Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-26

TAhA Vt ~ AMI Ink GOVERNMENT
SHOULD PAY ALL THE ExPENsKa
So far as the Senate and House can make
legislation effective the Rock Creek Park is an
accomplished fact. All the bill needs now is
the signature of the President, for the Senate
agreed to the report Of the conference COM
mittee this morning and used up only small
amount Of time in doing it. The report was
called up by Senator ingalls,
SENATOR aoRMAN's VIEWS.
The first person to discuss 1t was Senator
German, who said he had come to the conclu-
sion that any further objection would result in
an undesirable postponement, a postponemcnt
which would be full OF danger to the measure.
He, therefore, would do no more than put him
self GU record as to certain features
which he regarded as Objectionable.
He trusted the Senator in charge Of tho
bill would prepare and push legislation
that would materially change matters. The
system he objected to was that of placing
| army officers in charge OF work that belonged
to civilians. The construction of buildings,
the laying out of parks and similar works
should be supervised by civilians He ad-
mitted that the engineer corps stood high but
their assignment to such duties as now occupied
most of their time was all wrong. The army was
gradually making serious encrOachments upon
the rights and occupations Of the man in civil
| the bill now because the whole country was in
terested in the idea of great national park at
the national capital Had the land been
bought ten years ago the cost would
have been much less; and if the pur-
great increase in the cost He trusted the bill
| in its present shape would not long survive.
but hoped there would be amendatory legisla-
ton in which the control Of the work would be
shifted and the total expense paid by the gen.
eral government.
SENATOR GIBsoN's VIEWS.
Senator Gibson Of Louisiana was emphati-
| cally favorable to the park and enthusiastic
over its location. He had ridden over the
| greater portion Of it and was satisfied that it
was all that could be required. He did not
think that the people OF the District
| ought to be taxed for the purchase
| OF the land or the maintenance Of
| the reservation. Mr.. Gibson said he had but
one apprehension and that was that the army
engineers would go in with their picks and
spades and destroy the natural beauties Of one
OF the most naturally beautiful spots on the
| face of the earth.
| WHY MIR. REAGAN OPPOSED IT.
Mr.. Reagan said be was opposed to the bill.
Central Park in New York, he said. contained
only 700 acres. while it was proposed to estab-
lish here park of 1000 acres. 1t was too
much land for the purpose and 1t would re-
/
soil was purchased.
| Mr.. SHERMAN STEAKS.
Senator Sherman said he was warmly in
favor Of the establishment of the park Had
the ground been bought twenty years ago it
could have been purchased for S2OO,O To-
| day 1t was worth fully six times as much Il
was good investment, il nothing more. The
| land would increase III value enormously. He
objected to the government taking the city of
| Washington into partnership.
| Il don't like to use the word" said the Ohio
| statesman, but ! think it's mean thing to
| do, and Mr.. Sherman put weighty accent on
''mean." He said the District could not afford
such an expensive luxury, but the general
government could. The government should
own the park. Mr.. Sherman then referred TO
three civilians (whom he did not name) who
| resided in this city and who could more sat-
isfactorily and artistically lay out the park
than could any army engineers. Senator Har-
ris reminded Senator Sherman that there
! would be three civilian commissioners ap-
pointed to act in conjunction with the army
| officers.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PAY ALI.
Senator Sherman said he wns pleased to be 90
informed. Then he went on to say that he
hoped Congress would speedily repeal the Law
which makes the District pay half the cost OF
the park. Another Of the grave errors in the
bill was the provision empowering assessments
OF benefits which it was alleged would accrue.
Most OF the property adjoining the park wal
In the hands OF small owners-people who
were possessed Of little tracts on which they
raised garden truck to sell in the city. II
would be unjust to tax these people. To be
sure they could probably get better prices fol
their little patches il they sold them Il is more
than probable that but few of them would care
10 sell their homes. They should not be
singled out Is objects Of special taxation.
THE REPORT ADOPTED.
When the vote was taken ON the question o.
agreeing to the Conference report Mr. Reagan
was the only one to calculate moi" So thu
report was agreed to and the bill will be takey
70 tho PRESIDENT Tor his consideration.
Marriage Licenses.
Marriage licenses have been issued By II.
clerk Of the court to VIM. Gass and Katie Laur
Cornelius II. Towers and Alice NJ. Suits; Ste
phen Bailey and Fannie Thompson; Clayton
Dorsey and Mary Parker; Augustus Jenkins
and Henrietta Smith; Lewis Crosby and Anpil
Butler, both of Alexandra, Va; Thos A. Cor
; man and Annie 8. Hogan; II. r. huffman ans
Margaretta Babette Eiscnhut
Suing the District for S5, 600 Damaaes
/ N. Lochboehler has, by Mr. L. Tobriner
fled suit against tho District for 5000 dam
ages, which he claims to have sustained By rea
son Of the defendants refusal TO renew the 70
, tail liquor license for his garden ON Ncv Yorl
: avenue for the year 1850, BY which he alleges
| although he haa kent n rnnut. M. rl.~. IA,