Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-23
THE GEOLOGICAL PARK BILL.
Finally Passed With the Unjust Clause
Imposing Half the Cost on the District.

The geological park bill only needs the sig.
nature of the President to become a law. Sem
ator Morrill, yesterday afternoon reported that
the conference committee had failed to recon-
ellie the disagreeing votes Of the two houses.
The House insisted that the District be COM
PEELED to pay one-half of the sum necessary
for the maintenance Of the park and no
amount OF senatorial eloquence or common
sense argument could change the situation.
Senator Morrill, and Senator Spooner both de-
clared that the bill could never pass unless the
Senate receded from its decision. BY q vote of
SO to 20 the Senate receded. Previous to that
action there was a little spicy debate.
SENATOR INGALLS, APPEAL FOR JUSTICE.
Senator ingalls, said it was an obvious and q
fragrant ard glazing injustice to compel the
people Of the District to bear one-half of the
expenses involved in the undertaking. They
might just as we'll be called upon to bear one
half the expense of the National Museum, of
the Smithsonian Institution or any other ma
t1onal exhibitions and museums here.
The bill was read and then Senator ingalls,
said: MIR. President. the government OF this
District is an absolute despotisnl, but / do not
think that / ever knew OF an illustration OF
more perfect tyranny than is evinced by that
provision IN this bill. The people of the Dis
trict of Columbia have absolutely nothing
tenance or its management. 1t Is to be under the
control OF the regents of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition. The people OF the District have no re pre-
sentation on the board, no connection with its
management, no disposition whatever of the
finances which are to be appropriated and dis
bursed. The Senator from Vermont speaks
about the precedent already established. II
there has been one established-which do
not know-of course am bound to accept his
ststement-it was most pernicious
nr6canAnt vVQ al t1H
established there will be no escape from it
hereafter. They can then plead that the money
for the original investment having been shared
By the District, and the money for the first an
nual appropriation having been shared by the
District. 1t has crystalliZed and passed
into the form Of law and cannot be
changed. How far this expenditure will ex.
tend nobody can tell 1t may 20 into the
millions. 1t will go into the millions. 1t is to
be great national institution. and l protest in
the name OF the people here against imposing
upon them this invidious and unjust aud un-
necessary burden in addition to what they
already endure"
on THE OTHER SIDE.
Senator Cockreil said that the people of the
District wanted the park; sought for 1t. They
ought to be willing to pay one-half its cost
This park" said the Mlssourian lis for the
convenience Of the people of the District Of
Columbia nine hundred and ninety mine times
uloIc tudu IOr tue people d the nlteQ States
Not one IN ten thousand, not one in a hundre ed
thousand of the great mass of the taxpayers of
the United States will ever see this park; and
it is for the identifying of the city of Washing
Ton, 1t 10 for the increase of the value OF prop
erty here, and for the benefit of the citizens
who reside here and who will frequent it,"
SENATOR BUFFERS POINTED REToRr.
Senator Butler had the floor in an instant
and retorted: 80 would the public building
in St Louis be for the entire benefit of the
people of st. Louis and no other portion of the
American Union. and yet suppose they would
think II great hardship il ST. Louis should be
called upon to pay half the expense Of the
court house and post Office building there do
not understand that the District of Columbia
has anything to do with this public park more
than that it is within the limits of the District
of Columbia. 1t is a government institution
which all the people have right to get the
benefit OF, not alone the people of the District:
and 1t would seem TO me to be a very great
hardship 10 require the District of Columbia to
pay one-half OF the expense Of the park which
Is intended solely as a national affair"
Senators Cullom, Gibson and Mcpherson all
protested against the saddling Of this expense
on the District, but the two former said they
would concur in the House amendment because
il was the best that could be done. Senator
Mcpherson would have voted '.nay," but he
was paired.
THE NEGATIVE VOTES.
The nays were Senators Allison, Barbour,
| Bate, Blodgett, Butler, Call, Casey, Eustis,
Faulkner, Hale, Hampton, Harris, Hawley,
ingalls,, Mcmillan, Moody, Teller, Vance, Wal.
| thall. Wilson of Iowa.