
action this session. the information garnered viii
prove of value to the next Congress, which viii
have an opportunity TO take action upon the same,
as it is the intention of the chairman to introduce
bills embOdying the conclusions andrecommenda-
tons of the committee ON the first day of the next
session.
Three topics we're sembEseed in the resolution
creating the committee. First, the Monumental
Gardens; second, the Botanic Garden, and third,
the Agricultural Department The canclu-
sions and recommendations touching the Monu-
mental and Botanic Gardens are of peculiar local
interest to the citizens of Washington. The Monu-
under the control of Colonel Casey and their chief
object has been the propagation of trees and plants
for the decoration of the public grounds and reseT
vations of the District of Columbia.
In the absence oflaw regulating the matter the
custom of cultivating and collecting plants only
| valuable because of their rarity has grown up,
and in other ways the appropriations have been
diverted from their strictly legitimate use. Colonel
Casey's statement to the committee calls attention
to this fact and upon his suggestion the committee
| has recommended that hereafter the prOpagating
| gardens and nurseries be devoted solely to the
| propagation and acclimGtiOn of trees and plants
suitable for in the public reservations and that
all exotics and other plants not suitable for this
purpose be transferred to the conservatory at the
| White House. Concerning the
| BOTANIC GARDEN,
I the committee say: Under the combined man
agenent of the Joint Library Committee and the
| superintendent the establishment has been made
| to perform the double function of propagating
garden of flowers plants and seeds for distribution
| by members of Congress, and the collection
Of botanical museum at the Capital for the bene
fit of students OF botany and the public generally
No rule or law has governed the distribution of the
products of the garden, nor has any account been
kept by which the aggregate value of such pro-
ducts so distributed can be ascertained. The dis
tTibution of bouquets to members of Congress.
upon the order of the chairman of the Library
Committee, has become q custom which your
committee would recommend be discon-
inued The annual cost of this institution has
reached the respectable sum Of about $4,000 per
year-a sum altogether out Of proportion, in the
opinion Of your committee, to the benefits de-
rived In conclusion, your committee would rec
ommend the consolidation of the Botanic Garden !
with the Department OF Agriculture, and the |
transfer of all the plants, shrubs, trees and !
other property which has accumulated to the con-
troll of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
Such action by Congress would not only tend 10 |
promote the public welfare by enhancing the at
fractions Of the Department of Agriculture and in
creasing its usefulness, but would do away with |
the anomaly of an institution having no real ex- |
istence in law and controlled solely by commit |
tee of Congress
Under such control the expenses have increased I
with annual regularity, until from a yearly ex-
pense of less than $1,000 the testimony taken shows
they have reached the large sum named above.
Consolidation would legtimize the institution and
place it under the general laws made for the gov
eminent of the agricultural Department. and
it is believed by your eommitte, would result in
an annual reduction of the expenses of the
Government of many thousands of dollars
Zone of the results Of the transfer of the control
of this garden to the Department of Agricul-
ture would be the immediate reduction in the force
of the higher salaried persons employed. The
official in charge of similar branches of the De-
partment of Agriculture could, with little addi-
tional trouble to themselves or expense to the
Government, superintend the Botanic Garden
Another advantage to be derived from the
consolidation of all such gardens under |
one head would be the prevention of the
duplication Of plants, some of them
difficult to procure, expensive in their preserya-
ton, and suitable only as specimens. Such dupli-
cation, your committee find, has frequently taken
Tlo Dot
this be avoided by the plan suggested but the ult
mate result would be the formation of one grand
collection of properly classified and catalogued
plants of all kinds, such as the present system of
separate gardens viii render impraetieable so long
as it is continued .
The portion the report which deals with the !
Agricultural Department opens thus:
Under the resolution creating it your commit |
tee has eltits ehefduty to be that
information would tend to place before the Y
people and their Representatives in Congress the
objects, aims, and purposes of the Department of
A Agriculture, the methods means, and agencies en-
ployed in furtheraDce of these; and upon the in
formation thus obtained TO make such recommen-
1ations as, in the opinion of the committee,
would add to the usefulness of the De-
partment and the consequent advancement
of the Observation-Disclosures of the country. With
the question of the propriety of the establishments
Of such a Department ofthe Government your COM q
mittee has nothing to do. The Department ex- I
lists. 1t will continue to exist. Hence, it should
be the object of the law making power to so regu
ate, control, enlarge, limit its functions and
facilities as will, in the wisdom of Congress- tend
10 produce the best results To this end your COM
nittee has examined such witnesses as was
bought could, by their practical technical or
theoretical knowledge. throwlight upon the ques-
ion. The testimony thus collected is submitted
herewith, and the conclusions based upon the
anne your committee beg leave to respectfully
present, numbered and classed as follows: n
First-The erection of a
NEW BUILDING
n additions to the existing structure OF sufficient =
ize and capacity to accommodate the different
divisions of the Department and the convenience O
i the large force of people employed in each. >,
Experience has demonstrated the inadequacy of "
he present building for the convenient or even s,
transaction of the business of the De-
artnent. The new building should embrace n
all, or halls, for the exhibition of agricultural q,
Implements, which would not only subserve its
purpose of informing our own people by practical 3
observation, OF the constant Improvements in
abor-saving agricultural machinery, bat show to i"
he intelligent visitor from foreign countries, in
heir most favorable light, the products of the
kill of our mechanics and manufactures and g
hus send the fame Of their achievements abroad =
| natural result Of this would be to
reate demand for them, such
s would inevitably lead TO an increase in the O,
7ealh and prosperity Of the country. This build Al
ng should be proof and constructed as to OIL
rnish the best facilities for the transaction ofbusi
and other-of the Department. Your
committee report the result of their inquiry
hat the different divisions of the Department as R
ow conducted are much restricted in their use
illness by the inadequancy, not to say niggardli-
ess of the appropriations" a
Then follow recommendations that the division | Al